PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Oliver Stanton (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iwanov Iwanowitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Stanton
vs
Iwanowitch

171 cm
18
140 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
144 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Inexperienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oliver Stanton!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Iwanov Iwanowitch!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Dmitry Maklakov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stanton circles away from the clinch attempt.
Iwanowitch tries to clinch but Stanton moves away
and Stanton makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Iwanowitch tries to clinch up.
Iwanowitch scores with a spinning back kick!
Stanton takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Iwanowitch throws a head kick that misses.
Iwanowitch misses with a head kick.

Stanton gets caught flat footed, as Iwanowitch shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Iwanowitch trying to control the position from guard on top but Stanton is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Stanton controlling Iwanowitch's posture.
Stanton working a defensive guard here.
Iwanowitch is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iwanowitch is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Iwanowitch trying to control but Stanton is working from the bottom.
Iwanowitch tries to stand but Stanton is controlling from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Iwanowitch controlling from the top position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Stanton is looking to clinch but Iwanowitch is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Iwanowitch throws a sloppy head kick and Stanton moves out of range easily.

Stanton moves into the clinch successfully.
Iwanowitch lands a hook that snaps the head of Stanton backwards.

Iwanowitch breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Iwanowitch throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Iwanowitch misses with a head kick.
Stanton fails in his attempt to clinch.

Stanton looking to score a takedown here. Iwanowitch is defending well but Stanton drives through and ends up in Iwanowitch's guard.
Iwanowitch wants to stand and escape but Stanton is having none of it.
Iwanowitch controls Stanton momentarily but Stanton frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Iwanowitch can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Stanton controls the pace.

Iwanowitch pushes Stanton off and gets back to his feet.
Stanton doesn't manage to clinch there - Iwanowitch circles away.
Stanton dodges the punch combination from Iwanowitch.
Iwanowitch throws a sloppy head kick and Stanton moves out of range easily.
Iwanowitch throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Iwanov Iwanowitch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Iwanowitch gets caught napping as Stanton dives in and scores a takedown. Iwanowitch manages to retain guard.

Iwanowitch manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Iwanowitch breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iwanowitch throws a head kick but Stanton moves out of range.

Stanton shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Iwanowitch manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Stanton might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stanton stopping the sweep attempt from Iwanowitch.
Iwanowitch looks winded!
Stanton working some strikes from top position.
Iwanowitch is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Iwanowitch is looking to stand up but Stanton isn't so interested in that idea.
Stanton scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Iwanowitch has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Stanton off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Iwanowitch tries to clinch but Stanton moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iwanov Iwanowitch 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.

Iwanowitch throws a right hand that Stanton ducks under and follows up with a left that Stanton also avoids with ease.
A head kick misses from Iwanowitch.
Iwanowitch wants to clinch

and Stanton moves into the clinch.

Iwanowitch escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stanton shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Iwanowitch sprawls well. Iwanowitch wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Stanton gets slowly back to his feet.
Stanton moves out of range of the body kick from Iwanowitch.
Iwanowitch has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stanton tries to clinch but Iwanowitch is having none of it.
Stanton tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Iwanowitch manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Iwanov Iwanowitch is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Iwanowitch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stanton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Stanton displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Iwanowitch throws out the jab.

Iwanowitch looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Iwanowitch must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Iwanowitch looking to sit in guard and control but Stanton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stanton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Iwanowitch is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Stanton presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.

Iwanowitch jumps guard and drags Stanton to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
We've been informed that Iwanowitch has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Stanton with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Iwanowitch has momentary wrist control but Stanton slips an elbow through the middle.
Stanton works over Iwanowitch with some ground and pound from guard.

Iwanowitch kicks Stanton off and gets to his feet.
Iwanowitch tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Stanton paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Iwanowitch throws a head kick that misses.

Iwanowitch gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stanton postures up.
Iwanowitch is breathing heavily.
Stanton is working Iwanowitch over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Stanton throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Stanton drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Iwanowitch dives on top into guard.

Stanton throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Iwanowitch trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Iwanowitch looking to sit in guard and control but Stanton gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Stanton thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanton missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Iwanowitch is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Stanton trying to control the position from guard on top but Iwanowitch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Iwanowitch lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Iwanowitch wants to stand and escape but instead Stanton has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Stanton working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Iwanowitch's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Iwanowitch wants to stand but Stanton is controlling the position.

Stanton is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stanton preventing the sweep.
Iwanowitch is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Iwanowitch avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iwanov Iwanowitch showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Iwanowitch throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Stanton tries to clinch up.
Iwanowitch throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Stanton shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Iwanowitch as he jumps to the side.
Stanton blocks a leg kick.
Stanton is looking to clinch.
Iwanowitch lands with a slapping head kick.

Iwanowitch closes the distance and clinches.

Stanton successfully pulls guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stanton wants to sweep here but Iwanowitch controlling him for the moment.
Iwanowitch wants to control from the top but Stanton keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Iwanowitch in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Stanton has his hands on Iwanowitch's head, controlling the position.
Stanton working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Iwanowitch.
Iwanowitch is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Iwanowitch fakes the leg kick and cracks Stanton in the body.

Iwanowitch closes the distance and pushes Stanton back into the cage.

Iwanowitch pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Iwanowitch closes the distance and pushes Stanton back into the cage.
Stanton is trying to pull guard but Iwanowitch has him pressed against the cage.
Stanton jumps guard but Iwanowitch stands there with Stanton around his waist. Stanton gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Oliver Stanton. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Iwanowitch successfully pulls guard.
Stanton distracts Iwanowitch with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stanton wants to control from the top but Iwanowitch keeps moving.
Iwanowitch trying to control the position.
Stanton cracks Iwanowitch with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stanton prevents Iwanowitch from getting back to his feet.
Iwanowitch 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.
Iwanowitch is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Stanton cracks Iwanowitch with a solid left hand.

Iwanowitch wriggles free and stands up.
Iwanowitch misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Iwanowitch takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Iwanowitch tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stanton blocks a head kick by Iwanowitch.
Stanton tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Iwanowitch manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Iwanowitch throws a sloppy head kick and Stanton moves out of range easily.

Stanton moves into the clinch successfully.
Stanton tries to pull guard but Iwanowitch holds him up against the cage and eventually Stanton drops back down to his feet.

Iwanowitch lands a takedown into guard.
Stanton throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Stanton keeping moving, preventing Iwanowitch from controlling successfully.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Iwanowitch in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Iwanov Iwanowitch comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Iwanowitch 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iwanov Iwanowitch!