PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Roman Gromov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ishod Izgoev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gromov's entrance music is 28 months later - in the house, in a heartbeat (techno remix). A fine choice. Ishod Izgoev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gromov
vs
Izgoev

186 cm
18
245 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Roman Gromov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ishod Izgoev!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Izgoev gets a clinch.
Gromov looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!

Izgoev pulls guard successfully.
Izgoev working a defensive guard here.
Izgoev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Gromov is controlling him.
Izgoev is trying to keep Gromov in close.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Izgoev thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Izgoev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Izgoev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gromov is refusing to be controlled, as Izgoev sits in half guard.
Izgoev takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Izgoev throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Izgoev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gromov keeps working.
Gromov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Izgoev.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Izgoev content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two 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.
Izgoev lands with a punch from half guard.
Well, if Izgoev is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Izgoev decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Nice sprawl there from Izgoev as Gromov shoots in.

Izgoev pushes Gromov up against the cage in a clinch.
Izgoev prevents Gromov from breaking the clinch.
Gromov could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Gromov tries to break the clinch but Izgoev is controlling the position.
Gromov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Izgoev fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Gromov shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Roman Gromov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gromov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Izgoev looks for a takedown but Gromov sprawls well.

Gromov has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gromov managing to block the knees to the body from Izgoev.

Izgoev is trying to trip Gromov. He has hold of a leg but Gromov is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Izgoev persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Izgoev tries to free his leg and advance position but Gromov is retaining full guard.
Gromov tries to strike from the bottom.
Izgoev thows a big elbow that misses.
Gromov is trying to control the position but Izgoev postures up.
Gromov wants to sweep but no luck.
Izgoev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gromov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Izgoev!
Izgoev wants to hold on but Gromov pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ishod Izgoev dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Gromov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Izgoev counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gromov!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Izgoev lands a heavy elbow.
Gromov slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Izgoev is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Gromov 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.
Gromov throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Izgoev wants to control from the top but Gromov keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Izgoev 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izgoev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Gromov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Izgoev has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gromov is proving hard to escape from.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Izgoev looks for a takedown but Gromov sprawls well.
Gromov wants to clinch but Izgoev slips to the side

and Izgoev counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Izgoev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gromov keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Izgoev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Gromov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Izgoev seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Izgoev is keen to just control but Gromov is a slippery customer.
Gromov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Izgoev.
Izgoev trying to pass the guard but Gromov defending well.
Izgoev seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Izgoev seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Izgoev not doing much here.
Izgoev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Izgoev drops an elbow to the side of Gromov's head.
Izgoev working over Gromov with some ground and pound. Gromov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gromov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Izgoev trying to control the position from guard on top but Gromov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Izgoev stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Izgoev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Izgoev landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Izgoev changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Gromov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Izgoev tries to clinch but Gromov moves away

and Gromov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Gromov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Izgoev trying to control but Gromov is working from the bottom.

Izgoev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ishod Izgoev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Izgoev tries to clinch up

and Gromov counters with a takedown into side control.
Izgoev struggling a bit here.
Gromov is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Izgoev's shoulder. That is not cool.
Gromov working away.
Gromov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Izgoev is looking to reverse the position.

Gromov stands up.

Izgoev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Izgoev showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Izgoev is working Gromov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Gromov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Gromov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Izgoev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gromov keeping full guard, as Izgoev tries to pass.

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.
Izgoev trying to control the position from guard on top but Gromov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gromov trying to keep a closed guard but Izgoev is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Izgoev gets a clinch.

Izgoev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Izgoev shoots in but no luck this time.
Izgoev finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.

Izgoev shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Gromov's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gromov keeping full guard, as Izgoev tries to pass.
Gromov wants to control the position but Izgoev says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Izgoev is looking to advance position but Gromov won't allow it.
Gromov is not content to let Izgoev control the position.
Izgoev scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Izgoev gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Izgoev connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Izgoev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Gromov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Izgoev trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Izgoev pulls Gromov in close to prevent any damage.
Izgoev is trying to control the position but Gromov postures up.
Izgoev manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Izgoev is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Gromov has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Gromov!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Izgoev looking for a guillotine here but Gromov defends easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Roman Gromov.
Well Izgoev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ishod Izgoev!