PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rex Bearden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Micah Slovavich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Micah Slovavich told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Bearden
vs
Slovavich

192 cm
20
250 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

185 cm
23
268 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Sweet-Tooth Supplements
Sweet-Tooth Supplements

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rex Bearden!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Micah Slovavich!
The judges for this bout are Franklyn Lucas, Russell Pearce and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slovavich shoots for a takedown but Bearden saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Bearden shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Slovavich manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Bearden tries to free his leg and advance position but Slovavich is retaining full guard.
Bearden is working hard here to advance position.

Slovavich wriggles free and stands up.
Bearden fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Slovavich has his takedown stuffed
and Bearden counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Bearden shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Slovavich counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bearden trying to control but Slovavich postures up.
Bearden won't allow Slovavich to pass to mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bearden trying to hold on to Slovavich's head to control him but Slovavich postures up.
Slovavich not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Bearden looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bearden tries to roll over but Slovavich keeps him under control.
Bearden is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Slovavich scores with a couple of nice shots.
Slovavich working over Bearden with some ground and pound. Bearden looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ground and pound from Slovavich.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Slovavich thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Slovavich thows a huge punch but Bearden dodges it nicely.
Bearden avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Slovavich.
Slovavich landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Slovavich thows a huge punch but Bearden dodges it nicely.
Bearden has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Slovavich is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bearden actively working from the bottom here.
Bearden is trying to get back to full guard.

Bearden looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bearden is breathing heavily.
Slovavich landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Slovavich is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Slovavich working over Bearden with some ground and pound. Bearden looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Slovavich landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bearden gets full guard.
Slovavich postures up in Bearden's guard and throws a big left but Bearden blocks it.

Slovavich decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Bearden, up you get!
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!

Slovavich changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bearden looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bearden can't do much from the bottom here.
Bearden takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Bearden regains half guard.
Slovavich thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bearden trying to control but Slovavich postures up.
Bearden tries to get to full guard but Slovavich has control of the leg.
Bearden trying to control from the bottom.
Bearden is trying to get back to full guard.
Slovavich is nestled in close to Bearden, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Slovavich working over Bearden with some ground and pound. Bearden looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bearden avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Slovavich.
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. Slovavich connects with a nice short shot to Bearden's temple.

Bearden is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Slovavich pulls his head out easily.
Nice strikes from Slovavich there.
Slovavich seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Slovavich thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Bearden's head.
Bearden is looking to escape.
Bearden is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Slovavich scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slovavich scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Bearden tries to get to full guard but Slovavich has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bearden tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Micah Slovavich dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Bearden drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Bearden thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Slovavich looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Slovavich lands with a heel strike from the guard.
Slovavich wants to sweep but no luck.
Bearden trying to control the position from guard on top but Slovavich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Slovavich throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bearden tries to free his leg and advance position but Slovavich is retaining full guard.
Slovavich is breathing heavily.
Bearden wants to control from the top but Slovavich keeps moving.
Bearden thows a big elbow that misses.
Slovavich trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slovavich will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Slovavich fails with the takedown

and Bearden counters with a takedown into side control.
Bearden cracks Slovavich with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Bearden scoring with punches from side control.
Bearden lands a few punches from side control.
Bearden is looking to take a break and control but Slovavich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Bearden stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Slovavich misses with a takedown attempt
and Bearden counters with a big head kick but Slovavich shrugs it off.
Bearden misses with a takedown attempt

and Slovavich counters with a shoot takedown. Bearden fights it but they end up in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Slovavich working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bearden bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Slovavich's guard.
Slovavich trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Slovavich trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Bearden trying to control the position from guard on top but Slovavich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Slovavich 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.
Bearden wants to pass the guard but Slovavich is keeping the position.
Slovavich will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Bearden sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Slovavich throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bearden tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bearden closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Slovavich to the mat! Slovavich manages to get full guard.
Slovavich will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Slovavich striking off his back, scoring a few points.
Slovavich keeping moving, preventing Bearden from controlling successfully.
Bearden slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Slovavich.
Slovavich wants to get back to his feet.
Bearden slips a nice elbow through Slovavich's hands, connecting with Slovavich's forehead.
Slovavich taking some punishment here, with Bearden in his half guard.

Slovavich looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Bearden decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bearden comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rex Bearden is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Bearden gets the takedown into side control.

Bearden thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Slovavich manages to get back to half guard.
Micah Slovavich has got the better of the ground game so far.

Bearden is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Slovavich is just riding it out for now. Bearden eventually gives up the hold.
Slovavich makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Slovavich.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rex Bearden dominated that second 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!

Slovavich with a poor takedown

so Bearden counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Bearden stands up over Slovavich, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Bearden works over Slovavich with some ground and pound from guard.

Bearden thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Slovavich tries to strike from the bottom.
Bearden trying to control but Slovavich is working from the bottom.
Slovavich is striking but Bearden is not phased and passes to half guard.
Slovavich landing a few short strikes.
Slovavich missing with punches from the bottom.
Slovavich missing with punches from the bottom.
Slovavich throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bearden pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Slovavich looks to throw a body kick

and Bearden counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Slovavich's guard now.
Bearden lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Slovavich looking for a sweep. Not yet Slovavich, not yet.
Slovavich keeping moving, preventing Bearden from controlling successfully.
Bearden advances position into side control!

Bearden wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Slovavich, who protects the arm well.
Bearden is looking to take a break and control but Slovavich is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Check out the look on Bearden's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bearden is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Bearden landing a few strikes.
Slovavich misses with a strike from the bottom.
Slovavich throws a couple of elbows from the bottom.

Slovavich throws a few rabbit punches from the bottom. Bearden was waiting for it though - now Slovavich's arm is in the perfect position for an arm triangle - he's tightening it up and Slovavich is forced to tap out before he takes a nap! Very clever counter grappling there from Bearden!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Rex Bearden!