PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Linford (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slava Ivankov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Linford
vs
Ivankov

215 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Inexperienced

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Matt Linford!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Slava Ivankov!
The judges for this bout are Skip Squint, Donatello Bradman and Ben Watson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Linford gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Ivankov is working for takedown but Linford is calmly controlling the position for now.
Ivankov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Linford to keep the fight standing.

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

Linford rushes Ivankov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Linford is working for takedown but Ivankov is calmly controlling the position for now.

Linford manages to pull guard.
Ivankov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ivankov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Linford bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ivankov's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ivankov wants to sweep here but Linford controlling him for the moment.

Ivankov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Linford stacks Ivankov on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Linford!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Linford decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Linford.

Linford stands up and beckons Ivankov to his feet.
Linford tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Ivankov defends well and Linford ends up having to push Ivankov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Ivankov with the counter takedown but Linford avoids it easily.
Linford stuns Ivankov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Ivankov scores with a takedown into Linford's guard.
Linford trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivankov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ivankov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Ivankov won't allow Linford to sweep him here.
Ivankov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Ivankov stays in close to Linford's body and controls the position.
Ivankov is looking to stand up but Linford won't let him.
Ivankov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linford thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Ivankov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Linford working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Linford holds on and takes a little breather.
Ivankov controlling from the top position.

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

Ivankov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Linford!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ivankov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Linford knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Ivankov is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Linford will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Ivankov tries to stand but Linford is controlling his head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ivankov content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matt Linford dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Linford moves into the clinch.
Linford has Ivankov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ivankov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Linford just leaning against Ivankov, taking a breather.

Ivankov jumps into guard, dragging Linford to the mat.
Linford won't allow Ivankov to sweep him here.

Ivankov has his feet on Linford's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Linford slips a jab and a cross from Ivankov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Linford tries to clinch but Ivankov is having none of it.
Ivankov is looking to score with low kicks.

Ivankov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Linford on his heels. He'll look to pass Linford's guard now, I'm sure.
Ivankov stays in close to Linford's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivankov tries to free his leg and advance position but Linford is retaining full guard.
Ivankov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Linford works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Linford will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ivankov passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Ivankov stands up and beckons Linford to his feet.

Ivankov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Linford quickly recovers to half guard.
Linford throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Slava Ivankov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Linford won't allow Ivankov to pass to mount.
Ivankov stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivankov throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Linford to regain full guard.

Ivankov drops back looking for a leg! Linford is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Linford manages to kick Ivankov off! Ivankov jumps back into Linford's guard.
Linford is trying to keep Ivankov in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivankov lands a couple of digs.

Linford has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ivankov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Linford avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ivankov stays in close to Linford's body and controls the position.
Ivankov wants to control from the top but Linford keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Linford bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ivankov's guard.

Linford wants to control from the top but Ivankov keeps moving.
Ivankov controlling Linford's posture.
Ivankov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ivankov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slava Ivankov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Linford moves to clinch but Ivankov breaks away

and Ivankov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ivankov tries to stand but can't do so whilst Linford controls his leg.
Linford wants to control but Ivankov is keeping busy.
Ivankov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Linford trying to control from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ivankov wants to take a breather but Linford is having none of it.

Linford manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Ivankov keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Ivankov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Linford has him pressed against the cage.
Ivankov tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linford tries to pull guard but Ivankov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Ivankov tightens his grip and picks Linford up, before dumping him to the ground. Linford manages to land in guard.
Linford is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Linford keeping full guard, as Ivankov tries to pass.
Ivankov trying to control but Linford is working from the bottom.
Linford is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Linford is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivankov wants to control from the top but Linford keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ivankov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ivankov wants to stand but Linford has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Linford drives through with a takedown into guard.
Linford trying to control but Ivankov is working from the bottom.
Ivankov is trying to keep Linford in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivankov 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.
Ivankov working a defensive guard here.
Ivankov wants to stand up but Linford is controlling him.

Linford got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ivankov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Linford has managed to get both his arms back between Ivankov's legs - danger averted.
Linford stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ivankov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ivankov just misses with a punch to the body.
Linford went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Ivankov misses with a body shot.
Linford tries for a takedown but Ivankov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Some bone on bone action there as Linford checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Linford really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Linford gets a clinch.
Ivankov effectively controlling the action here.
Linford is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Ivankov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Linford. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Linford jumps guard and drags Ivankov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ivankov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Slava Ivankov.
I think Ivankov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Skip Squint scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Slava Ivankov!