PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Drokov Slayveski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Smokey Joe (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Slightly Stoopid - Above The Clouds. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Slayveski
vs
Joe

196 cm
19
239 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

195 cm
22
275 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Likes ground

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Drokov Slayveski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Smokey Joe!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slayveski shoots for a double leg takedown but Joe sprawls well. He's pushed Slayveski's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Joe tries for a takedown but Slayveski circles away easily

and Slayveski counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Joe's guard now.

Joe had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Slayveski is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Joe Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Slayveski's back instead.
Slayveski knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Joe on the ground.
Joe keeps control of the position as Slayveski tries to break free.
Slayveski tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Joe has hold of Slayveski's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Slayveski manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Joe prevents Slayveski from getting the reversal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joe cracks Slayveski with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Slayveski keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Joe has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Joe has control of Slayveski's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Slayveski regains control of the situation pretty easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joe with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Slayveski is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Joe wants to control the pace but Slayveski is squirming around nicely.
Joe lands a heavy elbow.
Slayveski flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Slayveski is looking to improve his position but Joe isn't that keen on the idea.

Joe is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Slayveski is surviving well by controlling Joe's body position as best he can.
Joe is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Joe looks gassed!
Joe with good strikes from the mount here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slayveski tries to reverse the position but Joe maintains control.
Joe is landing with some decent strikes but Slayveski is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Joe unloading with bombs!
Slayveski keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Slayveski on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Slayveski tries to get out of the position.

Joe is going olschool here, as he tries to force Slayveski to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Slayveski shrugs it off.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Slayveski wants to hold on but Joe pushes him away.
Slayveski is working to get back to half guard.
Joe with a couple of short strikes.
Slayveski flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Slayveski sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Slayveski is pressing down on Joe's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Slayveski lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Joe!
Joe is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slayveski looking to control but Joe is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Slayveski cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Slayveski in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Joe throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Joe keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Joe is bucking up trying to escape but Slayveski cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Slayveski lands a big elbow.
Joe sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Slayveski looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Joe with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ground and pound from Slayveski.

Joe looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slayveski lands strikes from half guard.
Slayveski looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Joe with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Slayveski lands with a punch from half guard.
Slayveski is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Slayveski is looking to take a break and control but Joe is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Joe manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Slayveski connects with a couple of short punches.

Joe has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Slayveski can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Slayveski has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Joe is proving hard to escape from.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slayveski works a leg free and moves into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Smokey Joe will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Joe shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Joe landing some decent shots from guard.
Slayveski throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Slayveski is looking to stand up but Joe isn't so interested in that idea.

Joe drops back looking for a leg! Slayveski is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Slayveski manages to kick Joe off! Joe jumps back into Slayveski's guard.

Slayveski is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Slayveski is looking for a triangle but Joe pushes his legs off easily.
Joe won't allow Slayveski to sweep him here.
Joe is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Joe drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Joe jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Joe misses with a takedown

and Slayveski decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Joe's guard.
Slayveski scoring with some ground and pound.
Slayveski makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Joe is pulling down on Slayveski's head to control his posture.

Joe looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Slayveski with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Joe keeping moving, preventing Slayveski from controlling successfully.

Joe has his foot on Slayveski's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Slayveski works his way back into a safe position though.
Slayveski stopping the sweep attempt from Joe.

Joe looking for a guillotine here but Slayveski defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Joe looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Slayveski keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Joe's head.
Slayveski postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Slayveski wants to pass the guard but Joe is keeping the position.
Joe lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Slayveski!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Joe connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Slayveski is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slayveski swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.

Joe is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Slayveski can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Joe looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Smokey Joe has got the better of the ground game so far.
Slayveski is wriggling around trying to escape.
Joe blocks Slayveski's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Slayveski tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Joe looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Joe postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Slayveski looks a forlorn figure.
Joe scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Slayveski is trying to escape the mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slayveski throwing hammer fists to the chest of Joe. What's that going to do exactly?
Slayveski is looking to get to half guard.
The referee warns Slayveski that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Slayveski taking shots to the head.
Joe blocks Slayveski's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Slayveski is working to get back to half guard.
Slayveski tries to hold on but Joe pushes him away.
Joe with shots to the head and body - Slayveski looks very uncomfortable down there.
Slayveski working to try and regain half guard.
Joe lands a heavy elbow.
Slayveski is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Smokey Joe showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Joe shoots and misses

and Slayveski counters with a takedown into side control.
Joe can't do much from the bottom here.

Joe bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!

Joe changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Slayveski looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Slayveski manages to get back to half guard.
Slayveski makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Slayveski.
Slayveski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Joe.
Slayveski lands a decent punch to the body there.
Slayveski trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Slayveski 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.
Joe wants to control from the top but Slayveski keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slayveski throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Joe wants to control from the top but Slayveski keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Slayveski decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Slayveski content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Slayveski not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Joe moves into full guard.
Slayveski lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Slayveski would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Slayveski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Slayveski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Joe is on top in guard.
Joe landing some decent shots from guard.
Slayveski will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Joe sitting in guard here, content to control.
Slayveski keeping moving, preventing Joe from controlling successfully.

Slayveski looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Slayveski doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Joe content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Joe forces his way into half guard.
Joe missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joe seems to be looking for submissions.
Slayveski is looking to control Joe's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Slayveski avoid being mounted?
Slayveski gets full guard.

Slayveski has his foot on Joe's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Joe works his way back into a safe position though.

Joe thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Joe is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Slayveski doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Joe looking to pass the guard.

Joe drops back looking for a leg! Slayveski is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Slayveski manages to kick Joe off! Joe jumps back into Slayveski's guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Joe with a lazy takedown attempt

and Slayveski decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Joe's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Joe looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Slayveski working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Slayveski won't allow Joe to sweep him here.
Slayveski with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Joe looking for a sweep. Not yet Joe, not yet.
Slayveski postures up.
Drokov Slayveski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Slayveski is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Slayveski landing with the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Joe gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Slayveski counters with a nice double leg into side control. Joe won't be happy with that.

And that's the end of the fight!
Drokov Slayveski showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Joe has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Smokey Joe!