PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Owen Rasmussen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kirill Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rasmussen
vs
Ivanov

184 cm
24
178 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
21
174 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Owen Rasmussen!
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, Kirill Ivanov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rasmussen tries to clinch but Ivanov moves out of range.
Rasmussen darts in trying to clinch

and Ivanov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Rasmussen trying to land knees to the body.
Ivanov stalling the fight.
Rasmussen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

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

Ivanov takes the fight into the clinch.
A hook to the body from Rasmussen.
Rasmussen wants to break the clinch but can't.

Ivanov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rasmussen can't fight it off and eventually Ivanov manages to take the fight to the floor. Rasmussen looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ivanov wants to stand but Rasmussen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Rasmussen is trying to control the position but Ivanov postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov controlling from the top position.
Ivanov won't allow Rasmussen to sweep him here.
Ivanov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ivanov passes into half guard.
Ivanov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ivanov prevents Rasmussen from improving his position.
Rasmussen won't allow Ivanov to pass to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Ivanov seems content to control.
Rasmussen controlling the position well.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Kirill Ivanov.

Ivanov clinches.

Ivanov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ivanov swinging wildly here.
Rasmussen closes the distance looking to clinch

and Ivanov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasmussen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Ivanov gets control of Rasmussen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ivanov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Rasmussen looking to sit in guard and control but Ivanov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ivanov looking to sit in guard and control but Rasmussen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Rasmussen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ivanov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rasmussen has managed to get both his arms back between Ivanov's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rasmussen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rasmussen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ivanov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rasmussen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ivanov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ivanov controlling the position.
Rasmussen throwing strikes but missing.
Rasmussen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rasmussen connects with a couple of short punches.
Rasmussen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rasmussen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Ivanov's head.
Rasmussen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rasmussen won't allow Ivanov to sweep him here.
Rasmussen trying to control the position from guard on top but Ivanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ivanov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ivanov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rasmussen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rasmussen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirill Ivanov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Rasmussen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rasmussen tries to clinch but Ivanov moves out of range.
Rasmussen is looking to clinch.

Ivanov gets a takedown into half guard.
Ivanov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ivanov wants to get back to his feet.
Ivanov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov slows the pace down in half guard.
Rasmussen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ivanov is taking a breather. Rasmussen says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Ivanov 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.
Ivanov wants to stand but Rasmussen has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov not doing much here.
Rasmussen regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Ivanov.
Ivanov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rasmussen's head.
Ivanov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rasmussen is refusing to be controlled, as Ivanov sits in half guard.
Rasmussen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ivanov scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rasmussen tries to get to full guard but Ivanov has control of the leg.
Ivanov lands strikes from half guard.
Rasmussen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Ivanov is in close to Rasmussen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Ivanov pushing down on Rasmussen's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ivanov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Ivanov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Rasmussen trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ivanov not doing much here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirill Ivanov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Ivanov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Rasmussen quickly recovers to half guard.
Ivanov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rasmussen's head.

Ivanov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Rasmussen defends it well.
The fighters are battling for position here. Rasmussen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ivanov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Rasmussen wants to sweep here but Ivanov controlling him for the moment.
Kirill Ivanov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rasmussen wants to control the position but Ivanov says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Rasmussen wants to control but Ivanov is keeping busy.
Ivanov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rasmussen keeps working.
Rasmussen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ivanov scores with a couple of nice shots.
It looks like Ivanov is going to stand back up.
Ivanov trying to mount his opponent but Rasmussen defends it.
Rasmussen tries to get to full guard but Ivanov has control of the leg.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasmussen has a hand on Ivanov's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Ivanov takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Rasmussen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ivanov lands a big elbow.
Rasmussen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ivanov unloading with bombs!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ivanov with shots to the head and body - Rasmussen looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasmussen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Ivanov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Rasmussen tries to improve his position but instead Ivanov has taken his back!
Rasmussen covers up after that shot from Ivanov.

Ivanov looking for the choke but no joy.

Rasmussen fending off the submission attempt from Ivanov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov has the hooks in. Rasmussen is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Ivanov controls the action.
Rasmussen rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ivanov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Ivanov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kirill Ivanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ivanov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kirill Ivanov!