PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marc Lowery (ranked 24221 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hazir Solomonov (ranked 4744 p4p, 0 weight class). Hazir Solomonov has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Lowery
vs
Solomonov

151 cm
23
278 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

210 cm
22
281 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marc Lowery!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hazir Solomonov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Viktor Lagutenko and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Solomonov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lowery sprawls well. Lowery wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Solomonov gets slowly back to his feet.
Lowery tries to counter by clinching up but Solomonov breaks away and moves out of range.

Lowery shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Solomonov kicks Lowery off and gets back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Solomonov drives through and clinches with Lowery against the cage.
Lowery prevents a takedown attempt there.
Lowery gets underhooks to prevent Solomonov's takedown attempt.
Marc Lowery has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hazir Solomonov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lowery is looking to take this one to the mat.
Solomonov is trying to drag Lowery to the mat but Lowery just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Solomonov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Lowery avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Solomonov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Lowery has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Lowery wants a takedown but no success here.
Lowery blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Solomonov is trying to break the clinch but Lowery has him pressed against the cage.

Lowery's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two 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.
Lowery tries to bum rush Solomonov with a series of wild strikes but Solomonov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lowery has a takedown stuffed.
Solomonov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Solomonov moves into range and clinches up with Lowery.

Lowery breaks the clinch.

Solomonov closes the distance and clinches.
Lowery tries to pull guard but Solomonov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Lowery is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Solomonov pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lowery gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Solomonov.
Lowery has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Solomonov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Solomonov is pushing Lowery up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Solomonov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Lowery has him pressed against the cage.
Solomonov lands a nice uppercut.
Lowery managing to block the knees to the body from Solomonov.
Lowery really is a fat lump.

That's four 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.
Solomonov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Solomonov fails to pull guard.
Solomonov is pressed up against the cage. Lowery has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Solomonov down to the mat. Solomonov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Solomonov misses with a takedown attempt - Lowery sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lowery wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
No luck for Solomonov with that takedown attempt.
Lowery feinted with a counter takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lowery shoots in and gets a takedown into Solomonov's guard.

Solomonov wriggles free and stands up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hazir Solomonov dominated that 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.

Lowery keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lowery half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Solomonov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lowery circles away.

Solomonov clinches with his opponent.
Solomonov stalling the fight.
Lowery tries to pull guard but Solomonov holds him up against the cage and eventually Lowery drops back down to his feet.
Lowery jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Solomonov walks away with a smile on his face. Lowery gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Solomonov is defended easily by Lowery.
Lowery feinted with a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lowery shoots in but Solomonov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Lowery. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Solomonov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lowery shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Solomonov defends it nicely.
Solomonov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Lowery sprawls well. Lowery wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Solomonov gets slowly back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Solomonov misses with a head kick.
Solomonov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lowery defends well and Solomonov ends up having to push Lowery into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Solomonov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lowery but Lowery pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Solomonov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lowery pinned against the cage. Lowery gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Solomonov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Solomonov is breathing heavily.
Solomonov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomonov throws a leg kick

and Lowery decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Solomonov's guard.
Lowery has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lowery postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Lowery might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Solomonov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Solomonov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lowery throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Solomonov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Lowery in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lowery is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lowery wants to get up but he can't break Solomonov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lowery is working Solomonov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lowery has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Solomonov is proving hard to escape from.
Lowery postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lowery has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Solomonov is proving hard to escape from.
Solomonov trying to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Lowery stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lowery wants it to stay on the feet.
Lowery tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Solomonov manages to circle out of the way.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Solomonov fails with a takedown attempt.
Lowery feinted with a counter takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marc Lowery dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Solomonov clinches up against the cage.

Solomonov has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lowery uses from the top position.
Lowery throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Lowery is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Lowery postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Solomonov has a closed guard, preventing Lowery from standing up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lowery decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Solomonov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Lowery counters by clinching up.
Lowery tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lowery tries to pull guard but Solomonov won't allow it.

Lowery lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Solomonov pushes Lowery off and gets back to his feet.
Solomonov tries for a takedown but Lowery sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lowery shoots in but Solomonov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marc Lowery. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Solomonov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lowery defends it nicely.
Marc Lowery is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Solomonov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lowery keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Solomonov misses with a takedown attempt - Lowery sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Lowery half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Solomonov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lowery circles away.
Lowery throws a big counter combination but Solomonov scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
No luck for Lowery with that takedown attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lowery fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Solomonov avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Solomonov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Solomonov fails with the takedown.
Lowery appears to be looking for a big counter.
Solomonov throws a looping overhand right but Lowery ducks down to avoid it.
Lowery half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Solomonov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
It looked like Lowery was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lowery tries for a takedown but Solomonov circles away easily
and Solomonov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Solomonov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Lowery.
Solomonov connects with a looping right hand.
Marc Lowery is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Lowery gets tackled into the cage by Solomonov. Solomonov maintains the clinch.
Lowery is trying to drag Solomonov to the mat but Solomonov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Solomonov tries to break the clinch but Lowery is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Hazir Solomonov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Solomonov 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hazir Solomonov!