PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Logan Cox (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Petr Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cox comes to the cage accompanied by Foggy Dew/Notorious . Petr Smirnov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Cox
vs
Smirnov

175 cm
21
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
20
150 lbs
3 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Logan Cox!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Petr Smirnov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smirnov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Cox.
Smirnov looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Smirnov instigates a clinch.

Cox gets control of Smirnov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Cox will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Smirnov stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Cox drives through and clinches with Smirnov against the cage.

Smirnov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Cox swings and misses with a hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Cox seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.

Cox moves into range and clinches up with Smirnov.
Smirnov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Cox pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cox fails in his attempt to clinch.
Cox looks for a takedown but Smirnov sprawls well.
Cox fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Logan Cox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cox fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Cox tries to clinch up
and Smirnov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Cox tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smirnov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cox somewhat.
Smirnov wants to counter the offense by Cox and move into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov wants to clinch.
Cox lands a head kick!
Smirnov looks to land a left hand but Cox moved out of range nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Cox is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Smirnov pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox trying to land knees to the body.
Cox wants to take the fight to the mat but Smirnov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Smirnov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Cox walks away with a smile on his face. Smirnov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Cox drives through and clinches with Smirnov against the cage.

Smirnov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cox fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Cox fails with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cox is defended easily by Smirnov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cox lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cox tries to score a power double leg takedown but Smirnov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cox somewhat.
Smirnov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cox shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smirnov slips a jab and a cross from Cox.
Smirnov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Smirnov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cox.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Petr Smirnov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A head kick misses from Smirnov.
Cox went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Smirnov looks to throw a body kick
and Cox counters with a nice uppercut.

Cox closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Cox not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Cox thows a huge punch but Smirnov dodges it nicely.
Cox keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Cox is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Cox throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Smirnov is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cox takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Cox is trying to control the action in half guard but Smirnov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Cox misses with a combination
and Smirnov counters with a left and a right that stings Cox.

Cox fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Smirnov, pushing him back against the cage.
Cox is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Smirnov is defending well.
Cox leaning against his opponent.
Cox is trying to drag Smirnov to the mat but Smirnov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov breaks the clinch.

Smirnov instigates a clinch.
Cox is trying to pull guard but Smirnov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Logan Cox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cox is stalling here.

Cox's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smirnov moves in looking to clinch but Cox pushes him off.
Smirnov throws a wild body kick that Cox sees coming a mile off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox fails with a takedown attempt.
Petr Smirnov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smirnov tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
As Smirnov looks to move away, Cox throws a big counter combo but Smirnov just gets out of the way.
Smirnov wants to clinch.
Cox appears to be looking for a big counter.
Smirnov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Cox counters with a nice body kick.
Logan Cox is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Smirnov connects with a jab.
Petr Smirnov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smirnov misses with a body shot.
Smirnov avoids the head kick by Cox.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cox.

Cox moves into range and clinches up with Smirnov.

Cox pulls guard.
Cox is adopting a defensive guard.
Cox is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smirnov won't allow Cox to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Logan Cox will probably get the nod.
That's time! Cox's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. 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.

Cox blocks a head kick by Smirnov.
Cox fails with a takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Smirnov misses.
Cox appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Cox throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Smirnov's waist but Smirnov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Cox off to one side.
Cox darts in looking for a takedown but Smirnov gets double underhooks and turns Cox into the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Logan Cox. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Smirnov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Cox manages to avoid it.
Cox dives in for a single leg takedown but Smirnov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smirnov tries a head kick but it misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Cox fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Cox tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smirnov swivels and escapes.
Cox chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Smirnov connects with an inside leg kick.
Cox darts in looking for a takedown but Smirnov gets double underhooks and turns Cox into the cage.
Smirnov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Smirnov wants it to stay on the feet.
Smirnov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Cox pinned against the cage. Cox gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Smirnov. No joy for Cox on that attempt.
Smirnov thuds a left hand into Cox's body.

Smirnov darts in and clinches Cox up against the cage.

Cox manages to break the clinch.

Cox clinches.
Cox drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Smirnov scores with a nice hook to the head.
Cox dodges an elbow strike from Smirnov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cox comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Cox breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Cox tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Smirnov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Cox throws a one two combo.
Smirnov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Smirnov duly obliges.
Cox tries to clinch up.

Cox rushes Smirnov and presses him up against the cage.
Smirnov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Cox is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Smirnov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Cox scores with a shoulder strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov tries to pull guard but Cox won't allow it.
Cox goes for a takedown attempt but Smirnov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Cox shoots for a double leg takedown but Smirnov sprawls well. He's pushed Cox's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Good standup being displayed there by Smirnov as he connects with a hook.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smirnov misses with a head kick.
Smirnov wants to clinch.
Cox changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smirnov tries to avoid it but Cox manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smirnov to the ground. Smirnov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cox tries for a takedown but Smirnov circles away easily
and Smirnov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
Petr Smirnov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Smirnov 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Petr Smirnov!
Logan Cox was interviewed post fight and said 'This guy was a tank. i prepared my ass off for this fight, and apparently he prepared a little bit more. Im going to come back with even more motivation and destroy whoever is next in line. '.