PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Author Fonzarelli (ranked 3566 p4p, 4446 weight class) and Viktor Tikhonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Fonzarelli
vs
Tikhonov

188 cm
25
199
1 - 0 - 0

184 cm
25
195
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Author Fonzarelli!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Viktor Tikhonov!
The judges for this bout are Sandra Marshall, Michael Johnstone and David Hoff.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Tikhonov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tikhonov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Fonzarelli engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Fonzarelli pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tikhonov is keeping the position for now.
Fonzarelli controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Fonzarelli sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Tikhonov's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fonzarelli is taking a breather. Tikhonov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fonzarelli wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tikhonov keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikhonov trying to control from the bottom.
Fonzarelli trying to control from half guard but Tikhonov is working away.
Fonzarelli takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Tikhonov trying to hold on to Fonzarelli's head to control him but Fonzarelli postures up.
Fonzarelli lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Fonzarelli drops an elbow to the side of Tikhonov's head.

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.
Tikhonov is trying to get back to full guard.
Fonzarelli takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Fonzarelli lands strikes from half guard.
Fonzarelli lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tikhonov is holding on to half guard well.
Tikhonov wants to control but Fonzarelli is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Fonzarelli is looking to advance position but Tikhonov won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tikhonov tries to roll over but Fonzarelli keeps him under control.
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. Fonzarelli connects with a nice short shot to Tikhonov's temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikhonov is trying to maintain the position but Fonzarelli is very close to passing his half guard.
Fonzarelli is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ground and pound from Fonzarelli.
Tikhonov has hold of Fonzarelli's hands but Fonzarelli slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Fonzarelli lands a nice short elbow.
Tikhonov is doing well to control the position and prevent Fonzarelli from advancing to side control.
Fonzarelli perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikhonov taking some punishment here, with Fonzarelli in his half guard.
Fonzarelli looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Fonzarelli seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Tikhonov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Fonzarelli performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Fonzarelli wants to free his trapped foot but Tikhonov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Fonzarelli seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Author Fonzarelli dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Tikhonov misses with the combination.
Fonzarelli takes one to the chin there.
Fonzarelli walks into a jab.

Fonzarelli closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Fonzarelli lands in his opponent's guard.
Fonzarelli 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.
Fonzarelli postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Fonzarelli has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Tikhonov keeping moving, preventing Fonzarelli from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Fonzarelli 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.
Tikhonov working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikhonov wants to sweep but no luck.
Fonzarelli controlling from the top position.
Fonzarelli lands a couple of elbows.
Fonzarelli with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tikhonov has momentary wrist control but Fonzarelli slips an elbow through the middle.
Tikhonov is trying to keep Fonzarelli in close.
Fonzarelli tries to free his leg and advance position but Tikhonov is retaining full guard.
Tikhonov keeping moving, preventing Fonzarelli from controlling successfully.
Fonzarelli content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Fonzarelli stands up over Tikhonov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikhonov wants to sweep but no luck.
Fonzarelli lands a couple of elbows.
Fonzarelli is working Tikhonov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Fonzarelli working some strikes from top position.
Fonzarelli working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Fonzarelli trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fonzarelli wants to control from the top but Tikhonov keeps moving.
Fonzarelli working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Tikhonov's head.
Fonzarelli sitting in guard here, content to control.
Fonzarelli has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Fonzarelli connects with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fonzarelli slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Fonzarelli is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Fonzarelli slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Fonzarelli makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Fonzarelli wants to control from the top but Tikhonov keeps moving.
Tikhonov can't keep his opponent in guard - Fonzarelli advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Fonzarelli is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Fonzarelli is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikhonov is staying active underneath Fonzarelli, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tikhonov is pressing down on Fonzarelli's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fonzarelli stopping the sweep attempt from Tikhonov.
Fonzarelli lands a couple of elbows.
Fonzarelli is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tikhonov can do to turn this around?
Fonzarelli with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fonzarelli with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Fonzarelli engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Author Fonzarelli overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fonzarelli wants to control from the top but Tikhonov keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Fonzarelli is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Fonzarelli 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.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Author Fonzarelli dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Tikhonov's corner calls for a 1-2. Tikhonov obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Fonzarelli closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fonzarelli cracks Tikhonov with a big elbow.
Fonzarelli in side control lands a decent elbow.
Tikhonov is looking for a sweep.
Fonzarelli scoring with punches from side control.
Fonzarelli lands some shots froms side control.
Tikhonov trying to remain calm as Fonzarelli controls from the top position.
Tikhonov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tikhonov on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fonzarelli controlling from side mount.
Fonzarelli works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikhonov being controlled for a moment.
Tikhonov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Fonzarelli lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Check out the look on Fonzarelli's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Fonzarelli scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Tikhonov to see if he's OK.
Tikhonov takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Fonzarelli landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Fonzarelli lands a few punches from side control.
Fonzarelli wants to control but Tikhonov is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikhonov seems a little lost for a moment, as Fonzarelli dominates the positioning.
Check out the look on Fonzarelli's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Fonzarelli is chipping away with strikes.
Fonzarelli looks up at the clock and then as Tikhonov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Fonzarelli smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Fonzarelli staying calm.
Fonzarelli working the ground and pound from side control.

Tikhonov is rocked!
Fonzarelli lands an elbow.
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!
Fonzarelli working the ground and pound.
Tikhonov is still in real trouble! Can Fonzarelli finish him?
Fonzarelli takes a little break here. Tikhonov wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fonzarelli trying to control the action but Tikhonov is working from the bottom.
Tikhonov seems to have recovered his senses.
Fonzarelli is working Tikhonov over with some ground and pound from side control.
Fonzarelli scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Tikhonov to see if he's OK.
Fonzarelli just content to control the position.
Fonzarelli landing strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikhonov is pushing Fonzarelli's head away, looking to escape. Fonzarelli manages to hold on to the position though.
Fonzarelli lands a few punches from side control.
Fonzarelli lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Tikhonov is not content to let Fonzarelli control the position.
Fonzarelli is really struggling to control Tikhonov but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Viktor Tikhonov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tikhonov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fonzarelli scoring with punches and elbows.
Fonzarelli controls the position from side control.
Fonzarelli trying to control the position but Tikhonov is working away.
Author Fonzarelli is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Fonzarelli is putting a hurting on Tikhonov here, landing some big shots from side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Author Fonzarelli showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Fonzarelli, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sandra Marshall scores the fight 30:25
Judge Michael Johnstone scores the fight 30:25
Judge David Hoff scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Author Fonzarelli!