PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Donavan Knapp (ranked 5025 p4p, 24700 weight class) and Izi Ruvik (ranked 239 p4p, 349 weight class). Izi Ruvik is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Knapp
vs
Ruvik

175 cm
25
170
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
20
200
2 - 7 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Big right hand

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Donavan Knapp!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Izi Ruvik!
The judges for this bout are Luis Engracia, Edson Gomes and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ruvik shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Knapp wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

Knapp closes the distance and clinches.
Knapp displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ruvik up against the cage.
Knapp tries to pull guard but Ruvik forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Knapp jumps guard and drags Ruvik to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Knapp tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Knapp being controlled here, momentarily.
Ruvik's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruvik wants to control from the top but Knapp keeps moving.
Ruvik pushes down on Knapp's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Knapp trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Knapp wants to control the action here but instead Ruvik manages to pass to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Knapp is looking to get to half guard.
Ruvik can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Knapp is looking to escape.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knapp tries to reverse the position but Ruvik maintains control.
Knapp might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ruvik content just to control the position here.
Knapp wants to control but Ruvik is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knapp tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Knapp is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Knapp is looking to improve his position but Ruvik isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knapp wants to hold on but Ruvik pushes him away.
Ruvik controlling his opponent.
Ruvik trying to control but Knapp is having none of it.
Knapp is looking to get to half guard.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Knapp is working hard here to advance position.
Ruvik tries to control but Knapp wriggling away.
Knapp tries to reverse the position but Ruvik maintains control.
Ruvik can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Knapp is looking to escape.
Knapp is looking to get to half guard.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ruvik tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Knapp is desperately trying to improve his position but Ruvik has a good base and remains in mount.
Ruvik wants to control the pace but Knapp is squirming around nicely.
Knapp tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Ruvik looking to control but Knapp is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ruvik is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Ruvik content just to control the position here.
Ruvik looking to ground and pound but Knapp is blocking nicely.
Knapp wants to control but Ruvik is having none of it.
Ruvik tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Knapp tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Knapp sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Knapp is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Knapp wants to get back to full guard but Ruvik has mounted him!
Knapp is working to get back to half guard.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Ruvik avoids the attempt from Knapp to control.
Ruvik looking to control but Knapp is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Knapp tries to reverse the position but Ruvik maintains control.
Ruvik content just to control the position here.
Ruvik avoids the attempt from Knapp to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Izi Ruvik dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Knapp looks for a takedown but Ruvik sprawls well.
Ruvik goes for a double leg but Knapp avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Knapp continues to drive forward.
Ruvik blocks the body kick.

Knapp clinches.
Ruvik drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ruvik drops down looking for an ankle pick but Knapp pulls his leg out and moves away.
Donavan Knapp has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Izi Ruvik.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Knapp drives through and clinches with Ruvik against the cage.

Knapp manages to break the clinch.
Ruvik shoots in and drives through. Knapp sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruvik shoots in looking for a takedown. Knapp tries to sprawl out of it but Ruvik keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Knapp manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Knapp shoots in but no luck this time.
No luck for Ruvik with that takedown attempt.
Knapp looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ruvik is fending him off so far but Knapp persists. Nope, Ruvik circles away and we're back to standing.

Knapp moves into range and clinches up with Ruvik.
Knapp is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Knapp gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ruvik.
Ruvik is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Knapp manages to break the clinch.
Knapp throws a series of punches but Ruvik moves out of range.
Ruvik changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Knapp lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Ruvik will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Knapp looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ruvik is fending him off so far but Knapp persists. Nope, Ruvik circles away and we're back to standing.
Knapp avoids a punch combination nicely.
Knapp defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ruvik.
Ruvik wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knapp fails to land the takedown.
Ruvik throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Knapp's waist but Knapp gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ruvik off to one side.

Ruvik gets tackled into the cage by Knapp. Knapp maintains the clinch.

Knapp jumps into guard, dragging Ruvik to the mat.
Ruvik is stalling in the full guard.
Knapp trying to control the position here.
Ruvik trying to control the position from guard on top but Knapp is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knapp trying to keep a closed guard but Ruvik is proving a slippery customer.
Knapp seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Knapp had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ruvik defends it easily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ruvik defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Knapp.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Ruvik tries a head kick but it misses.
Knapp looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
A head kick from Ruvik lands but Knapp takes it in his stride.
A lazy left from Knapp finds it's target.
Knapp shoots for a takedown but Ruvik saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Knapp moves into the clinch.
Ruvik is trying to drag Knapp to the mat but Knapp just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Ruvik tries to score a body lock takedown but Knapp shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Knapp misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ruvik.
Knapp lands a shot to the body.
Knapp looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Knapp gets underhooks to prevent Ruvik's takedown attempt.
Ruvik can't get the takedown.

Knapp pulls guard.
Knapp throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Knapp on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Knapp tries to get out of the position.

Knapp had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ruvik defends it easily.
Knapp throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Knapp tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Knapp throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Knapp managing to control the position.
Knapp wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Knapp is defended easily by Ruvik.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ruvik tries to clinch there but Knapp circles away.
Knapp shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ruvik but Ruvik pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Knapp closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ruvik circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ruvik.
Donavan Knapp is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Knapp will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ruvik swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Knapp moves into the clinch.
Knapp lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ruvik prevents the takedown attempt.
Knapp tries to pull guard but Ruvik won't allow it.
Ruvik is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Knapp pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.

Knapp breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Knapp closes the distance and clinches up with Ruvik, looking for a takedown. Knapp pushes Ruvik against the cage but Ruvik circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Knapp sets himself, and Ruvik steps forward looking for the clinch! Knapp avoids it this time.
Knapp changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Ruvik tries to avoid it but Knapp manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Ruvik to the ground. Ruvik escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Ruvik fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Knapp throws a body kick that misses.
Horrible takedown attempt by Ruvik or perhaps it was just good defense by Knapp, which made it look bad.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Knapp throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Ruvik was covering up waiting for the punch and Knapp finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Ruvik is trying to control the position from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Donavan Knapp showed his dominance in that final round.
I have no idea who won that fight. Let's wait and see whether the judges are as confused as me! Time for a split decision perhaps?!. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Luis Engracia scores the fight for Donavan Knapp!
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight as a draw!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Donavan Knapp!

Donavan Knapp wins by majority decision!