PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Boiko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vladimir Smirnov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Boiko
vs
Smirnov

188 cm
19
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Boiko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Smirnov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boiko tries to clinch there but Smirnov circles away.

Smirnov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Smirnov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Smirnov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boiko blocking the ground and pound.
Boiko's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Smirnov punching from mount but Boiko doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Boiko is looking to escape.
Boiko is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Smirnov misses with a head shot.
Boiko is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Boiko in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Boiko is trying to stand up.

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.
Boiko blocking the ground and pound.
Smirnov throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Smirnov looking to control but Boiko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Smirnov looks gassed!
Smirnov is stalling here but it's allowed Boiko to get half guard.
Smirnov is pressing down on Boiko's thigh, looking to free his foot. Boiko is holding on for now.
Boiko looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Boiko makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Smirnov fails to land with a series of punches.
Boiko tries for a takedown but Smirnov circles away easily

and Smirnov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Smirnov controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov is stalling here. Boiko is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Smirnov seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Boiko has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Smirnov is not content to let Boiko control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smirnov parries the strikes from Boiko easily there. Boiko is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Smirnov to escape.
Boiko in side control lands a decent elbow.
Smirnov is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Smirnov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Boiko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Boiko is looking to chop away at Smirnov's legs.
Boiko bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Smirnov stuffs the takedown attempt from Boiko. Boiko gets slowly back to his feet.
Smirnov stuffs the takedown.
Smirnov throws a series of punches but Boiko avoids them all with ease.
Smirnov avoids a kick to the body.
Smirnov blocks a low kick nicely.
Boiko displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smirnov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
No luck for Smirnov with that takedown attempt.
Ivan Boiko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Boiko wants to clinch but Smirnov slips to the side

and Smirnov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Smirnov trying to control the action but Boiko is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Smirnov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Boiko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Boiko is defending against the submission attempts here by Smirnov.

Smirnov seems to be looking for submissions.
Smirnov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smirnov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Boiko defending well though.
Boiko is staying active underneath Smirnov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Boiko closes the distance and clinches.
Boiko wants to break the clinch but can't.

Boiko pulls guard.
Smirnov tries to free his leg and advance position but Boiko is retaining full guard.
Boiko wants to get back to his feet but Smirnov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boiko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Smirnov stands and steps away. Boiko gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Boiko misses with a straight left.
Nice uppercut lands for Boiko. That snapped Smirnov's head back.
Boiko tries to clinch up but Smirnov circles away and keeps his distance.
Boiko shoots in for a takedown but Smirnov shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Boiko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smirnov clinches up against the cage.
Smirnov is trying to drag Boiko to the mat but Boiko just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Boiko prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Boiko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
A leg kick checked by Smirnov.

Smirnov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Boiko keeping moving, preventing Smirnov from controlling successfully.
Smirnov prevents Boiko from getting back to his feet.
Smirnov wants to pass the guard but Boiko is keeping the position.
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.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Boiko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smirnov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Smirnov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Smirnov won't allow Boiko to get back to his feet.
Smirnov chips away with some ground and pound.

Boiko is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Boiko breaks from the clinch.
Smirnov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smirnov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Boiko is able to avoid easily.
Boiko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smirnov shoots in but Boiko avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov wants to clinch.
Smirnov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Boiko is fending him off so far but Smirnov persists. Nope, Boiko circles away and we're back to standing.
A slapping leg kick lands for Boiko.
A slapping leg kick lands for Boiko.
A solid leg kick lands there for Boiko.

Boiko shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Smirnov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Boiko looking to pass the guard.
Boiko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Boiko wants to control from the top but Smirnov keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Smirnov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Boiko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Smirnov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smirnov wants to sweep but no luck.
Smirnov can't keep his opponent in guard - Boiko advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Smirnov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Boiko.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Smirnov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Smirnov controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boiko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smirnov.
Smirnov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smirnov prevents Boiko from standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Smirnov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Boiko is trying to stand back up but Smirnov is controlling him

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vladimir Smirnov.
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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

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