PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Lohgim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dzelaludin Smajlovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Lohgim
vs
Smajlovic

185 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michael Lohgim!
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, Dzelaludin Smajlovic!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Viktor Lagutenko and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lohgim is looking to clinch.
Smajlovic throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Danga de danga de dang - Smajlovic scores with a four punch combination!
Lohgim takes one to the chin there.
Sloppy strikes from Smajlovic. Those never looked like landing.

Lohgim closes the distance and clinches.
Smajlovic lands a damaging elbow.
Lohgim trying to land knees to the body.
Smajlovic lands a knee to the body.
Lohgim is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smajlovic is defending well for now.
Lohgim throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Lohgim throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smajlovic blocks it with crossed arms.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lohgim throws an elbow but misses.
Lohgim blocks an elbow strike from Smajlovic.
Lohgim is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smajlovic is defending well for now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smajlovic managing to block the knees to the body from Lohgim.

Lohgim escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Smajlovic changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Lohgim tries to avoid it but Smajlovic manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Lohgim to the ground. Lohgim escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Smajlovic avoids a kick to the body.
Smajlovic circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smajlovic shoots in looking for a takedown but Lohgim manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Smajlovic's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Lohgim clinches.
Lohgim is trying to force a seperation but Smajlovic has the dominant position.
Lohgim trying to control the position but instead, Smajlovic has worked for underhooks and has pushed Lohgim into the cage.
Smajlovic pushes off an throws an elbow but Lohgim leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Smajlovic fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Michael Lohgim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dzelaludin Smajlovic.
Smajlovic throws an elbow but it misses.
Lohgim tries to land knees in the clinch but Smajlovic avoids the damage to the body.
Nice elbow from Smajlovic.
Smajlovic takes an elbow to the forehead.
Smajlovic is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Lohgim scores a nice knee to the body.
Lohgim throws an elbow that misses.
Smajlovic goes for a takedown in the clinch but Lohgim prevents it.
Smajlovic looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smajlovic tries to land knees in the clinch but Lohgim avoids the damage to the body.
Smajlovic tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lohgim smiles and moves away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Lohgim looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lohgim walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Smajlovic checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Smajlovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Smajlovic closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lohgim circles away.

Smajlovic gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Smajlovic throws an elbow but it misses.
Smajlovic blocks the elbow strike.
Smajlovic tries to pull guard but Lohgim holds him up against the cage and eventually Smajlovic drops back down to his feet.

Lohgim breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Smajlovic lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Lohgim pushes off an throws an elbow but Smajlovic leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Lohgim tries to land a knee to the head but Smajlovic blocks with his arms.
Lohgim lands an elbow inside that Smajlovic shrugs off.

It looks like Dzelaludin Smajlovic has been cut.
Smajlovic pushes off an throws an elbow but Lohgim leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Lohgim breaks from the clinch.
Lohgim tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smajlovic paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Lohgim tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Smajlovic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lohgim is looking to clinch but Smajlovic is avoiding it.

Lohgim clinches with his opponent.
Lohgim is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Smajlovic is defending well for now.
Smajlovic tries to score a body lock takedown but Lohgim shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lohgim fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smajlovic, pushing him back against the cage.
Knees to the body from Lohgim.
Smajlovic takes an elbow to the temple.
Smajlovic avoiding damage as Lohgim throws knees to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Smajlovic lands an elbow just above Lohgim 's eye.
Lohgim unloads a knee to the mid-section. Smajlovic lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Lohgim using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Smajlovic tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Smajlovic managing to block the knees to the body from Lohgim.
Lohgim throws an elbow but it misses.
Lohgim lands a knee to the head.
Lohgim trying to land knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Lohgim can't break the clinch.
Smajlovic blocks the elbow strike.
Lohgim missing with knees to the body.
Smajlovic has Lohgim pushed against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Lohgim dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Dzelaludin Smajlovic's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smajlovic has closed the distance and engaged Lohgim in a clinch.

Smajlovic's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Lohgim looks to clinch
and Smajlovic counters with a leg kick.
Lohgim throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Lohgim wants to clinch.
Lohgim is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lohgim tries to clinch but Smajlovic is having none of it.
Lohgim wants to clinch.
Lohgim wants to clinch but Smajlovic slips to the side
and Smajlovic counters with a one-two to the body.
Smajlovic misses with a head kick.

Lohgim has Smajlovic up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smajlovic lands a knee to the head.
Smajlovic can't break the clinch.
Lohgim trying to stall but Smajlovic improves his position.
Nice elbow from Smajlovic.
Smajlovic managing to block the knees to the body from Lohgim.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lohgim tries to land knees in the clinch but Smajlovic avoids the damage to the body.
Smajlovic comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Smajlovic comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Smajlovic landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Lohgim lands a damaging elbow.

Smajlovic breaks the clinch.
Smajlovic throws a wild body kick that Lohgim sees coming a mile off.
Lohgim tries to close the distance and clinch but Smajlovic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lohgim tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Smajlovic moves into the clinch.
Lohgim takes an elbow to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lohgim gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Smajlovic.
Smajlovic on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Smajlovic lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Lohgim takes a knee to the side of the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Smajlovic breaks from the clinch.
Smajlovic has a takedown stuffed.
Smajlovic misses with a jab, cross combination.
A head kick misses from Lohgim.
Michael Lohgim is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lohgim wants to clinch.
Smajlovic avoids the head kick by Lohgim.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smajlovic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lohgim avoids it really well and circles away.
Michael Lohgim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dzelaludin Smajlovic.
Lohgim tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smajlovic takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Lohgim tries to clinch up but Smajlovic circles away and keeps his distance.
A head kick misses from Lohgim.
Lohgim doesn't manage to clinch there - Smajlovic circles away.
Smajlovic throws out a powerful jab.
Lohgim stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Smajlovic.

Lohgim gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lohgim tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smajlovic avoids it.
Smajlovic comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Smajlovic is stalling here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Smajlovic as Lohgim tries to tie him up.
Smajlovic jumps guard but Lohgim stands there with Smajlovic around his waist. Smajlovic gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Smajlovic with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lohgim gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

Smajlovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Lohgim lands a leg kick that knocks Smajlovic off balance momentarily.
Lohgim moves in looking to clinch but Smajlovic pushes him off.

Smajlovic has managed to clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smajlovic drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lohgim gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Lohgim tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smajlovic avoids it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dzelaludin Smajlovic will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Dzelaludin Smajlovic's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Smajlovic has closed the distance and engaged Lohgim in a clinch.
Michael Lohgim has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Smajlovic jumps guard but Lohgim stands there with Smajlovic around his waist. Smajlovic gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Lohgim gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Lohgim is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Smajlovic is keeping busy.
Smajlovic tries to pull guard but Lohgim won't allow it.
Smajlovic avoids a wild elbow strike from Lohgim.
Smajlovic with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Lohgim tries to stall but Smajlovic uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Lohgim misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smajlovic.
Lohgim stalls.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smajlovic avoids the elbow strike from Lohgim, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lohgim escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lohgim tries to clinch there but Smajlovic circles away.
Smajlovic shoots for a double leg takedown but Lohgim sprawls well. He's pushed Smajlovic's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Michael Lohgim has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dzelaludin Smajlovic.
Lohgim is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smajlovic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Lohgim is fending him off so far but Smajlovic persists. Nope, Lohgim circles away and we're back to standing.
Smajlovic scores with a nice right hand.
Lohgim doesn't manage to clinch there - Smajlovic circles away.
Smajlovic tests Lohgim's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Lohgim tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lohgim fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smajlovic fails to land with a series of punches.
Lohgim tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Lohgim wants to clinch
and Smajlovic counters with a right hand to the body.
Smajlovic takes a swing at Lohgim's ribcage but misses.

Smajlovic has managed to clinch.
Smajlovic fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Lohgim throws an elbow but it misses.
Smajlovic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Lohgim controlling the action here for a moment.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lohgim throws an elbow but misses.
Smajlovic looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lohgim avoids a wild elbow strike from Smajlovic.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lohgim lands an elbow inside that Smajlovic shrugs off.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
The referee calls for Lohgim to work.
Lohgim tries to break free but Smajlovic pushes him back against the cage.
Smajlovic is trying to break the clinch but Lohgim is controlling him.
Lohgim throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Lohgim with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Lohgim lands an elbow just above Smajlovic 's eye.
Lohgim tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Smajlovic avoids it.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
With the fighters up against the cage, Lohgim throws an elbow but misses.
Lohgim throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Smajlovic blocks it with crossed arms.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smajlovic lands a right hand.
Lohgim throws an elbow but it misses.

Smajlovic manages to break the clinch.

Smajlovic clinches.
Nice elbow from Smajlovic.
Lohgim takes an elbow to the forehead.
Smajlovic blocks an elbow strike.
Lohgim misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Smajlovic.

Smajlovic manages to break the clinch.

Smajlovic clinches with his opponent.

Smajlovic pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Lohgim darts in trying to clinch
and Smajlovic counters with a big head kick but Lohgim shrugs it off.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smajlovic fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

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 Michael Lohgim.
Well Lohgim has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Michael Lohgim!