PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kwame Nti (ranked 281 p4p, 296 weight class) and Yevgeny Ignatov (ranked 14 p4p, 49 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Nti
vs
Ignatov

172 cm
32
220
21 - 11 - 0

189 cm
29
194
18 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

NARCOS
Bondi MMA 🏝️

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 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kwame Nti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yevgeny Ignatov!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Shimada and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ignatov misses with a body kick.
Nti has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Hammer House of Horror in the buildup to the fight.
Nti ducks under a wild hook from Ignatov.
Nti tries to counter with a takedown but Ignatov is quick to defend against it.
Ignatov throws a lazy uppercut

and Nti counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Ignatov is trying to get back to full guard.
Ignatov is still trying to improve position.
Nti is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Nti looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ignatov tries to get to full guard but Nti has control of the leg.
Nti trying to mount his opponent but Ignatov defends it.
Nti sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nti's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ignatov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Ignatov working for a triangle but Nti defends it easily.

Ignatov looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Nti has picked Ignatov up and slammed him! Ignatov can't keep hold of the triangle and Nti manages to pass to side control!
Ignatov tries to bench press Nti off him but Nti keeps the position.
Ignatov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Nti is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ignatov will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Nti tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Ignatov tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nti controls the position.
Ignatov is trying to improve his position.
Ignatov is not content to let Nti control the position.
Ignatov is trying to improve his position.
Ignatov being controlled for a moment.
Ignatov gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Ignatov felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Ignatov manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov wants to sweep but no luck.
Ignatov tries to strike from the bottom.
Ignatov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ignatov keeping moving, preventing Nti from controlling successfully.
Nti is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ignatov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nti's guard.

Ignatov stopping the sweep attempt from Nti.
Nti is pulling down on Ignatov's head to control his posture.
Nti might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Nti working a defensive guard but Ignatov passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov trying to control the pace.
Nti keeping hold of Ignatov's head, controlling as best he can.
Nti is looking to improve his position.
Nti wants to sweep but Ignatov has passed to side control!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nti being controlled for a moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nti moves out of range of the leg kick from Ignatov.
Nti attempts a counter takedown but Ignatov avoids it well and moves away.
Yevgeny Ignatov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nti moves out of range as Ignatov throws a body kick.
Nti changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nti. Ignatov does a little dance to reset his feet.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nti. Ignatov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Nti swings for the body but Ignatov moves out of range.
Ignatov thumps Nti with a low kick.
Ignatov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Nti. Nti circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Ignatov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Jab from Ignatov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ignatov lands a nice hook to Nti's body. Nti takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Nti looks to score with a jab to the body but Ignatov is just out of range.
Ignatov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Nti moves away.
Ignatov lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nti moves out of range of the leg kick from Ignatov.
Ignatov throws a low kick but Nti avoids it.
Ignatov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nti blocks a low kick nicely.
Nti swings for the body but Ignatov moves out of range.
Ignatov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nti has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ignatov.
Nti throws a big shot that misses.
Ignatov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ignatov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ignatov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A low kick lands for Ignatov.
Ignatov just misses with a punch to the body.
Ignatov lands a leg kick that knocks Nti off balance momentarily.
Nti misses with a wild body shot.
Ignatov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Nti.
Nti throws an off balance right hand
letting Ignatov counter with a right hand.
Yevgeny Ignatov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Nti throws a body punch but Ignatov moves out of range.
Nti changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
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!
Ignatov missing with a left hand there. Nti was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ignatov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Nti is able to avoid easily.
Nti feinted with a counter takedown.
Ignatov pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Nti feinted with a counter takedown.
Nti is looking to clinch but Ignatov is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Ignatov. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Nti avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ignatov tries to close the distance and clinch but Nti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nti lands a body shot.
Nti looks to land a right hand but Ignatov moved out of range.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Nti is defended easily by Ignatov.

Nti looking to score a takedown here. Ignatov is defending well but Nti drives through and ends up in Ignatov's guard.
Nti trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nti wants to control from the top but Ignatov keeps moving.
Ignatov trying to strike off his back.
Nti stopping the sweep attempt from Ignatov.
Nti slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ignatov wants to sweep but no luck.
Ignatov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ignatov is on top in guard.

Nti is adopting a defensive guard.
Nti wants to sweep here but Ignatov controlling him for the moment.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yevgeny Ignatov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Nti moves out of range of the strikes.
Nti changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Ignatov tries to land a front kick but Nti steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ignatov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Nti lands a slapping body shot.
Ignatov just misses with a punch to the body.
Ignatov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Ignatov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nti was well out of range. Poor timing from Ignatov.
Nti slips under a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ignatov tries to land a front kick but Nti steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Nti is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Ignatov misses the shot to the body.
Ignatov misses with a low kick as Nti jumps back.
Ignatov lands a head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatov keeps the fight on the outside.
Ignatov looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ignatov smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Nti blocks a jab.
Ignatov keeps the fight on the outside.
Nti takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.

Ignatov gets caught napping as Nti dives in and scores a takedown. Ignatov manages to retain guard.
Ignatov wants to sweep but no luck.
Ignatov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Nti throws a big elbow that misses.
Ignatov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nti manages to get himself to full guard.

Nti is pulling down on Ignatov's head to control his posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ignatov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nti working a defensive guard here.
Nti looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Ignatov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Ignatov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nti tries to get to full guard but Ignatov has control of the leg.
Nti is working hard here to advance position.
Nti has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ignatov is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Nti trying to control but Ignatov postures up.
Nti is staying active underneath Ignatov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Nti trying to control but Ignatov postures up.
Nti is trying to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ignatov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nti swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nti feinted with a counter takedown.
Nti throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Ignatov to counter with a crisp jab.
Ignatov thumps Nti with a low kick.
Nti scores with a jab to the body.
Nti tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ignatov was well out of range. Poor timing from Nti.
Ignatov follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Nti closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nti pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ignatov misses with an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yevgeny Ignatov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ignatov 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 Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yevgeny Ignatov!
A very excited looking Yevgeny Ignatov made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.