PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Osmond Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksei Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Black
vs
Ivanov

191 cm
18
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Osmond Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aleksei Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Black tries to clinch but Ivanov moves out of range.
Black tries to clinch there but Ivanov circles away.
Ivanov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Black misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Black is looking to clinch but Ivanov is avoiding it.

Ivanov moves into range and clinches up with Black.
Ivanov holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ivanov can't get the takedown.
Nice body punch from Ivanov.
Black trying to stall but Ivanov improves his position.

Ivanov pulls guard.
Ivanov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Ivanov pulls Black in close to prevent any damage.
Black stopping the sweep attempt from Ivanov.
Black wants to get up but he can't break Ivanov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Black is one step ahead there.

Black is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ivanov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ivanov has escaped and now he's on top!
Ivanov wants to pass the guard but Black is keeping the position.
Ivanov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Black tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Black avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Ivanov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ivanov content to stall in guard here.
Ivanov scoring with punches to the head and body.

Black working for a triangle but Ivanov defends it easily.
Black is breathing heavily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ivanov's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Black is keeping the position for now.
Ivanov stopping the sweep attempt from Black.
Ivanov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Black keeping full guard, as Ivanov tries to pass.
Ivanov is stalling in the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ivanov tries to free his leg and advance position but Black is retaining full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Black not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Black tries to clinch but Ivanov moves away
and Ivanov counters with a series of strikes. Black will be more careful next time no doubt.
Danga de danga de dang - Black scores with a four punch combination!
Black rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ivanov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Ivanov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Black is looking for a triangle here but Ivanov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Black trying to remain calm as Ivanov controls from the top position.
Black prevents Ivanov from moving into mount.

Ivanov stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksei Ivanov dominated that round.
That's time! Black's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Black tries to clinch

and Ivanov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Ivanov controlling from the top position.
Black trying to keep a closed guard but Ivanov is proving a slippery customer.
Ivanov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ivanov wanted to stand there but Black had control of the position.

Black is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Black throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ivanov forces his way into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov wants to pass to mount but Black is defending the position.

Ivanov decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Black closes the distance looking to clinch

and Ivanov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Black is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Black working for a triangle but Ivanov defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ivanov cracks Black with a solid left hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov controlling from the top position.
Black looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ivanov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Ivanov trying to mount his opponent but Black defends it.
Black tries to roll over but Ivanov keeps him under control.
Ivanov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ivanov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ivanov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Black defends it well.

Black actively working from the bottom here.

Ivanov is looking for a kimura but Black is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ivanov to get the leverage.

Black looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Black shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Osmond Black is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ivanov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Black looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Ivanov slows the pace down.
Black tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Ivanov is trying to get an arm triangle but Black is defending well.

Ivanov is trying to get an arm triangle but Black is defending well.
Black stops Ivanov from passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksei Ivanov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Black misses with a takedown attempt

and Ivanov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Black wants to sweep here but Ivanov controlling him for the moment.
Black trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ivanov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Ivanov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Black avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Black keeping moving, preventing Ivanov from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Black is keeping the position for now.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Black shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ivanov as he jumps to the side.
Black throws a head kick but Ivanov moves out of range.
Ivanov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Black swivels and escapes.

Black shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ivanov looking for a sweep. Not yet Ivanov, not yet.
Ivanov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Black looking to pass the guard.
Black won't allow Ivanov to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ivanov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Black postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ivanov tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Black lands a head kick!

Ivanov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Black to the mat! Black manages to get full guard.

Ivanov is posturing up here but Black has hold of an arm and he's gone for an armbar! Ivanov tries to roll out but it's too tight and Ivanov has to tap! Slick submission there by Black!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Osmond Black!