PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Ignatov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Thomas Raven (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ignatov comes to the cage accompanied by Fler-Ghetto Beat. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Ignatov
vs
Raven

186 cm
35
186 lbs
28 - 12 - 3

188 cm
35
197 lbs
24 - 10 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Reaper Combatwear

Zenith Nutrition (160q/225$)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 28 - 12 - 3, fighting out of New York, Vladimir Ignatov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 10 - 1, fighting out of New York, Thomas Raven!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Paul Tew and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ignatov lands a head shot.
Ignatov misses with a looping right.
Raven counters with a body kick.
Raven closes the distance and clinches up with Ignatov, looking for a takedown. Raven pushes Ignatov against the cage but Ignatov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ignatov scores with a nice body kick.
Ignatov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Raven moves away.
Raven thinks about the counter body kick.
Raven slips a straight right by Ignatov.
Ignatov scores with a shot to the body.
Ignatov throws out a loose jab but Raven uses good head movement to avoid it.
Raven feints a counter leg kick.
Raven connects with a body shot.
Ignatov tries to bum rush Raven with a series of wild strikes but Raven uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Raven throws out a counter right but Ignatov avoids it with no problem.
Raven scores with a shot to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Ignatov. That snapped Raven's head back.
Ignatov avoids a kick to the body.
Raven throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
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!
Raven just misses with a punch to the body.
Ignatov throws a low kick but it's checked well by Raven.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raven lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ignatov will feel that in the morning.
Raven takes a swing at Ignatov's ribcage but misses.
Raven throws a lazy right hand but Ignatov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Raven uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Ignatov.
Ignatov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
A countering left hand to the body from Raven misses.
Raven takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A nice leg kick lands there from Raven.
Crunch! Raven slams his shin into Ignatov's torso.
Raven swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Raven steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Ignatov.
Ignatov just misses with a punch to the body.
Ignatov defending well as Raven loads up on a big left hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raven. Ignatov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Raven throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ignatov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raven walks into a left hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ignatov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Raven counters with a nice body kick.
Ignatov jabs Raven right on the nose. Raven blinks but takes it well.
Raven drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Raven lets loose with a powerful body kick. Ignatov will feel that in the morning.
Raven scores with a nice head shot.
A chopping leg kick lands by Raven.
Ignatov looks to score with a jab to the body but Raven is just out of range.
Raven throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ignatov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ignatov moves out of range of the body kick.
Vladimir Ignatov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Raven waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ignatov.
Raven looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ignatov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ignatov misses the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov throws a big shot that misses.
Raven displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ignatov throws out the jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ignatov. Raven does a little dance to reset his feet.
Raven wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Raven has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ignatov.
Ignatov throws a hook but Raven avoids it easily.
Raven is trying to counter with his kicks.
Raven uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ignatov.
Ignatov misses with a straight left.
Ignatov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Raven was well out of range. Poor timing from Ignatov.
Raven throws a head kick but Ignatov moves out of range.
Ignatov jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Raven throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Raven changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ignatov tries to avoid it but Raven manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ignatov to the ground. Ignatov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ignatov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Raven thuds his shin into the meat of Ignatov's side.
Ignatov defending well as Raven loads up on a big left hand.
Raven fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ignatov manages to avoid it.
Ignatov throws a body shot but no joy.
Raven now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Raven throws a front kick that sends Ignatov stumbling back into the cage.

Raven tries to keep at a distance but Ignatov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Raven lands with a light punch inside.
Ignatov has a couple of punches blocked by Raven.
Ignatov throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Raven misses with a punch to the body.
Ignatov lands a nice uppercut.
Raven takes a shot to the head.
Ignatov throws a head punch that misses.
Ignatov misses with some punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vladimir Ignatov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ignatov misses with a looping left.
Ignatov throws a body punch but Raven moves out of range.
Ignatov is looking to score with low kicks.
Ignatov takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ignatov throws a front kick that sends Raven stumbling back into the cage.
Raven tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Ignatov misses with a body kick.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ignatov. Raven does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ignatov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Raven was well out of range. Poor timing from Ignatov.
Ignatov will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Raven checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ignatov connects with a solid leg kick.
Ignatov throws a head kick that misses.
Raven wants to counter with a clinch but Ignatov pushes him away.
Raven throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ignatov digs a good body shot into Raven's ribs.
The fighters circling - Ignatov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good shot there by Raven.
Raven throws a body punch but Ignatov moves out of range.
Raven blocks a jab.
Raven misses with an uppercut.
Ignatov misses with a right hand
and Raven counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Raven swings away with a body shot that misses
and Raven takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Raven swings for the body but Ignatov moves out of range.
Raven takes a swing at Ignatov's ribcage but misses.
Ignatov throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Vladimir Ignatov is winning the standup battle so far.
Ignatov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Raven moves away.
Raven takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Raven misses with a wild body shot.
Raven takes a shot to the body in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raven moves out of range as Ignatov strikes.
Raven goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Raven gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Donk. Ignatov catches Raven right on the button with a cross.
Ignatov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ignatov misses with a straight right.
Raven lands a nice shot that snaps Ignatov's head back.
A slow jab from Raven misses its intended target.
Ignatov looks to throw the jab but Raven is out of range.
A countering left hand to the body from Raven misses.
Raven tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ignatov was well out of range. Poor timing from Raven.
Raven checks a low kick from Ignatov.
A bone on bone clash there as Raven blocks the leg kick.
Raven avoids the body shot from Ignatov.
Raven was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raven throws out a leg kick but Ignatov moves out of range and Raven only half commits.
Raven moves out of range as Ignatov strikes.
Raven is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Ignatov fails to land with a series of punches.
Ignatov scores with a leg kick.
Raven misses the shot to the body.
Ignatov is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Ignatov throws a leg kick but Raven checks it.
Raven throws a body punch but Ignatov moves out of range.
Raven lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ignatov's sensitive parts.
Raven is looking to land body kicks.
Raven throws a body punch but Ignatov moves out of range.
Ignatov's jab looks to have found its range, popping Raven under the eye.
Raven circles away from the clinch attempt.
A little jabbing left from Raven on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Ignatov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Raven has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Vladimir Ignatov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raven looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
As Raven backs away, Ignatov returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raven misses with a wild body shot.
Raven walks into a stiff left hand from Ignatov.
Raven throws a front kick aimed at Ignatov's knee but Ignatov avoids it well.
It looked like Ignatov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Raven takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ignatov, right into the meat.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ignatov throws a jab but it's blocked by Raven.
Raven keeps Ignatov at a distance using the push kick.
Ignatov misses the shot to the body.
A shot to the liver by Ignatov. Beautiful body shot.
Ignatov blocks a jab.
Ignatov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Raven.
A solid leg kick lands there for Raven.
Ignatov throws a right hand that misses
and Raven counters with a nice body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Ignatov dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Raven fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ignatov manages to avoid it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ignatov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ignatov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A nice leg kick lands there from Ignatov.
Ignatov blocks a jab.
Raven lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ignatov lands the left hand.
Ignatov lands a front kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raven takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Raven's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Raven takes a swing at Ignatov's ribcage but misses.
Ignatov just misses with a punch to the body.
A swing and a miss from Ignatov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatov lands with an uppercut that bounces Raven off the cage and back into range.
Raven 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.
Raven looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ignatov misses with a body shot.
Raven looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ignatov will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Raven is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Ignatov rather than just go for the knockout.
Ignatov doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Raven throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A clash of legs there as Ignatov blocks the low kick.
Ignatov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ignatov throws an overhand right that lands on Raven's shoulder, as Raven tries to avoid the shot.
Ignatov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Raven.
Ignatov lands a jab to Raven's midsection.
Ignatov is looking to score with low kicks.
Thomas Raven has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raven throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ignatov counters with a stiff right hand.
Raven connects with a leg kick. Ignatov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Raven throws a half hearted mid kick.
Raven ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ignatov moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Raven. Ignatov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Some bone on bone action there as Raven checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ignatov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Raven appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
A thudding body kick lands there by Raven!
Ignatov misses with a body shot.
Raven misses with a wild body shot.
Raven scores with a jab to the body.
Ignatov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ignatov moves into range and connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Raven tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ignatov was well out of range. Poor timing from Raven.
Ignatov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Raven manages to avoid it.
Ignatov throws a hook but Raven avoids it easily.
Raven on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Ignatov wants to clinch.
Raven moves out of range as Ignatov strikes.
Raven throws a quick inside leg kick.
Raven goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ignatov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Raven takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Ignatov throws out a powerful jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raven tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ignatov was well out of range. Poor timing from Raven.
Raven avoids the body shot from Ignatov.
Ignatov throws an off balance right hand
and Raven counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Ignatov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Raven in his tracks.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A big left from Raven misses.
Ignatov misses with a low kick as Raven jumps back.
Vladimir Ignatov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A solid body kick from Raven.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Nice body punch from Ignatov.
Ignatov throws a body punch but Raven moves out of range.
Raven moves out of range of the strikes.
That kick from Raven tenderised Ignatov's leg. Ignatov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Ignatov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

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 Vladimir Ignatov.
Well Ignatov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:28
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vladimir Ignatov!
After winning the bout, Vladimir Ignatov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.