PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Handozhko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikey Powell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sergey Handozhko has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Handozhko
vs
Powell

186 cm
20
210 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

184 cm
21
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite 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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sergey Handozhko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Mikey Powell!
The judges for this bout are Columbo Gatti, John Kavanagh and Alyssa Summers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Powell gets a takedown into half guard.

Powell decides to return to a standing position.

Powell feints and as Handozhko raises his hands in defense, Powell changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Powell 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.
Handozhko keeping full guard, as Powell tries to pass.
Handozhko looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Powell puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Powell stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handozhko wants to control but Powell passes into side.

Powell stands up and beckons Handozhko to his feet.
Handozhko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Handozhko throws a quick inside leg kick.
Handozhko throws a jab but it's blocked by Powell.
Powell tries to score a power double leg takedown but Handozhko sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Powell somewhat.
Powell closes the distance and clinches up with Handozhko, looking for a takedown. Powell pushes Handozhko against the cage but Handozhko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Powell looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Powell shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Handozhko wants to sweep here but Powell controlling him for the moment.
Handozhko wants to stand and escape but Powell is having none of it.

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

Handozhko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Powell dodges the punch combination from Handozhko.
Some wild striking there from Handozhko.
Powell bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Powell throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Handozhko was covering up waiting for the punch and Powell finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Handozhko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Powell is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Powell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Handozhko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Powell trying to control but Handozhko is working from the bottom.
Handozhko scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Powell is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Powell passes Handozhko's left leg - he's now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikey Powell dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Powell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Powell tries to clinch but Handozhko moves out of range.
Mikey Powell seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Powell fails with a takedown attempt.
Handozhko moves in looking to clinch but Powell pushes him off.
Handozhko tries to close the distance and clinch but Powell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Powell misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Powell avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Powell shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Handozhko is trying to defend but Powell finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Handozhko is looking to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Handozhko tries to kick Powell off but Powell keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Powell not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Handozhko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Powell on the ground.
Powell moves nicely into side control.
Powell cracks Handozhko with a big right hand but Handozhko just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Powell scoring with punches from side control.
Powell staying calm.

Powell has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

Handozhko gets caught flat footed, as Powell shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Powell drops back looking for a leg! Handozhko is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Handozhko manages to kick Powell off! Powell jumps back into Handozhko's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Powell stopping the sweep attempt from Handozhko.
Powell pushes down on Handozhko's leg and manages to get into half 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.

Powell escapes and gets back to his feet.

Powell shoots in and bounces Handozhko off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Handozhko working a defensive guard but Powell manages to pass into side control anyway.
The referee asks Powell politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Powell prefers to stall for the moment though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikey Powell 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!

Handozhko fails to land with a series of punches.

Powell darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Powell slows the pace down in half guard.
Powell works his foot free and advances to mount.
Powell wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Powell unloading with bombs!
Mikey Powell has got the better of the ground game so far.
Powell looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Powell working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Handozhko is trying to reverse the position but instead Powell has taken his back - oops!
Powell has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Handozhko's body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Powell has the hooks in. Handozhko is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Powell lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Powell.
Powell controls the position.

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.
Powell is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Handozhko up.
Powell softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Powell is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Handozhko manages to reverse the position and now he's in Powell's guard. Nice work there by Handozhko.
Sergey Handozhko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mikey Powell is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Powell pushes Handozhko off and gets back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikey Powell comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Powell 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 Columbo Gatti scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Alyssa Summers scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikey Powell!