PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mo Talib (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Poddubny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Talib comes to the cage accompanied by Drowning Pool - Bodies. Ivan Poddubny has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Mo Talib's chin.

Talib
vs
Poddubny

209 cm
22
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

193 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mo Talib!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Ivan Poddubny!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Yukihiro Yamamoto and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poddubny defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Talib.

Poddubny drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Poddubny must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Poddubny 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.

Talib has his foot on Poddubny's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Poddubny works his way back into a safe position though.
Talib being controlled here, momentarily.

Talib throws his legs up looking for a submission but Poddubny uses it to pass to side control.
Talib is looking for a sweep.
Talib tries to escape but Poddubny is in control.
Talib is trying to improve his position.
Talib is working hard here to advance position.
Talib is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Poddubny stands up.

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

Talib looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Poddubny sitting in guard here, content to control.

Poddubny avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Poddubny got a little sloppy there for a moment and Talib has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Poddubny has managed to get both his arms back between Talib's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poddubny is stalling in the full guard.

Talib looking for a guillotine here but Poddubny defends easily.
Talib will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Poddubny 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Talib has an active guard here but Poddubny has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Poddubny stands up and beckons Talib to join him on the feet.

Poddubny fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Talib sprawls well initially but Poddubny persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Poddubny moves nicely into side control.
Poddubny happy to just control the position for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Poddubny decides to stand back up. Poddubny steps back and let's Talib get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poddubny shoots in for a takedown but Talib shows good takedown defense.
Talib stuffs the takedown attempt from Poddubny. Poddubny gets slowly back to his feet.
Poddubny tries for a takedown but Talib sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Mo Talib has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Poddubny.
Talib throws a sloppy head kick and Poddubny moves out of range easily.
Talib throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Poddubny.
Talib misses with a takedown attempt - Poddubny sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Talib gets caught flat footed, as Poddubny shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
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!

Talib is looking for a triangle but Poddubny pushes his legs off easily.

Talib has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Poddubny is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Talib.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Talib tries to bench press Poddubny off him but Poddubny keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Poddubny dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Poddubny closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Talib to the mat! Talib manages to get full guard.
Poddubny content to stall in guard here.

Talib is looking for a triangle but Poddubny pushes his legs off easily.
Poddubny prevents Talib from getting back to his feet.
Poddubny showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Talib can't keep his opponent in guard - Poddubny advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Talib tries to get to full guard but Poddubny has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Talib looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Poddubny decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Poddubny looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Talib gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Poddubny to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Talib working for submissions but it's allowed Poddubny to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poddubny not doing much here.
Talib won't allow Poddubny to pass to mount.
Talib wants to improve his position but Poddubny is controlling well.

Talib is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Poddubny pulls his head out easily.

Talib actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Talib looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Poddubny moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Talib.
Poddubny controlling the position from side mount.
Talib is trying to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Poddubny taking a breather here.
Talib is trying to improve his position.
Poddubny prevents Talib from escaping the position.
Talib trying to remain calm as Poddubny controls from the top position.
Talib wants to get back to his feet.

Poddubny stands up and beckons Talib to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Poddubny showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Poddubny closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Poddubny escapes and gets back to his feet.

Poddubny closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ivan Poddubny has got the better of the ground game so far.
Talib is trying to get back to half guard.
Talib is letting Poddubny control him for a moment.
Talib is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Poddubny has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Poddubny remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Poddubny decides to stand back up. Poddubny steps back and let's Talib get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Talib dives in and grabs Poddubny's left leg, looking for a takedown. Poddubny pushes down on Talib's head and hops out.
Poddubny fails with the takedown.
Poddubny fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Talib avoids it really well and circles away.
Poddubny shoots in but no luck this time.
Mo Talib has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Poddubny.
Poddubny will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Poddubny gets the takedown into side control.
Poddubny is looking to take a break and control but Talib is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Talib is looking for a sweep.
Talib misses with a strike from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poddubny avoids the strikes from the bottom by Talib.
Talib tries to improve position but can't.
Talib is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Talib tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Poddubny looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Talib is fending him off so far but Poddubny persists. Nope, Talib circles away and we're back to standing.
Talib misses with a wild combination.

Poddubny shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Still in half guard, Poddubny seems content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Talib looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Talib wants to get back to his feet.

Talib is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Poddubny pulls his head out easily.
Talib is trying to stand.
Talib is trying to escape back to his feet but Poddubny uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Ivan Poddubny is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Talib is looking to reverse the position.
Talib is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Poddubny darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Talib looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Talib is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Poddubny pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Poddubny comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Poddubny winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 27:30
Judge Yukihiro Yamamoto scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30

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