PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ground Pound (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ibragim Borzoev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ground Pound has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Pound
vs
Borzoev

185 cm
18
197 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

200 cm
21
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

5th Round
LHK Clothing

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ground Pound!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ibragim Borzoev!
The judges for this bout are Stewart Dunkirk, George Francis and Gwen Towbar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pound will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Pound misses with a two punch combination.
Pound tries to bum rush Borzoev with a series of wild strikes but Borzoev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Borzoev tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ground Pound seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Pound misses with the combination.
Borzoev is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Pound shoots in looking for a takedown. Borzoev tries to sprawl out of it but Pound keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Borzoev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Borzoev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Pound sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Borzoev somewhat.

Borzoev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Pound trying to control the position but instead, Borzoev has worked for underhooks and has pushed Pound into the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Good body shot from Pound.
Pound misses with the head strike.
Pound prevents the takedown attempt.
Borzoev lands a nice shot to the body.
Borzoev goes for a takedown attempt but Pound pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ground Pound has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ibragim Borzoev.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borzoev blocks an uppercut.

Borzoev breaks the clinch.
Borzoev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pound throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Borzoev.
Borzoev slips a jab and a cross from Pound.
Pound looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pound misses with a wild combination.
Borzoev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Borzoev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Pound but Pound pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Borzoev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Borzoev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Pound throws a right and a left that Borzoev avoids nicely.

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.
Pound closes the distance looking to clinch
enabling Borzoev to counter with a crisp jab.
Pound misses the shot to the body.
Pound misses with a combination

and Borzoev holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Borzoev has Pound pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Pound manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Borzoev looks gassed!
Pound misses with a hook to the ribs.
Borzoev leaning against his opponent.
Pound changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Borzoev fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Pound misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pound falls off balance throwing a combination

and Borzoev counters with a shoot takedown. Pound fights it but they end up in guard.
Borzoev trying to control but Pound is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pound controlling Borzoev's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pound is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Pound in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Pound has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Borzoev is looking to escape.
Pound is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pound moves into full mount! Borzoev won't be happy about that!
Pound sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ibragim Borzoev will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Pound swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Borzoev counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Borzoev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Pound misses with a double jab
and Borzoev counters with a right hand to the body.
Pound with a jab.
Pound swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Borzoev counters with a takedown into side control.
Pound gets back to half guard.
Borzoev is trying to control the action in half guard but Pound is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Pound keeping hold of Borzoev's head, controlling as best he can.
Pound on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Pound tries to get out of the position.

Borzoev decides to return to a standing position.
Borzoev is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borzoev dodges the punch combination from Pound.
Pound swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Borzoev counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Pound trying to control the position here.
Borzoev trying to control the position from guard on top but Pound is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pound is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Pound is on top in guard.
Pound is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Ground Pound just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Pound tries to clinch

and Borzoev counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Pound is trying is best to control the position here.
Borzoev is pressing down on Pound's thigh, looking to free his foot. Pound is holding on for now.
Pound manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pound is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Pound frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Pound controlling from the full mount.
Borzoev tries to hold on but Pound postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Pound takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Pound's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Ibragim Borzoev has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ibragim Borzoev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Pound throws a one two combo.

It looks like Ibragim Borzoev has been cut.
Ground Pound is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Borzoev walks into a left hand.
Borzoev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Pound connects with a good straight punch right through the guard and follows up with a right hook and a left hook! That last one sent Borzoev tumbling to the canvas! Pound pours on the pressure with more strikes and the referee has no hesitation diving in to stop the fight! Borzoev was done - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Ground Pound!