PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mickey O Neil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivanov comes to the cage accompanied by HINO RUSSO. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ivanov
vs
O Neil

180 cm
34
182 lbs
21 - 15 - 3

187 cm
40
177 lbs
33 - 25 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 21 - 15 - 3, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sergei Ivanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 25 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mickey O Neil!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
O Neil steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ivanov.
Ivanov lets loose with a powerful body kick. O Neil will feel that in the morning.
O Neil swings for the body but Ivanov moves out of range.
Ivanov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Ivanov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ivanov.
An inside leg kick lands from Ivanov.
O Neil swinging wildly here.
The crowd cheers as Ivanov lands an impressive looking overhand right. O Neil doesn't seem phased though.
Ivanov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
O Neil misses the jab.
Mickey O Neil seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
O Neil ducks under a wild hook from Ivanov.
Jab from O Neil.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ivanov lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and O Neil has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from O Neil and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Some wild striking there from Ivanov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ivanov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
O Neil misses with a straight right.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neil misses with a two punch combination.
Ivanov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
O Neil throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ivanov counters with a left and a right that stings O Neil.
Ivanov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A jab from Ivanov misses.
O Neil just misses with a punch to the body.
Ivanov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but O Neil moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ivanov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
O Neil misses with a double jab.
O Neil throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
O Neil fails to land with a series of punches.
O Neil misses with a hook. Ivanov ducked under it nicely.
O Neil feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ivanovs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Ivanov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
O Neil misses with a hook. Ivanov ducked under it nicely.

O Neil tries to keep at a distance but Ivanov has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Neil fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
O Neil keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ivanov's efforts to push away.
Ivanov blocking some punches.
Ivanov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ivanov blocks a punch to the side of the head.

O Neil breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ivanov fails in his attempt to clinch.
O Neil throws a hook but Ivanov avoids it easily.
Ivanov misses with a looping left.
Ivanov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
O Neil being controlled against the cage.
A hook to the body from Ivanov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
O Neil tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
O Neil trying to stall but Ivanov improves his position.

Ivanov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
O Neil throws a jab when Ivanov was well out of range.
Ivanov misses the jab.
Ivanov is really struggling to find his range with his punches. O Neil's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Some wild striking there from Ivanov.
O Neil throws a body shot but no joy.
Ivanov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
O Neil works the jab nicely.
Ivanov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
O Neil uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ivanov.
Ivanov scores with a three punch combo!
O Neil bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ivanov's head.
Decent striking displayed by Ivanov there.
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!
O Neil cracks Ivanov with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Neil throws a one two combo.
O Neil throws a shot from downtown. Ivanov moves away and avoids it.
Ivanov misses with a looping left.
Good standup being displayed there by O Neil as he connects with a hook.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts O Neil, as that shot connected.
O Neil throws a nice looking combination but Ivanov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts O Neil, as that shot connected.
Ivanov looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
O Neil throws a hook to the side of Ivanov's head but Ivanov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
O Neil has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Ivanov finds it's way round the side to connect with O Neil's head.
Ivanov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Danga de danga de dang - Ivanov scores with a four punch combination!

It looks like Mickey O Neil has been cut.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Ivanov has O Neil up against the cage in a clinch.
O Neil trying to control the position but instead, Ivanov has worked for underhooks and has pushed O Neil into the cage.
Ivanov tries to break free but O Neil pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Ivanov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mickey O Neil's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

O Neil swings and misses with a hook to the body.
O Neil moves out of range of the body kick from Ivanov.

Ivanov moves into the clinch.
Ivanov controlling the action here for a moment.
O Neil has had enough of the clinch but Ivanov keeps him there for the moment.
O Neil working aggressively here.

Ivanov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ivanov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by O Neil.
O Neil lands a nice looking body shot.
Sergei Ivanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ivanov fails to land with a series of punches.
Ivanov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but O Neil was well out of range. Poor timing from Ivanov.

Ivanov clinches up against the cage.
O Neil misses with a hook from the clinch.

Ivanov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
O Neil misses the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
O Neil works Ivanov's body with a nice hook.
Ivanov ducks right into an uppercut from O Neil.
Ivanov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and O Neil connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A nice combination there by Ivanov.
Nice uppercut lands for O Neil. That snapped Ivanov's head back.
Ivanov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from O Neil.
Ivanov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
A slow jab from O Neil misses its intended target.
Ivanov slips a jab and a cross from O Neil.
Ivanov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
O Neil moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ivanov misses with the combination.
O Neil avoids a punch combination nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
O Neil sizes up Ivanov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Ivanov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from O Neil.
O Neil fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Sergei Ivanov is winning the standup battle so far.
Ivanov tries to bum rush O Neil with a series of wild strikes but O Neil uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
O Neil has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ivanov.
Ivanov ducks under a wild hook from O Neil.
O Neil throws an overhand right that lands on Ivanov's shoulder, as Ivanov tries to avoid the shot.
Ivanov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from O Neil.
The fighters circling - O Neil throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ivanov tries to clinch but O Neil is having none of it.
O Neil lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Ivanov tries to clinch but O Neil moves out of range.
O Neil misses with a shot to the body
and Ivanov counters with a right hand to the body.
Ivanov throws a low kick but O Neil avoids it.
Ivanov avoids the head kick by O Neil.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Ivanov lands an impressive looking overhand right. O Neil doesn't seem phased though.
Ivanov dodges the punch combination from O Neil.

Ivanov instigates a clinch.
Ivanov is stalling here.

Ivanov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ivanov wants to clinch up but O Neil keeps it at a distance.
Ivanov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
O Neil looks to land a combination but Ivanov avoids it well.
O Neil lands a nice looking body shot.
Ivanov scores with a kick to the midsection.
Ivanov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
O Neil lands a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
O Neil scores with a crisp jab that stopped Ivanov in his tracks.
O Neil misses with a jab, cross combination.
O Neil misses with a left hand
and O Neil takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Ivanov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but O Neil moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
O Neil throws the kick towards the body but Ivanov avoids it.
O Neil scores with a jab to the head.
Ivanov dodges the punch combination from O Neil.
Ivanov moves away from the strike by O Neil.
A combination from Ivanov does no damage.
A combination from O Neil does no damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
O Neil goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Ivanov throws a body punch but O Neil moves out of range.
Ivanov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but O Neil paws at him with a jab and circles away.
O Neil moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mickey O Neil will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mickey O Neil's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

O Neil fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ivanov manages to avoid it.
O Neil takes a shot right to the bread basket.
O Neil throws a head kick but Ivanov moves out of range.
O Neil throws a sloppy body shot
and Ivanov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
O Neil lands a body shot.
O Neil moves out of range of the leg kick from Ivanov.
O Neil throws an overhand right that lands on Ivanov's shoulder, as Ivanov tries to avoid the shot.
O Neil throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
O Neil pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
O Neil throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Ivanov counters with a thumping low kick.
Ivanov ducks under a wild hook from O Neil.
Ivanov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from O Neil. Ivanov does a little dance to reset his feet.

Ivanov pushes O Neil up against the cage in a clinch.
O Neil working aggressively here.
O Neil looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ivanov.
A frustrated look appears on O Neil's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Ivanov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
O Neil on the wrong end of a nice hook.
O Neil throws a jab but it's blocked by Ivanov.
O Neil swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ivanov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ivanov blocks an uppercut.

Ivanov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
O Neil takes a swing at Ivanov's ribcage but misses.
O Neil throws a nice looking combination but Ivanov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
O Neil throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
O Neil scores with the left hand. Ivanov knows he should have avoided that one.

Ivanov closes the distance and pushes O Neil back into the cage.
Ivanov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
O Neil wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Ivanov manages to break the clinch.
Ivanov throws a series of punches but O Neil avoids them all with ease.
O Neil misses with a left hand
letting Ivanov counter with a right hand.
Ivanov blocks the body kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ivanov throws a leg kick but O Neil moved away.
Ivanov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ivanov looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
O Neil misses with a two punch combination.
O Neil misses with a double jab.
Ivanov slips under a jab from O Neil.
O Neil circles away from the clinch attempt.
O Neil looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ivanov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but O Neil moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ivanov is looking to clinch but O Neil is avoiding it.
Ivanov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed O Neil momentarily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov throws a leg kick but O Neil checks it.
O Neil stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Ivanov.
O Neil on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Ivanov avoids the body shot from O Neil.
A cross from Ivanov lands.

Ivanov moves into the clinch successfully.

Ivanov manages to break the clinch.
Ivanov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
O Neil swinging wildly here.

Ivanov gets a clinch.
O Neil misses with a short punch on the inside.

Ivanov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
O Neil swings and misses with a hook to the body.
O Neil connects with the punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ivanov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ivanov with a nice cross.
O Neil digs a good hook to Ivanov's body.
Ivanov is looking to clinch.
Ivanov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ivanov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling O Neil to score with a decent uppercut.
O Neil throws a right hand that Ivanov ducks under and follows up with a left that Ivanov also avoids with ease.
O Neil misses with a hook. Ivanov ducked under it nicely.
O Neil throws a right hand that misses

and Ivanov moves into the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for O Neil.
Ivanov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
O Neil misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ivanov leaning his opponent against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sergei Ivanov.
I think Ivanov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergei Ivanov!
In his post fight interview, Sergei Ivanov gave a big smile as he said 'Estou muito feliz com a vitória, me sinto com a alma lavada, pois não concordei com o resultado de nossa primeira luta, acredito que o corte não justificaria o termino da luta de forma tão precoce, uma luta que eu estava bem melhor. Um abraço a todos.'.