PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Panda ishmali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Branislav Symbiont (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Symbiont has chosen 'Lacrimosa (Choir)' as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

ishmali
vs
Symbiont

210 cm
25
265 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
275 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Panda ishmali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Branislav Symbiont!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Symbiont avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
ishmali is looking to clinch but Symbiont is avoiding it.

ishmali clinches.
ishmali landing knees to the body.
Symbiont is trying to force a seperation but ishmali has the dominant position.

Symbiont ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Symbiont no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
ishmali will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
ishmali with a nice head shot there.
Symbiont keeping moving, preventing ishmali from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Symbiont not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Symbiont is on top in guard.
ishmali on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if ishmali tries to get out of the position.
Symbiont advances to half guard.
Symbiont tries to pass the half guard into mount. ishmali knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
ishmali is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Symbiont not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

ishmali makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

ishmali moves into the clinch successfully.
ishmali connects with a knee to the head.
Symbiont is trying to break free.
Good body shot from Symbiont.
ishmali is working for takedown but Symbiont is calmly controlling the position for now.
ishmali is breathing heavily.
ishmali pushes Symbiont back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Symbiont fails to pull guard.
Symbiont is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but ishmali is keeping busy.
ishmali trying to land knees to the body.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ishmali unloads a knee to the mid-section.
ishmali is working for takedown but Symbiont is calmly controlling the position for now.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
ishmali with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
ishmali missing with knees to the body.
ishmali trying to land knees to the body.
Symbiont doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Symbiont tries to circle away but ishmali has him pinned against the cage.
Symbiont on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Symbiont wants a takedown but no success here.
Symbiont is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
ishmali prevents Symbiont from breaking the clinch.
Symbiont has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. ishmali avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Panda ishmali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Branislav Symbiont.
Symbiont leaning his opponent against the cage.
Symbiont is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but ishmali is keeping busy.

Symbiont gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Symbiont stands up from ishmali's guard - Symbiont perhaps looking for a knockout.
ishmali avoids the head kick by Symbiont.
Symbiont fails to land with a series of punches.

Symbiont shoots in and bounces ishmali off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
ishmali wants to stand up but Symbiont is controlling him.
Symbiont sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Symbiont is pushing down on ishmali's leg trying to pass to half guard. ishmali is fighting to maintain full guard but Symbiont has managed to sneak the leg through.
ishmali is trying to get back to full guard.
Symbiont is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Symbiont wants to control the pace but ishmali is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Branislav Symbiont will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Symbiont moves in looking to clinch but ishmali pushes him off.
ishmali tries to clinch but Symbiont moves away

and Symbiont counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Symbiont.

ishmali's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
ishmali tries to close the distance and clinch but Symbiont swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice takedown defense from ishmali. No joy for Symbiont on that attempt.

ishmali has taken the fight to the clinch.

ishmali pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

ishmali has Symbiont up against the cage in a clinch.
ishmali lands a knee to the body.
ishmali putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Symbiont in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

ishmali breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
ishmali keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
ishmali displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Symbiont.
Panda ishmali has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Branislav Symbiont.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Symbiont keeps the fight on the outside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Symbiont circles away from the clinch attempt.
Symbiont misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Symbiont keeps the fight on the outside.
ishmali misses with a takedown

and Symbiont counters with a nice double leg into side control. ishmali won't be happy with that.
Symbiont passes to full mount! That's big trouble for ishmali!
The referee warns ishmali that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Symbiont is working for a guillotine from mount but ishmali frees his head quite easily.
Symbiont can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as ishmali is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
ishmali taking shots to the head.
Symbiont takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Symbiont working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Symbiont can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as ishmali is looking to escape.
ishmali wants to control but Symbiont is having none of it.
Symbiont sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
ishmali in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Symbiont trying to control but ishmali is having none of it.
Symbiont content just to control the position here.
Symbiont can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as ishmali is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Branislav Symbiont showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Symbiont changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. ishmali tries to avoid it but Symbiont manages to keep hold of a leg and drag ishmali to the ground. ishmali escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

ishmali instigates a clinch.
Symbiont tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. ishmali smiles and moves away.
ishmali showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Symbiont.
ishmali is looking to clinch.
ishmali wants to clinch

and Symbiont counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Symbiont controlling the action here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Symbiont moves into full mount! ishmali won't be happy about that!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Symbiont can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as ishmali is looking to escape.
Symbiont landing shots from mount.
ishmali is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Symbiont dominating with strikes here.
Symbiont fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Symbiont with shots to the head and body - ishmali looks very uncomfortable down there.
Symbiont raining down shots from the mount!
Branislav Symbiont has got the better of the ground game so far.
Symbiont looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
ishmali is squirming around, avoiding Symbiont's attempts to control the action.
Symbiont landing strikes, looking to finish!
ishmali knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Symbiont on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Symbiont in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
ishmali is squirming around, avoiding Symbiont's attempts to control the action.
Panda ishmali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Symbiont with shots to the head and body - ishmali looks very uncomfortable down there.
Symbiont scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Symbiont working for a submission but ishmali is keeping him at bay.
Branislav Symbiont is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Symbiont looking to control and managing it successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Branislav Symbiont comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Symbiont 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Branislav Symbiont!