PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Antonis Pap (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cweti Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antonis Pap has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Pap
vs
Ivanov

171 cm
18
154 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

177 cm
25
150 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Antonis Pap!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Cweti Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ivanov wants to clinch but Pap slips to the side
and Pap counters with a good low kick that Ivanov was not able to check.
Pap misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ivanov tries to clinch but Pap moves away
and Pap counters with a two punch combo.
Pap throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Ivanov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ivanov has a takedown stuffed.
Ivanov blocks a head kick by Pap.
Cweti Ivanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pap takes the fight into the clinch.
Pap blocks an uppercut.

Pap breaks the clinch.
Pap lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Ivanov closes the distance looking to clinch
and Pap counters with a thumping low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pap tries to land a body kick
and Ivanov counters with a left and a right that stings Pap.
Ivanov closes the distance but Pap moves to the side

and Pap counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Pap.
Ivanov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Pap tries to circle away but Ivanov has him pinned against the cage.
Ivanov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Pap's efforts to push away.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ivanov looks gassed!
Ivanov tries to pull guard but Pap won't allow it.
Antonis Pap has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cweti Ivanov.

Pap's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pap turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Ivanov closes the distance looking to clinch

and Pap moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ivanov.
Ivanov is trying to maintain a safe position but Pap gets an underhook and turns Ivanov into the cage.
Pap wants to break the clinch but can't.
Pap blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Ivanov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Pap wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Pap can't break the clinch.

Pap pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pap throws a head kick that misses.

Pap fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Ivanov, pushing him back against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Pap manages to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pap circles away from the clinch attempt

and Pap holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Pap wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Pap breaks the clinch.
Ivanov closes the distance looking to clinch

and Pap counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ivanov misses with a punch on the inside.
Ivanov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Pap has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Pap has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Pap manages to break the clinch.
Ivanov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ivanov looks to clinch
and Pap counters with a slapping leg kick.
Pap scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Pap misses with a head kick.
Pap lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ivanov circles away quickly and effectively.
Ivanov tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Pap counters by moving into the clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ivanov trying to control the position but instead, Pap has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ivanov into the cage.
Ivanov throws a punch but it's blocked by Pap.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ivanov tries to clinch

and Pap moves into the clinch.
Ivanov has Pap pressed against the cage, preventing Pap from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ivanov misses with a hook from the clinch.

Pap manages to break the clinch.
Ivanov closes the distance looking to clinch

and Pap counters by moving into the clinch.
Ivanov lands a nice uppercut.
Ivanov is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Pap manages to break the clinch.
Pap circles away from the clinch attempt

and Pap counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov swings wildly with an uppercut but Pap uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ivanov throws a head punch that misses.
Pap blocking some punches.
Ivanov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Pap is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Pap wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pap wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ivanov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Pap.
Ivanov fails to pull guard.
Ivanov is breathing heavily.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ivanov.
Pap working hard to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Ivanov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Pap's brow.

Ivanov pulls guard.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Pap stands up from Ivanov's guard - Pap perhaps looking for a knockout.
Pap tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Ivanov tries to clinch but Pap moves away

and Pap moves into the clinch.
Ivanov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ivanov working aggressively here.
Pap wants to get back to striking at distance but Ivanov won't allow it.

Pap manages to break the clinch.
Antonis Pap is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov looks to clinch
and Pap counters with a low kick, right behind Ivanov 's knee.
Ivanov moves to clinch but Pap breaks away
and Pap counters with a head kick. That will keep Ivanov thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ivanov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Pap counters with a left and a right that stings Ivanov.
Ivanov closes the distance looking to clinch

and Pap counters by moving into the clinch.

Pap breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A thudding body kick lands there by Pap!
Good leg kick by Pap there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ivanov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pap circles away from the clinch attempt
and Pap counters with a head kick. That will keep Ivanov thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Ivanov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Pap counters with an inside leg kick.
Ivanov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Pap throws a head kick but Ivanov moves out of range.
Ivanov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Pap can pounce on him.
Pap pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ivanov gets tackled into the cage by Pap. Pap maintains the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Pap breaks the clinch.
Antonis Pap is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ivanov moves to clinch but Pap breaks away
and Pap counters with an outside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antonis Pap dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Pap closes the distance and clinches.

Pap breaks the clinch.
Antonis Pap is winning the standup battle so far.
Ivanov closes the distance but Pap moves to the side
and Pap counters with a three punch combo that has Ivanov backing up. Ivanov nods at Pap to acknowledge the strikes.
Pap tries to land a front kick but Ivanov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A combination from Pap does no damage.
Ivanov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ivanov tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Pap counters with a leg kick.
Ivanov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Pap.
Pap thumps Ivanov with a low kick.
Ivanov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ivanov tries to clinch
and Pap counters with a left and a right that stings Ivanov.
Pap throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov closes the distance looking to clinch

and Pap counters by moving into the clinch.
Pap looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Antonis Pap has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ivanov has Pap pressed against the cage, preventing Pap from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ivanov with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Pap's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pap throws a head kick that misses.
Ivanov moves to clinch but Pap breaks away

and Pap counters by moving into the clinch.
Pap is trying to break free.
Pap has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Ivanov tries to pull guard but Pap holds him up against the cage and eventually Ivanov drops back down to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Pap manages to break the clinch.
Ivanov tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Pap moves into the clinch.
Ivanov misses with a body punch.
Ivanov jumps guard but Pap stands there with Ivanov around his waist. Ivanov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Pap is looking to break free of the clinch but Ivanov has double underhooks.
Pap looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Pap pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ivanov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Pap counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Pap. No joy for Ivanov on that attempt.
Antonis Pap has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Cweti Ivanov.

Pap clinches up against the cage.
Pap is trying to force a seperation but Ivanov has the dominant position.

Pap breaks from the clinch.
Pap with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Pap throws a sloppy head kick and Ivanov moves out of range easily.
Ivanov's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Pap tries to bum rush Ivanov with a series of wild strikes but Ivanov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ivanov misses with a double jab.
Pap throws a head kick that half lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pap misses with a body kick.
Pap misses with a head kick.
Pap displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Pap throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ivanov wants to clinch but Pap slips to the side

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

Pap breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Pap throws a series of punches but Ivanov moves out of range.
Ivanov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Ivanov wants to clinch but Pap slips to the side
and Pap counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Ivanov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ivanov darts in trying to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antonis Pap showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Pap 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antonis Pap!
A relieved looking Antonis Pap thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.