PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dirk Butler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iwanov Iwanowitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Butler
vs
Iwanowitch

155 cm
21
151 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
18
144 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dirk Butler!
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, Iwanov Iwanowitch!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Ivan Kurochkin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Iwanowitch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Iwanowitch tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Butler defending well as Iwanowitch loads up on a big left hand.
Iwanowitch plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Iwanowitch throws a sloppy head kick and Butler moves out of range easily.
Butler closes this distance looking for a takedown but Iwanowitch circles away.
Iwanowitch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Iwanowitch bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Butler's head.
Iwanowitch throws a head kick but Butler moves out of range.
A right-left combo lands from Iwanowitch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Iwanowitch looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Butler closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Iwanowitch's guard.
Iwanowitch tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Butler stands up from Iwanowitch's guard - Butler perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iwanowitch throws a head kick that misses.

Iwanowitch moves into the clinch.

Iwanowitch breaks from the clinch.

Butler scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The strikes coming from Butler are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Iwanowitch is trying to get back to his feet.
Butler is looking to take a break and control but Iwanowitch is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Iwanowitch is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Butler is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Butler trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iwanowitch wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Butler tries to control but Iwanowitch wriggling away.
Iwanowitch is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Iwanowitch working to try and regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Butler can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Iwanowitch is looking to escape.
Iwanowitch keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iwanowitch is squirming around, avoiding Butler's attempts to control the action.
Iwanowitch tries to hold on but Butler pushes him away.
Iwanowitch is wriggling around trying to escape.
Butler can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Iwanowitch is looking to escape.
Iwanowitch sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Butler prevents Iwanowitch from improving his position.

Dirk Butler has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Butler takes the fight into the clinch.
We've been informed that Iwanowitch has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iwanowitch has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Iwanowitch lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.

Butler pulls Iwanowitch into guard.
Butler really is a fat lump.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Butler keeping moving, preventing Iwanowitch from controlling successfully.
Butler wants to sweep here but Iwanowitch controlling him for the moment.

Butler working for a triangle but Iwanowitch defends it easily.

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

Iwanowitch clinches up with Butler and pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Iwanov Iwanowitch will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Iwanowitch throws a right and a left that Butler avoids nicely.
Butler tries to close the distance and clinch but Iwanowitch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Iwanowitch tries to clinch there but Butler circles away.
Iwanowitch is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Butler showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Iwanowitch.

Butler clinches up against the cage.
Butler tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Butler is trying to maintain a safe position but Iwanowitch gets an underhook and turns Butler into the cage.

Butler manages to break the clinch.
Iwanowitch pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Iwanowitch tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Butler manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Iwanowitch tries to close the distance and clinch up but Butler swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iwanowitch goes for a double leg but Butler avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Butler continues to drive forward.
Butler trying to control the position but instead, Iwanowitch has worked for underhooks and has pushed Butler into the cage.

Butler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Iwanowitch tries a head kick but it misses.
Iwanowitch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Iwanowitch is breathing heavily.
Iwanowitch tries to clinch up
and Butler counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Iwanowitch tries to clinch there but Butler circles away.
Iwanowitch loads up on a big right hand but Butler slips the punch.
Iwanowitch dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Iwanowitch fails with an attempt to clinch.
Dirk Butler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butler circles away from the clinch attempt.
Butler slips under a jab.
Butler tries to close the distance and clinch but Iwanowitch swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Iwanowitch misses with a body kick.
Iwanowitch swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Iwanowitch throws a series of punches but Butler avoids them all with ease.
Iwanowitch tries a head kick but it misses.
Butler avoids the head kick by Iwanowitch.
Iwanov Iwanowitch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Iwanowitch.

Iwanowitch tries to keep at a distance but Butler has taken the fight into the clinch.

Butler manages to break the clinch.
Butler blocks a head kick by Iwanowitch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Butler looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Butler shoots in for a double leg but Iwanowitch sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Iwanowitch throws a head kick but Butler moves out of range.

Butler pushes Iwanowitch up against the cage in a clinch.
Iwanowitch tries to circle away but Butler has him pinned against the cage.
Butler scores with a shoulder strike.

Butler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Butler gets the takedown into side control.
Iwanowitch is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Butler content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iwanowitch pushes Butler away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Butler gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Butler in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Butler trying to control the position but Iwanowitch is working away.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Dirk Butler.
Butler is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dirk Butler dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Butler fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Iwanowitch to the ground. Butler is now in Iwanowitch's guard.
Iwanowitch wants to sweep but no luck.
Iwanowitch avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Butler slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Butler stands up from Iwanowitch's guard - Butler perhaps looking for a knockout.
A punch combination from Iwanowitch misses.
Butler blocks a head kick by Iwanowitch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iwanowitch pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Iwanowitch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Iwanowitch throws a sloppy head kick and Butler moves out of range easily.

Butler clinches.
Butler is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Iwanowitch to keep the fight standing.
Butler is trying to pull guard but Iwanowitch has him pressed against the cage.

Butler breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Iwanowitch throws a head kick that misses.
Butler wants to clinch.
Butler slaps away a takedown attempt from Iwanowitch, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Iwanowitch wants to clinch but Butler slips to the side
and Butler counters with a good, hard body kick but Iwanowitch shrugs it off.
Butler avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Iwanowitch lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Butler circles away quickly and effectively.

Butler changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Iwanowitch looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Butler just content to control the position.
Iwanowitch tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Butler in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Dirk Butler overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Butler decides to stand back up. Butler steps back and let's Iwanowitch get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Butler instigates a clinch.
Iwanowitch gets underhooks to prevent Butler's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dirk Butler. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Iwanowitch is trying to pull guard but Butler turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Iwanowitch breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A jab from Iwanowitch does it's job there.

Butler has closed the distance and engaged Iwanowitch in a clinch.
Iwanowitch is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Butler manages to pull guard.
Butler keeping moving, preventing Iwanowitch from controlling successfully.
Butler 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.

Butler looking for a guillotine here but Iwanowitch defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Iwanowitch got a little sloppy there for a moment and Butler has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Iwanowitch has managed to get both his arms back between Butler's legs - danger averted.

Butler has his foot on Iwanowitch's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Iwanowitch works his way back into a safe position though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Iwanowitch is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Butler is working an open guard so Iwanowitch takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Iwanowitch lands a high kick!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick misses from Iwanowitch.
Butler fails in his attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dirk Butler showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Butler has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dirk Butler!