PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Pasha Mista (ranked 4506 p4p, 450 weight class) and Stevie Ray (ranked 7563 p4p, 555 weight class). Mista comes to the cage accompanied by Gopnik Dance. Ray has chosen Kamikaze - Eminem as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Stevie Ray enters the cage!

Mista
vs
Ray

186 cm
20
161 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

176 cm
19
161 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pasha Mista!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stevie Ray!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mista goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Mista shoots in but no luck this time.
Mista uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Stevie Ray seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Mista.

Ray shoots in and gets a takedown into Mista's guard.
Mista scores with a couple of body punches from the bottom.
Ray postures up in Mista's guard and throws a big left but Mista blocks it.
Mista utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ray must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ray preventing the sweep.
Mista pulls Ray in close to prevent any damage.
Ray throwing strikes but missing.
Mista is controlling Ray's posture.
Ray trying to control the position from guard on top but Mista is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Connects with an elbow from the bottom, proving to the judges that he's still active off his back.
Mista pulls Ray in close to prevent any damage.
Ray with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ray is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mista keeping moving, preventing Ray from controlling successfully.
Mista trying to control the position.

Mista is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Mista looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Mista is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Mista is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mista is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ray is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Ray distracts Mista with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ray postures up in Mista's guard and throws a big left but Mista blocks it.
Mista keeping moving, preventing Ray from controlling successfully.
Ray stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mista swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ray seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Mista trying to keep a closed guard but Ray is proving a slippery customer.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ray accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mista strikes from his own guard.
Mista preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Mista throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Ray looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Mista!
Mista manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Ray on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Mista wants to take a breather but Ray is having none of it.
Mista looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Mista drops an elbow to the side of Ray's head.
Mista throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mista really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ray wants to get back to his feet.
Ray is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mista working Ray over with strikes.
Mista wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ray keeps working.
Mista missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mista sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ray defending well though.
Mista tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ray knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mista landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Mista is nestled in close to Ray, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ray is trying to stand.
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 Pasha Mista will probably get the nod.
That's time! Mista's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Mista fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Ray to the ground. Mista is now in Ray's guard.
Ray is looking to stand back up but Mista counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ray.

Mista sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ray defending well though.
Mista thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mista slips a nice elbow through Ray's hands, connecting with Ray's forehead.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Mista connects with a nice short shot to Ray's temple.
Ray is trying to stand back up but Mista is controlling him
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mista thows a huge punch but Ray dodges it nicely.
Ray is staying active underneath Mista, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mista thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mista is trying to control the action in half guard but Ray is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Mista has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mista stops Ray from getting back to his feet.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Mista lands a nice short elbow.

Mista is working for a submission of some sort.
Mista working Ray over with strikes.
Ray pushes Mista off looking to stand but Mista dives back in and keeps control.
Mista looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Ray pushes Mista off looking to stand but Mista dives back in and keeps control.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

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.
Mista working the head and body with strikes.
Mista trying to control from half guard but Ray is working away.
Mista throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Mista looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ray with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mista throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ray to regain full guard.
Mista chips away with some ground and pound.
Mista throws a strike but Ray rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Mista will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Ray is fighting to break Mista's control of his arms but Mista is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Mista is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ray trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mista working a defensive guard here.
Mista is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Ray working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mista's head.
Ray with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ray works over Mista with some ground and pound from guard.
Mista is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ray wants to control from the top but Mista keeps moving.
Ray lands a couple of digs.
Mista wants to sweep but no luck.
Mista looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Mista trying to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ray accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ray trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mista throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Mista explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Mista stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Mista wants it to stay on the feet.
Mista clobbers Ray with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Ray fails with a takedown attempt.
Stevie Ray is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ray will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Pasha Mista has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Stevie Ray.
Ray is breathing heavily.

Mista closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mista lands in his opponent's guard.
Mista throws a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pasha Mista dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Mista scores with a jab to the head.

Mista changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Ray looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Mista tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Ray is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Mista is controlling him well.
Mista lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Ray down.
Ray is not content to let Mista control the position.
Pasha Mista overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ray is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mista has just dragged him back down to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ray parries the strikes from Mista easily there. Mista is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Ray to escape.
Mista working the body and head with strikes.
Check out the look on Mista's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Mista working the head with strikes.
Mista trying to control the action but Ray is working from the bottom.
Mista cracks Ray with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Ray is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mista is putting a hurting on Ray here, landing some big shots from side control.
Mista lands a decent elbow from side control.
Mista controls the position.
Mista has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Ray taking a bit of punishment here - Mista scoring with strikes.
Mista works to advance to full mount. Ray defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mista landing shots from mount.
Mista working away from the top, dropping strikes.
You get the feeling that Ray really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Mista is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ray can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Ray takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ray is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Mista postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Ray looks a forlorn figure.
Ray is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Mista breaks from Ray's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Mista trying to control but Ray is having none of it.
Ray is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Pasha Mista is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mista lands a big shot there that rocks Ray but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Mista controlling from the full mount.
Ray is in a horrible position here. Mista smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Stevie Ray has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mista controlling from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pasha Mista showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Mista 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:26
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pasha Mista!
During a confident post fight interview, Pasha Mista thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.
The defeated Stevie Ray had this to say: 'It was his night. Congratulations, but I'll be back.'.