PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Roger Pontare (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Semanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Pontare
vs
Semanov

170 cm
26
145 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

177 cm
21
155 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roger Pontare!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivan Semanov!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Semanov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Semanov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Ivan Semanov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Semanov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Semanov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pontare manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Semanov trying to control but Pontare is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Semanov thows a big elbow that misses.
Semanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Pontare is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Pontare uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Semanov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Semanov getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Semanov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Semanov looks for a takedown but Pontare sprawls well.
Pontare uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Semanov.

Pontare gets a takedown into half guard.
Well, if Pontare is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Semanov is looking for a sweep. Pontare is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Pontare wants to pass the guard but Semanov is defending well.
Semanov gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Semanov wants to sweep here but Pontare controlling him for the moment.
Pontare pushing down on Semanov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Pontare controlling the pace.
Pontare's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

Roger Pontare has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Pontare takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Semanov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Pontare.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Semanov misses the shot to the body.
Semanov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Semanov fails to land with a series of punches.
Pontare shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Semanov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

Pontare throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Semanov tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Pontare is in Semanov's guard.
Pontare preventing the sweep.
Pontare is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Roger Pontare wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Pontare with a poor takedown

and Semanov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Pontare!
Pontare holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Semanov tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Pontare is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Semanov tries to control but Pontare wriggling away.
Pontare is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Pontare really wants to buck Semanov off and get back to his feet.
Semanov looking to control but Pontare is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Roger Pontare will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Semanov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Semanov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Semanov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Pontare kicks Semanov off and gets back to his feet.
Pontare avoids the body shot from Semanov.
Semanov looks to land a combination but Pontare avoids it well.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Semanov.
Semanov shoots and misses

and Pontare counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Semanov!
Semanov is breathing heavily.
Pontare 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 one minute gone in the round.
Roger Pontare overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Pontare has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Roger Pontare has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Semanov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pontare manages to avoid it.

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.

Semanov gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Pontare to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Pontare passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Pontare 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.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Roger Pontare just wasn't active enough.
Some wild striking there from Semanov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Semanov thuds a left hand into Pontare's body.
Semanov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Semanov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Semanov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pontare manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Pontare wants to stand up but Semanov is controlling him.

Pontare scrambles and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Pontare looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Pontare is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Semanov!
Pontare sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Semanov is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Pontare controlling the pace for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roger Pontare dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Semanov shoots and misses

and Pontare counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Pontare is taking a breather. Semanov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Roger Pontare.

Pontare shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Pontare is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Semanov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Pontare is pushing down on Semanov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Semanov is fighting to maintain full guard but Pontare has managed to sneak the leg through.
Semanov trying to control from the bottom.
Pontare not doing much here.
Semanov is trying to control but can't.
Pontare seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Semanov misses with the combination.
Pontare takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Pontare fails with the takedown
and Semanov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Semanov works over Pontare's head and body with a nice combination.
Semanov misses with a few strikes there.
Semanov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Pontare counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pontare is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Pontare looking to pass the guard.
Pontare is working hard here to advance position.
Semanov tries to strike from the bottom.
Semanov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Pontare controls the pace.
Semanov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pontare 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 ref stands the fighters back up. Roger Pontare wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Semanov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Pontare circles away quickly and effectively.
Ivan Semanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Pontare shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Semanov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Pontare on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Pontare tries to get out of the position.
Pontare is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Semanov looking to sit in guard and control but Pontare gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Pontare sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Semanov's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Pontare in particular looking to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roger Pontare showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Pontare, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roger Pontare!