PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Steve Hess (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam Boykowich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Hess
vs
Boykowich

182 cm
24
215 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

186 cm
23
201 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steve Hess!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sam Boykowich!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Konstantin Menshow and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boykowich works Hess's body with a nice hook.

Boykowich pushes Hess up against the cage in a clinch.
Hess has Boykowich pressed against the cage, preventing Boykowich from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Boykowich has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Hess wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Boykowich breaks the clinch.

Boykowich shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Hess is looking to control Boykowich's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hess avoid being mounted?
Hess wants to improve his position but Boykowich is controlling well.
Boykowich is thwarting Hess's attempts to control the position.

Hess is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Boykowich pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hess wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Boykowich takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Hess is looking to get back to full guard here but Boykowich has managed to pass to side control instead.
Hess could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Hess misses with a strike from the bottom.

Boykowich decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Boykowich closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Hess to the mat! Hess manages to get full guard.
Hess lands a decent punch to the body there.
Boykowich would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Boykowich controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hess 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.

Hess working for a triangle but Boykowich defends it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Boykowich sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Hess's guard.
Hess tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Hess throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Hess trying to control from the bottom.
Boykowich is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boykowich blocks the strikes from Hess.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Boykowich wants to control but Hess is keeping him busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Sam Boykowich was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Boykowich clinches.

Boykowich gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Boykowich looks winded!
Hess lands some strikes from the bottom.

Hess looking for a guillotine here but Boykowich defends easily.
Boykowich has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Hess is proving hard to escape from.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boykowich is looking to work some ground and pound but Hess has wrist control.
Boykowich postures up in Hess's guard and throws a big left but Hess blocks it.

Hess is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Boykowich trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hess keeping moving, preventing Boykowich from controlling successfully.
Boykowich forces his way into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hess has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Boykowich is working away from the top position though.
Hess is trying to control but Boykowich passes into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam Boykowich dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Boykowich moves into the clinch successfully.

Boykowich breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Boykowich tries to sprawl but Hess drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Boykowich is looking for a sweep. Hess 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.
Boykowich pushes Hess off looking to stand but Hess dives back in and keeps control.
Boykowich has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hess is working away from the top position though.
Hess is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Boykowich is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boykowich is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Hess's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Hess's back!
Hess looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Hess is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Hess can't escape the position.
Hess rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

Hess actively working from the bottom here.
Hess regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Boykowich.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hess throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Hess keeping moving, preventing Boykowich from controlling successfully.
Boykowich forces his way into half guard.
Boykowich blocks the strikes from Hess.
Boykowich not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Hess is looking to control Boykowich's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Hess avoid being mounted?
Boykowich wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hess keeps working.
Boykowich not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hess flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Boykowich throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sam Boykowich has got the better of the ground game so far.

Hess looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Boykowich is trying to control. Hess wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Hess missing with punches from the bottom.
Boykowich is thwarting Hess's attempts to control the position.

Boykowich stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

Boykowich gets a double leg takedown into Hess's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hess keeping full guard, as Boykowich tries to pass.

Hess looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Boykowich trying to control but Hess is working from the bottom.
Hess trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

Boykowich stands up from Hess's guard - Boykowich perhaps looking for a knockout.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Hess is defended easily by Boykowich.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sam Boykowich will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Hess tries to sprawl but Boykowich drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Hess wants to improve his position but Boykowich is controlling well.
Hess wants to get back to full guard but Boykowich has mounted him!
Boykowich looking to control but Hess is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Boykowich stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

Hess bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Hess is staying tight to Boykowich's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boykowich struggling a bit here.
Boykowich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Boykowich is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Hess working away.
Boykowich trying to remain calm as Hess controls from the top position.
Hess trying to control the action but Boykowich is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Boykowich's face as Hess controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hess trying to control the action but Boykowich is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Steve Hess just wasn't active enough.
Hess shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Boykowich but Boykowich pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Hess slips a jab and a cross from Boykowich.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Boykowich.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boykowich working away.
Hess is looking to reverse the position.
Boykowich landing strikes.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Hess tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Hess taking shots to the head.
Hess srikes from the bottom but he's lost position and has given up his back.
Boykowich is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Hess. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
I really don't envy Hess right now.
Hess is working hard here to advance position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hess fending off the submission attempt from Boykowich.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Boykowich tries to get the hooks in deep but Hess pushed the leg off.
Hess trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Hess is trying to break free.

Boykowich has his opponent's back but Hess is looking to stand. He manages to get to his feet and shakes off Boykowich.
A looping hook to the body misses from Boykowich. Hess does a little dance to reset his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Boykowich throws a head kick but Hess moves out of range.
Steve Hess has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sam Boykowich is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boykowich avoids the head kick by Hess.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sam Boykowich comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Boykowich has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sam Boykowich!