PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Smirnov (ranked 3077 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mohammed Fazik (ranked 19607 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smirnov
vs
Fazik

188 cm
26
220 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

180 cm
36
211 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mohammed Fazik!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smirnov has Fazik up against the cage in a clinch.

Smirnov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Fazik is trying to keep an underhook but Smirnov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smirnov wants to control but Fazik is keeping him busy.
Smirnov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Fazik is looking to control Smirnov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Fazik avoid being mounted?
Smirnov is trying to control. Fazik wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Smirnov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Fazik should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Smirnov is nestled in close to Fazik, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnov winds up and cracks Fazik with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Smirnov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Smirnov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fazik on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fazik trying to control but Smirnov postures up.
Fazik blocking the ground and pound attempt from Smirnov.
Fazik is trying to get back to full guard.
Fazik is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smirnov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smirnov's back!
Fazik doesn't have the hooks in and Smirnov manages to turn into his guard.
Smirnov is looking to work some ground and pound but Fazik has wrist control.
Smirnov cracks Fazik with a solid left hand.

Fazik is looking for a triangle but Smirnov pushes his legs off easily.
Smirnov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov looking to sit in guard and control but Fazik gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Smirnov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Smirnov keeping full guard, as Fazik tries to pass.
Fazik wants to control from the top but Smirnov keeps moving.
Smirnov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fazik is one step ahead there.
Fazik looking to pass the guard.
Fazik is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov keeping moving, preventing Fazik from controlling successfully.
Smirnov looking for a sweep. Not yet Smirnov, not yet.
Fazik's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Fazik wants to control from the top but Smirnov keeps moving.
Smirnov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Smirnov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fazik stays in close to Smirnov's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Fazik closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fazik lands in his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fazik drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Fazik jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Smirnov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Smirnov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fazik defending well though.
Smirnov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Fazik with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Smirnov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fazik defending well though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smirnov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Fazik taking some punishment here, with Smirnov in his half guard.
Fazik avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Smirnov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Smirnov dominated that round.
That's time! Smirnov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fazik.
Smirnov is looking for a counter combo.
Fazik tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Smirnov swivels and escapes.
As Fazik looks to move away, Smirnov throws a big counter combo but Fazik just gets out of the way.

Fazik tries to keep at a distance but Smirnov has taken the fight into the clinch.

Smirnov pulls guard effortlessly.
Fazik trying to control the position from guard on top but Smirnov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smirnov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Fazik can do to turn this around?
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Fazik fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Smirnov avoids it really well and circles away.
Sergei Smirnov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohammed Fazik.
Smirnov leaves Fazik with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smirnov swinging wildly here.

Smirnov closes the distance and clinches.
Fazik tries to pull guard but Smirnov won't allow it.

Smirnov breaks from the clinch.
Fazik misses with a takedown
enabling Smirnov to counter with a crisp jab.

Smirnov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Fazik misses with a short punch on the inside.
Fazik managing to block the knees to the body from Smirnov.

Smirnov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Fazik can't fight it off and eventually Smirnov manages to take the fight to the floor. Fazik looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Smirnov postures up.
Sergei Smirnov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smirnov wants to control from the top but Fazik keeps moving.
Smirnov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Smirnov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Smirnov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Fazik is looking for a triangle but Smirnov pushes his legs off easily.
Smirnov throws an elbow that misses. Fazik uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smirnov's guard. Nice move by Fazik!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov keeping moving, preventing Fazik from controlling successfully.
Smirnov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Fazik is one step ahead there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smirnov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Fazik is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Smirnov dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Smirnov slaps away a takedown attempt from Fazik, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Smirnov looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Fazik will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Fazik 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 Fazik off to one side.
Sergei Smirnov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mohammed Fazik.
Some wild striking there from Smirnov.

Smirnov moves into range and clinches up with Fazik.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Smirnov gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Smirnov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Fazik doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Smirnov.
Smirnov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov looks to land a strike but Fazik avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Smirnov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Smirnov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Smirnov trying to control the position from guard on top but Fazik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fazik is trying to keep Smirnov in close.
Smirnov lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smirnov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smirnov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smirnov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Fazik has his foot on Smirnov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smirnov works his way back into a safe position though.
Smirnov wants to control from the top but Fazik keeps moving.
Smirnov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Smirnov wants to control from the top but Fazik keeps moving.
Smirnov with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Fazik has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Smirnov manages to get his head free but now Fazik has transitioned to an armbar! Smirnov grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Fazik! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Mohammed Fazik!