PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Diego Rios (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artem Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rios comes to the cage accompanied by Forever. Ivanov is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Mad World. Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Rios
vs
Ivanov

200 cm
28
155 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

175 cm
27
150 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

(CoB)Crushing Blow Clothing + Givebacks ($5)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Diego Rios!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Artem Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Don Winkell, Frank Antenori and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rios looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ivanov!
Ivanov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rios will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rios punishing his opponent with strikes.
Ivanov tries to hold on but Rios postures up.
Ivanov is bucking up trying to escape but Rios cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Ivanov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rios trying to control but Ivanov is having none of it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ivanov is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ivanov tries to hold on but Rios pushes him away.
Rios landing strikes, looking to finish!
Rios working Ivanov over with strikes here.
Rios trying to control but he's not successful this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ivanov working to try and regain half guard.
Rios really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov tries to lock up and control but Rios gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Rios has hold of Ivanov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Ivanov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Rios landing shots from mount.
Ivanov wants to hold on but Rios pushes him away.
Rios lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Ivanov hang on?
Ivanov tries to lock up and control but Rios gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Ivanov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ivanov taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov is squirming around, avoiding Rios's attempts to control the action.
Rios landing strikes from the mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rios dominating with strikes here.
Rios breaks from Ivanov's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Ivanov is in a horrible position here. Rios smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Rios lands a big shot there that rocks Ivanov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rios in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Rios scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ivanov?
Ivanov can't escape the position.
Ivanov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Rios landing strikes from the mount.
Rios is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ivanov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rios looking to secure an arm triangle but Ivanov defends it well.
Ivanov working to try and regain half guard.
Rios avoids the attempt from Ivanov to control.
Ivanov can't escape the position.
Rios dominating with strikes here.
Rios lands a big shot there that rocks Ivanov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Rios avoids the attempt from Ivanov to control.
Rios with good strikes from the mount here!
Ivanov is desperately trying to improve his position but Rios has a good base and remains in mount.
Rios with the ground and pound from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov is trying desperately to improve position.
Ivanov looks gassed!
Rios wants to control the pace but Ivanov is squirming around nicely.
Ivanov is looking to improve his position but Rios isn't that keen on the idea.
Rios avoids the attempt from Ivanov to control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ivanov slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Rios performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rios working the head and body with strikes.
Rios knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ivanov on the ground.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Rios is looking for a kimura here.
Ivanov tries to kick Rios off but Rios keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Diego Rios dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ivanov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Rios counters with a one-two to the body.

Rios closes the distance and clinches.
Ivanov can't get the takedown.
Ivanov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Diego Rios has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Artem Ivanov.
Ivanov is working for takedown but Rios is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ivanov tries to pull guard but Rios holds him up against the cage and eventually Ivanov drops back down to his feet.
Ivanov fails to pull guard.
Ivanov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Rios fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rios misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ivanov is breathing heavily.

Rios feints and as Ivanov raises his hands in defense, Rios changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Rios postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Rios stays in close to Ivanov's body and controls the position.
Ivanov keeping full guard, as Rios tries to pass.
Ivanov working a defensive guard here.
Rios throwing strikes but missing.
Rios is working Ivanov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rios has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Ivanov is proving hard to escape from.
Rios wants to control from the top but Ivanov keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rios postures up.

Ivanov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ivanov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rios trying to control the position from guard on top but Ivanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ivanov is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Rios has his hands clasped together but Ivanov extends an breaks Rios's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Ivanov.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Artem Ivanov! Artem Ivanov retains his featherweight title!
Artem Ivanov tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.