PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Max Baer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Fedorov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Baer's entrance music is Ministry-Just One Fix. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Baer
vs
Fedorov

188 cm
18
244 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
19
248 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Improved boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very confident

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 New York, Max Baer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Ivan Fedorov!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Russell Pearce and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A nice inside leg kick there by Fedorov. That's going to slow Baer down.
Max Baer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Fedorov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Baer circles away.
Baer throws a one two combo.
Baer circles away from the clinch attempt.
Baer shoots in looking for a takedown. Fedorov tries to sprawl out of it but Baer keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Fedorov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Baer stuffs the takedown.
Fedorov shoots in looking for a takedown. Baer tries to sprawl out of it but Fedorov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Baer manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Max Baer has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Fedorov.
Fedorov tries for a takedown but Baer sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Fedorov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Baer connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Baer shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fedorov as he jumps to the side.
The fight stays on the outside here - Fedorov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Fedorov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Baer as he jumps to the side.

Baer changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Fedorov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Baer throwing strikes but missing, from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fedorov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Fedorov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Fedorov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fedorov looks gassed!
Baer wants to get up but he can't break Fedorov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Baer knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Fedorov on the ground.

Fedorov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Fedorov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Baer decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Baer scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Fedorov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Baer's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Baer's back!
A lull in the action here.

Fedorov working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
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!
Fedorov is working the ground and pound. Can Baer escape?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Baer fending off the submission attempt from Fedorov.
Fedorov lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Fedorov.

Fedorov patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Baer controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Baer is covering up but some of the strikes from Fedorov are getting through and doing damage.
Fedorov struggling to keep hold of the position.
Fedorov lands a shot to the body.
Baer takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Fedorov wants to control but Baer is keeping busy.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Fedorov. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Fedorov is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Baer looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Baer is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Baer rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Baer tries to roll over but Fedorov keeps him under control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Baer pushes Fedorov off and gets back to his feet.
Baer fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Baer scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Baer stands up.
Baer shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fedorov but Fedorov pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Baer pushes Fedorov up against the cage in a clinch.
Baer lands a body punch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Baer.
Baer goes for a takedown attempt but Fedorov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Fedorov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Fedorov working some strikes from top position.
Fedorov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Fedorov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Baer's head.
Fedorov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Baer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Baer tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fedorov works over Baer with some ground and pound from guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fedorov distracts Baer with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Baer keeping moving, preventing Fedorov from controlling successfully.
Baer on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Baer tries to get out of the position.
Baer working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Fedorov.
Baer is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Baer swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Baer shoots in but Fedorov avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Baer fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Fedorov sprawls well initially but Baer persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Fedorov is pressing down on Baer's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fedorov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Baer loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Baer postures up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Fedorov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fedorov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Baer is one step ahead there.
Baer tries to free his leg and advance position but Fedorov is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Fedorov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fedorov has a takedown stuffed.
Baer throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Baer misses with a two punch combination.
Fedorov fails with a takedown attempt.

Baer gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Baer is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Baer is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Fedorov moves into full guard.
Baer passes into half guard.
Baer thows a huge punch but Fedorov dodges it nicely.
Fedorov manages to get to full guard.
Baer wants to stand and escape but instead Fedorov has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fedorov wants to control from the top but Baer keeps moving.
Fedorov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Fedorov is working Baer over with some ground and pound from side control.
Fedorov advances nicely into full mount.
Baer in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Fedorov with good strikes from the mount here!

Fedorov has control of Baer's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Baer regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Fedorov looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Baer is trying to escape the mount.
Fedorov manages to capitalize on a mistake by Baer to take his back!

Fedorov is persistently looking for the submission but Baer is defending it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baer controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Fedorov lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Ivan Fedorov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Baer defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Fedorov lands punches and elbows.

Fedorov tightening his grip on Baer, looking for the choke.
Fedorov is hanging on to Baer's back as he tries to escape.
Fedorov is looking to control Baer but Baer is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Baer looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

Fedorov is working for the choke. I would put my money on him to finish from this position. He's rolled onto his back and has dragged Baer with him. Baer is trying to defend but Fedorov has an arm under the chin now! Baer grimaces and is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ivan Fedorov!