PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Lombard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hedrig Pokousha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Lombard
vs
Pokousha

178 cm
24
180 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

189 cm
23
180 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ricardo Lombard!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hedrig Pokousha!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksandr Martynov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lombard looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Pokousha drives through and clinches with Lombard against the ropes.
Lombard is working for takedown but Pokousha is calmly controlling the position for now.
Lombard wants a takedown but no success here.
Lombard wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Lombard. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pokousha is trying to stall.
Lombard wants a takedown but no success here.

Pokousha jumps guard and drags Lombard to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Pokousha is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Pokousha is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Lombard working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Pokousha trying to control the position here.
Let's hope that Pokousha has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Lombard loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Pokousha manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lombard manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pokousha throws a strike but Lombard rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Pokousha working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lombard.
Pokousha tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lombard working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Pokousha's head.
Lombard throws an elbow that misses. Pokousha uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lombard's guard. Nice move by Pokousha!
Lombard wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Pokousha is now in half guard.
Lombard is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Lombard trying to control here.
Lombard tries to get to full guard but Pokousha has control of the leg.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lombard avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pokousha.
Pokousha scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Lombard trying to hold on to Pokousha's head to control him but Pokousha postures up.
Pokousha is looking to take a break and control but Lombard is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Pokousha lands a nice short elbow.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Pokousha is nestled in close to Lombard, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lombard is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Pokousha's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Pokousha's back!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Lombard misses with a punch to the head.
Lombard is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Pokousha. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.

Lombard working for the choke.
Lombard gets his hands free as Pokousha looks to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lombard is persistently looking for the submission but Pokousha is defending it well.
Lombard is not going to allow Pokousha to sit and survive in this position.

Lombard is looking for a choke. Pokousha gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Pokousha manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Pokousha controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Pokousha throws a big elbow that misses.
Lombard is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lombard is pulling down on Pokousha's head to control his posture.
Lombard has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Pokousha trying to control the position from guard on top but Lombard is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pokousha postures up.
Lombard is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Pokousha is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ricardo Lombard just wasn't active enough.

Pokousha has managed to clinch.
Pokousha lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Lombard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Pokousha manages to pull guard.
Pokousha punching from the bottom - just letting Lombard know he's still in a fight.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Pokousha is trying to keep Lombard in close.
Lombard throws an elbow that misses. Pokousha uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lombard's guard. Nice move by Pokousha!
Pokousha lands a couple of elbows.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hedrig Pokousha will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Lombard fails with the takedown.

Pokousha has closed the distance and engaged Lombard in a clinch.
Lombard goes for a takedown attempt but Pokousha pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Lombard throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pokousha's waist but Pokousha gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Lombard off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ricardo Lombard. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lombard gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Pokousha to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Lombard has Pokousha pulled in close to control his posture.
Lombard controls Pokousha momentarily but Pokousha frees himself.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pokousha scoring with some ground and pound.
Pokousha stopping the sweep attempt from Lombard.
Pokousha looking to sit in guard and control but Lombard gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lombard throwing strikes from guard but Pokousha blocks nicely.
Lombard throws an elbow that misses. Pokousha uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lombard's guard. Nice move by Pokousha!
Pokousha slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Pokousha is working Lombard over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Lombard is trying to improve his position.
Lombard taking a bit of punishment here - Pokousha scoring with strikes.
Pokousha scores with a couple of short elbows.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lombard is trying to improve his position.
Lombard is not content to let Pokousha control the position.
Lombard is trying to control Pokousha's posture but Pokousha avoids it.
Pokousha grinds an elbow into Lombard's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lombard is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Pokousha lands a nice forearm strike.
Lombard manages to get back to half guard.
Pokousha missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Pokousha missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lombard is staying active underneath Pokousha, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Lombard makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lombard.
Lombard looking for a sweep. Not yet Lombard, not yet.
Hedrig Pokousha has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lombard is working hard here to advance position.
Pokousha sitting in guard here, content to control.
Pokousha preventing the sweep.
Pokousha scoring with punches to the head and body.
Pokousha postures up in Lombard's guard and throws a big left but Lombard blocks it.
Pokousha pushes down on Lombard's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lombard is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Pokousha scores with a couple of nice shots.
Pokousha is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lombard has an active guard here but Pokousha has managed to pass into half guard.
Pokousha passes to side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hedrig Pokousha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Pokousha lands a nice looking body shot.
Pokousha tries to clinch but Lombard moves out of range.
Pokousha throws a lazy right hand but Lombard sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pokousha tries to clinch up.

Pokousha gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Lombard goes for a takedown attempt but Pokousha pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Pokousha is looking to clinch.
Nice defenses there by Lombard.
Pokousha wants to clinch up but Lombard keeps it at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lombard misses with a jab, cross combination.
Pokousha tries to clinch but Lombard moves out of range.
Pokousha closes the distance but Lombard moves to the side
and Lombard counters with a left to the body.

Pokousha looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Pokousha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lombard is keeping the position for now.
Lombard is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pokousha accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha won't allow Lombard to sweep him here.
Pokousha slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Pokousha preventing the sweep.
Lombard working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Pokousha.
Lombard keeping full guard, as Pokousha tries to pass.
Pokousha must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Pokousha is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Lombard wants to sweep here but Pokousha controlling him for the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pokousha tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Lombard manages to break the clinch and circles 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!

Lombard shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Pokousha is trying to defend but Lombard finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha trying to control but Lombard postures up.
Pokousha is looking to improve his position.

Lombard is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Pokousha is trying to get back to full guard.
Lombard thows a huge punch but Pokousha dodges it nicely.
Lombard not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Lombard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pokousha doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lombard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lombard is working away from the top position though.

Lombard looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Lombard is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pokousha doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lombard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Lombard is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Pokousha has managed to free his arm - good work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hedrig Pokousha comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Pokousha has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight for Hedrig Pokousha!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Hedrig Pokousha!
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Hedrig Pokousha!

Hedrig Pokousha wins by unanimous decision!
Our winner, Hedrig Pokousha, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.