PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bili Robert (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Viktor Bagrationov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Robert
vs
Bagrationov

187 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
21
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 London, Bili Robert!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Viktor Bagrationov!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Robert shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bagrationov but Bagrationov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Robert shoots in for a takedown but Bagrationov shows good takedown defense.
Bagrationov tries to close the distance and clinch but Robert swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Robert tries to clinch but Bagrationov moves out of range.
Bagrationov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Robert paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Robert tries to keep at a distance but Bagrationov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Robert tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bili Robert. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bagrationov fails to pull guard.
Robert tries to land a knee to the head but Bagrationov blocks with his arms.
Bagrationov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Robert to keep the fight standing.
Bagrationov tries to stall but Robert uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Robert pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bagrationov misses the shot to the body.

Bagrationov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Robert manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bagrationov manages to get himself to full guard.

Robert stands up and waves to Bagrationov to follow him.
Robert shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bagrationov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Bagrationov.
Bagrationov looking for a takedown.
Bagrationov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Robert pulls his leg out and moves away.
Robert shoots in for a takedown but Bagrationov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Bagrationov scores with a one two! Robert had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Robert with a lazy takedown attempt

and Bagrationov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Bagrationov.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bagrationov trying to control the position from guard on top but Robert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bagrationov looking to pass the guard.
Bagrationov looking to sit in guard and control but Robert gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Bagrationov looks gassed!
Robert is stalling in the full guard.
Robert trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bagrationov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Robert. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Robert missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Bagrationov is looking for a triangle but Robert pushes his legs off easily.
Robert looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Bagrationov wants to hit a switch here but Robert passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Bagrationov there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robert sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Robert thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

Robert looking for a guillotine from mount but Bagrationov is having none of it.
Bagrationov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Robert raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Viktor Bagrationov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Robert's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A chopping leg kick lands by Bagrationov.
Bagrationov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bagrationov slips a jab and a cross from Robert.
Bagrationov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck for Bagrationov with that takedown attempt.
Bili Robert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Bagrationov.

Robert clinches with his opponent.

Robert pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Bagrationov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Robert closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Robert manages to break the clinch.
Bagrationov is breathing heavily.
Robert will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Robert tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Bagrationov stuffs the takedown.
Robert throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Bagrationov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Robert did well to prevent Bagrationov getting side control.
Robert is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Bagrationov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Bagrationov's back!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bagrationov prevents Robert from getting a body triangle.

Bagrationov showing good submission defense here.
Bagrationov wants to control his opponent's hands but Robert gets his hands free.
Viktor Bagrationov has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Robert really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Bagrationov.

Robert tightening his grip on Bagrationov, looking for the choke.
Bagrationov trying to get back to his feet but Robert is in full control for now.

Bagrationov showing good submission defense here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bagrationov just trying to survive but Robert is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
What can Bagrationov do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Robert keeps control of the position as Bagrationov tries to break free.
What can Bagrationov do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Robert seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Bagrationov for as long as he can get away with.
Robert's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Bili Robert just wasn't active enough.
No luck for Robert with that takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bili Robert dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! 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.

Bagrationov throws a wild body kick that Robert sees coming a mile off.
Bagrationov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Robert avoids it really well and circles away.
Bagrationov shoots in but Robert avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Robert shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bagrationov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
That kick from Robert tenderised Bagrationov's leg. Bagrationov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Bagrationov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Bagrationov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Robert sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bili Robert has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Viktor Bagrationov.
Robert fails with the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bagrationov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Robert circles away quickly and effectively.
Robert bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Bagrationov shoots in and drives through. Robert sprawls well.
Robert fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bagrationov avoids it really well and circles away.
Bagrationov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bagrationov wants it to stay on the feet.
Robert misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Bagrationov.
Robert lands a head kick!
Robert tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Robert shoots for a double leg takedown but Bagrationov sprawls well. He's pushed Robert's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Bagrationov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Robert!
Bagrationov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Robert is looking to improve his position but Bagrationov isn't that keen on the idea.
Bagrationov dominating with strikes here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Robert wants to control but Bagrationov is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bagrationov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Robert is looking to escape.
Robert manages to regain half guard whilst avoiding the strikes.
Robert is pressing down on Bagrationov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bagrationov trying to control the position from guard on top but Robert is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bagrationov trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Robert manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Robert is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bagrationov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Bagrationov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bagrationov wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Robert is now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Viktor Bagrationov.
I think Bagrationov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 28:29
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Viktor Bagrationov!