PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kors Svardet (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Semanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kors Svardet has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Svardet
vs
Semanov

180 cm
25
148 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

177 cm
21
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kors Svardet!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivan Semanov!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Svardet feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Semanov's calf.

Svardet gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Semanov postures up in Svardet's guard and throws a big left but Svardet blocks it.
Semanov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Svardet works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Svardet is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Semanov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Semanov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Semanov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Semanov keeping moving, preventing Svardet from controlling successfully.
Semanov wants to sweep but no luck.
Semanov pulls Svardet in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svardet wanted to stand there but Semanov had control of the position.
Svardet stopping the sweep attempt from Semanov.
Semanov keeping moving, preventing Svardet from controlling successfully.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Semanov looks to land a right hand but Svardet moved out of range.

Semanov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Semanov wants to sweep here but Svardet controlling him for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Semanov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Semanov is trying to keep Svardet in close.
Svardet won't allow Semanov to sweep him here.
Svardet content to stall in guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Semanov is on top in guard.
Svardet is breathing heavily.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Semanov content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Svardet working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Semanov.
Semanov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Svardet 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.
Svardet is trying to keep Semanov in close.
Semanov is looking to work some ground and pound but Svardet has wrist control.
Semanov is in close to Svardet's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Semanov wants to control from the top but Svardet keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Svardet on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Svardet tries to get out of the position.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Semanov throws a series of punches but Svardet moves out of range.

Semanov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Svardet is trying to defend but Semanov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Semanov throwing shots but Svardet is blocking nicely.
Semanov working over Svardet with some ground and pound. Svardet looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Semanov prevents Svardet from improving his position.
Svardet trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Svardet cracks Semanov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.

Semanov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Svardet looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Semanov lands some shots froms side control.
Semanov trying to control the position but Svardet is working away.
Semanov working away.
Semanov working the body and head with strikes.
Semanov moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Semanov creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Svardet sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Semanov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Semanov sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Svardet is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Semanov is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Svardet will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Semanov trying to control the action but Svardet is working from the bottom.
Semanov connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Svardet some visible discomfort.
Svardet is looking to reverse the position.
Svardet on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Semanov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Svardet is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Semanov off and has taken his back!
Semanov tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Semanov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Svardet looking to control and managing it successfully.
Svardet trying to control but Semanov is having none of it.
Svardet looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Semanov tries to hold on but Svardet pushes him away.
Semanov is squirming around, avoiding Svardet's attempts to control the action.
Semanov working to try and regain half guard.
Svardet lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Semanov is trying to escape the mount.

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.
Svardet unloading with bombs!
Svardet landing strikes from the mount.
Semanov regains half guard.
Semanov trying to hold on to Svardet's head to control him but Svardet postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Semanov is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Svardet is staying active.
Svardet is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Semanov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Svardet's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Semanov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Semanov shoots in but Svardet avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Svardet tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Svardet throws a leg kick that misses.
Semanov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Svardet.
Svardet shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Semanov as he jumps to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Semanov fails to land the takedown.
Semanov fails with a takedown attempt.
Kors Svardet has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Semanov.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Svardet will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Semanov scores with a hook to the body. Svardet takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Semanov blocks a head kick by Svardet.
Svardet has his takedown stuffed
letting Semanov counter with a right hand.
Semanov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Svardet cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Semanov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Svardet slaps away a takedown attempt from Semanov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Semanov avoids the head kick by Svardet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Semanov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Svardet sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Svardet tries a head kick but it misses.

Semanov scores a takedown into full mount!
Svardet tries to hold on but Semanov pushes him away.
Semanov is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Semanov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Svardet can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Semanov trying to control but Svardet is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Semanov throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Svardet because Semanov loaded up on that one.
Semanov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Svardet?
Svardet is trying to escape the mount.
Semanov working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Svardet knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Semanov on the ground.
BOOM! Semanov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Semanov scoring with strikes but Svardet is staying in there.
Ivan Semanov 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.
Semanov cracks Svardet with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Semanov avoids the attempt from Svardet to control.
Svardet is trying to stand.
Semanov working the ground and pound effectively.
Ivan Semanov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Svardet is trying to escape the mount.
Semanov lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Svardet in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Semanov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kors Svardet has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Semanov connects with a couple of good shots from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Semanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Semanov 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

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