PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Biinde Vazquez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vazquez comes to the cage accompanied by pitbull-hotel room service. Vazquez is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Biinde Vazquez looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Vazquez
vs
Smirnov

190 cm
18
204 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Biinde Vazquez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Smirnov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Dmitry Maklakov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smirnov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Vazquez is breathing heavily.

Vazquez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smirnov is aware though and is defending well.
Smirnov controls from within his opponent's guard.

Smirnov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Smirnov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Smirnov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Vazquez is just riding it out for now. Smirnov eventually gives up the hold.
Smirnov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Still in half guard, Smirnov seems content to control.
Vazquez has hold of Smirnov's hands but Smirnov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Smirnov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Smirnov not doing much here.

Vazquez is defending against the submission attempts here by Smirnov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov controlling the action here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smirnov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Smirnov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vazquez is trying to control but can't.

Smirnov seems to be looking for submissions.
Smirnov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Smirnov in particular looking to stall.
Let's hope that Smirnov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

Despite being in the dominant position, Vladimir Smirnov just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Vazquez throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Smirnov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Smirnov is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Vazquez will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vazquez has escaped the position, nice work there.
Vazquez taking punishment in the form of punches.
Smirnov controlling from side mount.
Vazquez tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Vazquez's face as Smirnov controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Smirnov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Smirnov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Smirnov pushes down on Vazquez's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Smirnov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Vazquez wants to control but Smirnov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Smirnov trying to control the pace.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smirnov is pressing down on Vazquez's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vazquez is holding on for now.
Smirnov controlling the action here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Smirnov.
Smirnov content to control rather than advance.
Smirnov tries to stand but can't do so whilst Vazquez controls his leg.

Smirnov decides to stand up.
Vazquez with a lazy takedown attempt

and Smirnov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Vazquez is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov preventing the sweep.
Smirnov pushing down on Vazquez's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Smirnov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Vazquez wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vazquez trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov trying to control the pace.
Vazquez gets full guard.
Smirnov wants to control from the top but Vazquez keeps moving.
Vazquez working a defensive guard here.
Vazquez wants to stand but Smirnov is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Vazquez working a defensive guard here.
Smirnov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Vazquez is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Smirnov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Smirnov content to stall in guard here.
Smirnov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vazquez is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smirnov has a takedown stuffed.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Smirnov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Smirnov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Vazquez was covering up waiting for the punch and Smirnov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Vazquez wants to stand up but Smirnov is controlling him.
Smirnov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Vazquez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov prevents Vazquez from getting back to his feet.
Vazquez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vazquez is working hard here to advance position.
Smirnov controlling from the top position.
Smirnov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Vazquez is trying to control the position but Smirnov postures up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Smirnov works over Vazquez's head and body with a nice combination.

That's two 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.
A bone on bone clash there as Vazquez blocks the leg kick.
Vazquez throws a head kick that misses

and Smirnov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Smirnov.
Smirnov tries to free his leg and advance position but Vazquez is retaining full guard.
Vazquez looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smirnov is one step ahead there.

Vazquez has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smirnov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smirnov is in close to Vazquez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Smirnov is stalling in the full guard.
Smirnov wants to control from the top but Vazquez keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vazquez is trying to keep Smirnov in close.

Vazquez is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smirnov is aware though and is defending well.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Smirnov shoots in and bounces Vazquez off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Vazquez looking for a sweep. Not yet Vazquez, not yet.
Smirnov content to stall in guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vazquez looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smirnov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Smirnov advances to half guard.
Smirnov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Smirnov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Vazquez knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Smirnov controlling the pace.
Biinde Vazquez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vladimir Smirnov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smirnov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Smirnov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Smirnov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Smirnov!