PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Plugotir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vladimir Smirnov looks tired to me. Hopefully he has got enough gas left in the tank to put in a good performance.

Smirnov
vs
Plugotir

180 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
21
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Plugotir!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Plugotir fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Smirnov.
Plugotir fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smirnov checks a low kick from Plugotir.

Plugotir shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Plugotir scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Smirnov?
Plugotir connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Plugotir landing strikes, looking to finish!
Smirnov tries to lock up and control but Plugotir gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Plugotir fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Smirnov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Smirnov is working hard here to advance position.
Plugotir with shots to the head and body - Smirnov looks very uncomfortable down there.
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!
Smirnov is bucking up trying to escape but Plugotir cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Smirnov is desperately trying to improve his position but Plugotir has a good base and remains in mount.
Smirnov is breathing heavily.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Plugotir landing strikes, looking to finish!
Smirnov wants to try and get back to his feet.
The referee warns Smirnov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Plugotir is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Plugotir postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Smirnov looks a forlorn figure.
Plugotir breaks from Smirnov's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Plugotir connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Smirnov tries to buck Plugotir off but he can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Plugotir lands a heavy elbow.
Plugotir fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Plugotir landing shots from mount.
Plugotir working Smirnov over with strikes here.
Smirnov tries to hold on but Plugotir pushes him away.

Plugotir looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Smirnov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Plugotir unloading with bombs!

Plugotir is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Smirnov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plugotir with good strikes from the mount here!
Plugotir working Smirnov over with strikes here.
Smirnov takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Plugotir throws some wild stikes that Smirnov manages to avoid easily.
Smirnov is desperately trying to improve his position but Plugotir has a good base and remains in mount.
Plugotir with shots to the head and body - Smirnov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Plugotir misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Plugotir blocks Smirnov's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

Plugotir swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Smirnov is now in Plugotir's guard. A big mistake from Plugotir there, giving up the dominant position!
Plugotir controls Smirnov momentarily but Smirnov frees himself.
Smirnov trying to control the position from guard on top but Plugotir is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Plugotir looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Plugotir working for a triangle but Smirnov defends it easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Plugotir dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Smirnov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Smirnov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Plugotir is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Plugotir is trying to escape the mount.
Plugotir is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Plugotir tries to hold on but Smirnov pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Smirnov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Smirnov with good strikes from the mount here!
Ivan Plugotir has got the better of the ground game so far.
Plugotir tries to hold on but Smirnov pushes him away.
Plugotir is wriggling around trying to escape.
Smirnov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Plugotir is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smirnov landing strikes from the mount and Plugotir is in trouble!
Smirnov with a couple of short strikes.
Plugotir has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Plugotir is squirming around, avoiding Smirnov's attempts to control the action.
Smirnov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Plugotir is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Smirnov throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Plugotir turns into him and now he's in Smirnov's guard.
Smirnov controls Plugotir momentarily but Plugotir frees himself.
Plugotir stops Smirnov from standing up.
Plugotir thows a big elbow that misses.
Plugotir won't allow Smirnov to get back to his feet.
Smirnov wants to sweep here but Plugotir controlling him for the moment.
Smirnov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smirnov tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Plugotir loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smirnov is trying to keep Plugotir in close.
Smirnov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Smirnov.
Smirnov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Plugotir sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smirnov somewhat.

Plugotir drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Plugotir throws a big right hand that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vladimir Smirnov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Plugotir fails with the takedown

and Smirnov counters with a single leg into guard. Plugotir didn't expect that.
Smirnov chips away with some ground and pound.
Plugotir tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Smirnov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Plugotir manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Smirnov has Plugotir in his guard.
Plugotir looking to sit in guard and control but Smirnov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Plugotir keeping moving, preventing Smirnov from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov throws a strike but Plugotir rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Plugotir drops back looking for a leg! Smirnov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Smirnov manages to kick Plugotir off! Plugotir jumps back into Smirnov's guard.
Smirnov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Plugotir with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Plugotir preventing the sweep.
Plugotir is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Plugotir gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Plugotir tries to close the distance and clinch but Smirnov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Smirnov shoots and misses

and Plugotir counters with a shoot takedown. Smirnov fights it but they end up in guard.
Smirnov keeping moving, preventing Plugotir from controlling successfully.
Plugotir controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Smirnov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Plugotir working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Smirnov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Plugotir is one step ahead there.
Plugotir loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smirnov trying to control the position here.
Smirnov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smirnov misses with a low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Plugotir looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Smirnov!
Smirnov is trying to stand up.
Plugotir lands a big elbow.
Plugotir with good strikes from the mount here!
Smirnov blocking the ground and pound.
Smirnov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Smirnov tries to improve his position but instead Plugotir has taken his back!
Plugotir is hanging on to Smirnov's back as he tries to escape.
Plugotir wants to control but Smirnov is keeping busy.
Plugotir lands a shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Plugotir comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Plugotir 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Plugotir!