PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Selivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Frank Barba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Selivanov
vs
Barba

182 cm
25
205 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
205 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Selivanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Barba!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Selivanov leaves Barba with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Barba misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Barba fails with a takedown attempt.
A bone on bone clash there as Barba blocks the leg kick.

Selivanov tries to keep at a distance but Barba has taken the fight into the clinch.
Barba will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Selivanov up against the cage.

Selivanov pulls guard effortlessly.
Selivanov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Barba is one step ahead there.
Barba throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Barba drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Selivanov dives on top into guard.

Barba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barba is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Barba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Selivanov wants to stand but Barba has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Selivanov gets to his feet - Barba follows without any prompting.
Barba tries to clinch up.
Selivanov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Some wild striking there from Selivanov.
Barba shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Selivanov as he jumps to the side.
Nikolai Selivanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Frank Barba.
Barba tries to score a power double leg takedown but Selivanov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Barba somewhat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Selivanov fails to land with a series of punches.
Selivanov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Selivanov wants it to stay on the feet.
Barba doesn't manage to clinch there - Selivanov circles away.
Nice body kick there by Barba.
Barba misses with the combination.
Selivanov leaves Barba with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Barba tries to clinch but Selivanov moves out of range.
Selivanov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Barba circles away quickly and effectively.
Selivanov is breathing heavily.

Selivanov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Barba missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Selivanov keeping moving, preventing Barba from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Barba accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Barba trying to control but Selivanov is working from the bottom.

Barba thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Barba trying to control the position from guard on top but Selivanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Barba throws a leg kick that is checked
and Selivanov counters with a three punch combo that has Barba backing up. Barba nods at Selivanov to acknowledge the strikes.
Barba misses with a kick to the body.
Selivanov throws a combination that misses
and Barba counters with a straight right hand.
Selivanov misses with a few strikes there.
Barba stalks Selivanov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Selivanov's face. Selivanov staggers backwards, shaken.
Barba shoots in for a takedown but Selivanov shows good takedown defense.
Selivanov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Barba.
Barba throws a one two combo.
Barba shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Selivanov defends it nicely.
Barba will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nikolai Selivanov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Barba lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Selivanov circles away quickly and effectively.

Barba rushes Selivanov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Barba lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A short right from Barba on the inside.
A hook to the body from Barba.

Barba pulls Selivanov into guard.

Barba throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Barba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Selivanov defends it easily.

Barba had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Selivanov defends it easily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Barba is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Selivanov is aware though and is defending well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Barba is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Selivanov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Barba wants to stand but Selivanov is controlling the position.
Barba utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Barba has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Selivanov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Barba keeping moving, preventing Selivanov from controlling successfully.

Barba looking for a guillotine here but Selivanov defends easily.

Selivanov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Selivanov wanted to stand there but Barba had control of the position.
Selivanov wants to control from the top but Barba keeps moving.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Barba is on top in guard.
Barba passes into half guard.

Barba stands up and beckons Selivanov to join him on the feet.
Barba lands with a hook. Selivanov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Barba.
Barba moves in looking to clinch but Selivanov pushes him off.
Barba wants to clinch.
Barba tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Barba fails with a takedown attempt.
Barba darts in trying to clinch
and Selivanov counters with a two punch combo.

Barba shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Selivanov is trying to defend but Barba finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Barba is looking to take a break and control but Selivanov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Barba is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Barba thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Barba is trying for a kimura here. Selivanov looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Barba wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Frank Barba!