PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksander Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bako King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivanov kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Step Into A World (Rapture's Delight). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Ivanov
vs
King

201 cm
33
275 lbs
25 - 18 - 0

225 cm
31
289 lbs
16 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 25 - 18 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Aleksander Ivanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Bako King!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Roger Salmon and Chris Saunders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ivanov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ivanov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and King counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
King wants to control from the top but Ivanov keeps moving.
Ivanov keeping full guard, as King tries to pass.
King is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
King throws a big right hand that misses.
King throwing strikes but missing.

Ivanov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. King defends it easily.

Ivanov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ivanov keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.
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!

King got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ivanov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, King has managed to get both his arms back between Ivanov's legs - danger averted.
King scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Ivanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Ivanov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
King with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
King throws an elbow that misses. Ivanov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in King's guard. Nice move by Ivanov!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

King pushes Ivanov off and scrambles back to his feet.
King looks to land a combination but Ivanov avoids it well.
King misses with a takedown attempt - Ivanov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ivanov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ivanov throws a right hand that misses
and King counters with a series of strikes. Ivanov will be more careful next time no doubt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

King gets a double leg takedown into Ivanov's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Ivanov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. King doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. King manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells King's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Ivanov working for submissions but it's allowed King to get to half guard.
King is looking to advance position but Ivanov won't allow it.

Ivanov actively working from the bottom here.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
King is trying to work for a kimura but Ivanov is defending well.
King not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ivanov actively working from the bottom here.
Ivanov trying to hold on to King's head to control him but King postures up.
King is trying to control the action in half guard but Ivanov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Ivanov taking some punishment here, with King in his half guard.
King wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ivanov keeps working.

Ivanov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but King pulls his head out easily.

Ivanov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but King pulls his head out easily.
King working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
King is pressing down on Ivanov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ivanov is holding on for now.

Ivanov actively working from the bottom here.
King working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov gets back to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ivanov has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think King should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Ivanov has tightened it up now! King should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Aleksander Ivanov!
Aleksander Ivanov took to the microphone after his victory and thanked his sponsors, CEC Nutrition Q159 for their support in the buildup to the fight.