PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Konstantin Ponomaryov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Grisha Blozhenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Konstantin Ponomaryov is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Ponomaryov
vs
Blozhenko

191 cm
22
208 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
21
204 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Konstantin Ponomaryov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Grisha Blozhenko!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ponomaryov walks forward, straight into a front kick from Blozhenko.
Blozhenko shoots in but no luck this time.
Blozhenko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ponomaryov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ponomaryov wants to slow Blozhenko down by chopping away at his legs.
Blozhenko shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ponomaryov as he avoids it easily.
Ponomaryov looks to land a combination but Blozhenko avoids it well.
Konstantin Ponomaryov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ponomaryov instigates a clinch.
Blozhenko wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Blozhenko has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ponomaryov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Konstantin Ponomaryov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grisha Blozhenko.

Ponomaryov gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Blozhenko pushes Ponomaryov off looking to stand but Ponomaryov dives back in and keeps control.
Blozhenko is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ponomaryov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ponomaryov's back!
Ponomaryov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Blozhenko on the ground.
Blozhenko avoiding Ponomaryov 's attempts to control his hands.
Blozhenko scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Ponomaryov is looking for a way out.

Blozhenko working for the choke.
Ponomaryov is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ponomaryov trying to control but not successfully.
Blozhenko struggling to keep hold of the position.
Blozhenko punishes Ponomaryov with strikes from the back mount.
Blozhenko struggling to keep hold of the position.
Blozhenko connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Ponomaryov to escape the position.
Blozhenko trying to control momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Blozhenko keeps control of the position as Ponomaryov tries to break free.
Blozhenko struggling to keep hold of the position.

Blozhenko working for a choke but Ponomaryov is defending well.
Ponomaryov rolls, trying to escape but Blozhenko keeps control of the position.
Blozhenko trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Watch the back of the head! Comes the shout from the referee towards Blozhenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blozhenko scores with a nice shot to the head of his opponent. Ponomaryov is looking for a way out.
Ponomaryov is trapped and Blozhenko is scoring with shots to the head and body.

Ponomaryov fending off the submission attempt from Blozhenko.
Blozhenko thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Ponomaryov is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Ponomaryov trying to control the position but Blozhenko manages to sink in the hooks.
Blozhenko gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.

It looks like Konstantin Ponomaryov has been cut.

Blozhenko looking for the choke but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ponomaryov is keeping busy.
Ponomaryov has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Blozhenko.
Blozhenko struggling to keep hold of the position.
Ponomaryov manages to reverse the position and now he's in Blozhenko's guard. Nice work there by Ponomaryov.
Blozhenko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ponomaryov is one step ahead there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ponomaryov content to stall in guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grisha Blozhenko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Konstantin Ponomaryov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ponomaryov moves in looking to clinch but Blozhenko pushes him off.
Ponomaryov misses with the body kick
and Blozhenko counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Blozhenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Blozhenko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ponomaryov's waist but Ponomaryov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Blozhenko off to one side.
Ponomaryov wants to clinch but Blozhenko slips to the side

and Blozhenko counters with a takedown into side control.
Blozhenko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Blozhenko scoring with punches from side control.
Blozhenko happy to just control the position for now.

Blozhenko swings around for an armbar but Ponomaryov sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Blozhenko's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Blozhenko wants to sweep but no luck.

Blozhenko pushes Ponomaryov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Blozhenko looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Blozhenko works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Blozhenko wants to pass to mount but Ponomaryov is defending the position.

Blozhenko wants to work for an arm triangle but Ponomaryov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ponomaryov wants to get back to full guard but Blozhenko has mounted him!
Grisha Blozhenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Blozhenko lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Ponomaryov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blozhenko landing strikes from the mount and Ponomaryov is in trouble!

Blozhenko jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ponomaryov is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ponomaryov and Blozhenko has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Ponomaryov gets back to half guard.
Blozhenko is pressing down on Ponomaryov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Ponomaryov is holding on for now.
Ponomaryov is trying to stand up here but Blozhenko is controlling him well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blozhenko works his way into side control.
Ponomaryov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ponomaryov tries to get out of the position.

Blozhenko looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Blozhenko takes a little break here. Ponomaryov wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Ponomaryov gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Blozhenko trying to control from Ponomaryov's half guard. Ponomaryov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Ponomaryov keeping moving, preventing Blozhenko from controlling successfully.

Blozhenko drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ponomaryov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Blozhenko has Ponomaryov in his guard.
Blozhenko keeping moving, preventing Ponomaryov from controlling successfully.
Blozhenko trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Grisha Blozhenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Konstantin Ponomaryov's cut.
That's time! Ponomaryov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Blozhenko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ponomaryov circles away.
Blozhenko has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Blozhenko tries for a takedown but Ponomaryov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Blozhenko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Ponomaryov!

It looks like Grisha Blozhenko has been cut.
A left and a right from Ponomaryov both land. Nice combination.
Blozhenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Konstantin Ponomaryov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Grisha Blozhenko.
Blozhenko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ponomaryov is fending him off so far but Blozhenko persists. Nope, Ponomaryov circles away and we're back to standing.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Blozhenko checks a leg kick.
Ponomaryov thows a body shot but no joy.
Ponomaryov fails in his attempt to clinch.

Ponomaryov moves into range and clinches up with Blozhenko.
Blozhenko trying to stall but Ponomaryov improves his position.
Ponomaryov can't break the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ponomaryov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Blozhenko closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard. Blozhenko wants to take a breather but Ponomaryov is having none of it.

Blozhenko is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blozhenko tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ponomaryov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Blozhenko seems to be looking for submissions.
Blozhenko wants to take a breather but Ponomaryov is having none of it.
Blozhenko not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ponomaryov throws a body kick that misses.
Ponomaryov throws a one two combo.
Konstantin Ponomaryov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ponomaryov throws a combination. Blozhenko tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Blozhenko looks frusrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Ponomaryov wants to slow Blozhenko down by chopping away at his legs.
Ponomaryov tries to clinch there but Blozhenko circles away.

Ponomaryov clinches with his opponent.
Ponomaryov prevents Blozhenko from breaking the clinch.
Ponomaryov looking to slow down the pace here.
Ponomaryov wants to break free but Blozhenko has control.

Blozhenko pulls guard.
Ponomaryov trying to control the position from guard on top but Blozhenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Blozhenko has an active guard here but Ponomaryov has managed to pass into half guard.

Ponomaryov is looking for a kimura but Blozhenko is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ponomaryov to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Blozhenko gets back to full guard.

Blozhenko scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Blozhenko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ponomaryov but Ponomaryov pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Ponomaryov moves into the clinch.
Ponomaryov cracks Blozhenko with a nice body shot.
Blozhenko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Ponomaryov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A low kick from Blozhenko is predictable there
and Ponomaryov counters with a good low kick that Blozhenko was not able to check.
Ponomaryov swinging wilding here.
Blozhenko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ponomaryov's waist but Ponomaryov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Blozhenko off to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Blozhenko closes the distance and clinches.
Blozhenko tries to stall but Ponomaryov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Good body shot from Ponomaryov.

Ponomaryov manages to break the clinch.
Ponomaryov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Blozhenko's calf.

Ponomaryov gets caught flat footed, as Blozhenko shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Blozhenko 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.
Blozhenko trying to control but Ponomaryov is working from the bottom.
Konstantin Ponomaryov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Konstantin Ponomaryov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Blozhenko 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Grisha Blozhenko!