PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sim Polls (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikhail Ligachev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Polls
vs
Ligachev

180 cm
24
180 lbs
15 - 9 - 2

172 cm
23
151 lbs
13 - 11 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 9 - 2, fighting out of London, Sim Polls!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Mikhail Ligachev!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Polls throws a body punch but Ligachev moves out of range.
Polls shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ligachev pinned against the cage. Ligachev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ligachev misses with a two punch combination.
Ligachev throws a sloppy head kick and Polls moves out of range easily.
Polls throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Polls looks to land a right hand but Ligachev moved out of range.
Good work by Polls as he checks the leg kick.
Polls ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Polls throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Polls's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ligachev under the eye.
Polls has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Ligachev.
Ligachev lands a high kick!
Ligachev takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Ligachev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Polls was well out of range. Poor timing from Ligachev.
Polls connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Polls lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ligachev at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polls shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ligachev as he avoids it easily.
Ligachev connects with a solid leg kick.
Ligachev throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Ligachev lands a front kick.
Polls fails with the takedown
and Ligachev counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sim Polls. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Polls is breathing heavily.
Polls throws a poor cross that misses
and Ligachev counters with a head kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Ligachev, as that shot connected.
Mikhail Ligachev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ligachev missing with a left hand there. Polls was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A shot to the liver by Ligachev. Beautiful body shot.
Ligachev feints and then cracks Polls's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Polls down.
Ligachev goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Ligachev takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Ligachev jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ligachev throws a body punch but Polls moves out of range.
Ligachev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Polls paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ligachev throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Ligachev looks to land a body kick but Polls moved away.
Ligachev scores with a leg kick.
Mikhail Ligachev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice body punch from Ligachev.
Ligachev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Polls moves away.
Polls falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ligachev counters with a left and a right that stings Polls.
Ligachev connects with a high kick.
Ligachev tries to clinch up but Polls circles away and keeps his distance.
Ligachev swinging wildly here.
Ligachev throws a jab but it's blocked by Polls.
Ligachev connects with an inside leg kick.
Polls looks to land a combination but Ligachev avoids it well.
Ligachev connects with an inside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ligachev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Polls. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Polls throws a poor cross that misses
and Ligachev counters with a nice leg kick.
Ligachev throws a leg kick which misses Polls's front leg but catches the back leg as Polls tries to avoid it.
Polls walks forward, straight into a front kick from Ligachev.
Ligachev cracks Polls with an open hand slap.
Polls takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ligachev scores with a leg kick.
Polls takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Ligachev is looking to slow Polls down with leg kicks.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Polls swings widly with a right hand
and Ligachev makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Polls really felt that one!
Polls walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Jab by Ligachev.
Ligachev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ligachev scores with a nice body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ligachev wants to slow Polls down by chopping away at his legs.
Ligachev misses with the combination.
Ligachev getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Ligachev connects with a body shot that sends Polls's belly button to the back.
Polls takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
A head kick misses from Ligachev.
Polls takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Ligachev cracks the inside of Polls's front leg.
Ligachev misses with a series of wild punches.
Ligachev thows a body shot but no joy.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ligachev tries to clinch up.
No luck for Polls with that takedown attempt.
That kick from Ligachev tenderised Polls's leg. Polls is trying to keep his angry face on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Ligachev dominated that 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.

Ligachev buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Polls throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ligachev goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Ligachev throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Ligachev misses with a hook
and Polls counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ligachev. Polls does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ligachev turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.

Ligachev closes the distance and pushes Polls back into the cage.
Ligachev trying to stall but Polls improves his position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Ligachev as Polls tries to tie him up.
Ligachev stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Polls's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ligachev can't find room to land a body shot as Polls controls the action.
Polls blocks a punch to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polls's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ligachev misses with the head strike.
Polls scores with a shoulder strike.
Polls stalling in the clinch but Ligachev improves position.
Polls will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Ligachev holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Ligachev is trying to maintain a safe position but Polls gets an underhook and turns Ligachev into the cage.
Ligachev tries a knee to the head but Polls blocks it.
A short body shot lands from Polls as the two fighters clinch.
Ligachev is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.

Polls breaks the clinch.
Ligachev misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ligachev throws an off balance right hand

and Polls decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ligachev's guard.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Ligachev. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Polls postures up.
Ligachev 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.
Polls throwing strikes but missing.
Polls controlling from the top position.
Ligachev keeping moving, preventing Polls from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polls throwing strikes but missing.
Polls trying to control the position from guard on top but Ligachev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ligachev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Polls fails with a takedown attempt.
Ligachev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
An inside leg kick lands from Ligachev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ligachev shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ligachev.
Polls with a jab.
Polls moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Polls throws a body punch but Ligachev moves out of range.
Ligachev takes one on the button.
Ligachev takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Polls throws a combination that misses
and Ligachev counters with a slapping leg kick.
Polls misses the shot to the body.
Ligachev slips a straight right by Polls.

Polls looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Ligachev!
Polls avoids the attempt from Ligachev to control.
Ligachev is trying to escape the mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mikhail Ligachev will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Polls ducks under a wild hook from Ligachev.
Polls throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ligachev counters with a stiff right hand.
Ligachev swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Polls is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ligachev.
Polls lands with a shot to the body.
Polls on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Polls scores with a jab to the body.
That kick from Ligachev tenderised Polls's leg. Polls is trying to keep his angry face on.
Polls keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Polls shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ligachev pinned against the cage. Ligachev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ligachev takes one to the side of the head.
Ligachev uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Polls.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polls lands with a good body shot.
Ligachev tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
A slapping body kick lands there for Ligachev.
Ligachev misses with a right hand
and Polls counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ligachev thinking.
Polls lands a two punch combo.
Ligachev takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Polls misses with a wild body shot.
Polls has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Ligachev.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A head kick misses from Ligachev.
Polls checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

Polls drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Ligachev looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Polls throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ligachev keeping moving, preventing Polls from controlling successfully.
Polls throwing strikes from guard but Ligachev blocks nicely.
Polls is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ligachev keeping full guard, as Polls tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polls missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Polls has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Polls trying to control but Ligachev is working from the bottom.
Polls pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ligachev is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ligachev walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Ligachev closes the distance and clinches.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Polls dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Polls.

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.
Polls wants a takedown but no success here.
Ligachev is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Ligachev is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.
Polls drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sim Polls. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Polls being controlled against the cage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Mikhail Ligachev.
Nice takedown defense from Ligachev. No joy for Polls on that attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikhail Ligachev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ligachev 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 26:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikhail Ligachev!