PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ko Maki (ranked 5028 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maxim Petrov (ranked 5010 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.

Maki
vs
Petrov

186 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
194 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Ko Maki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Maxim Petrov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Illya Tyunina and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Maki closes this distance looking for a takedown but Petrov circles away.
Petrov misses with a series of wild punches.
Maki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A countering left hand to the body from Petrov misses.
Maki looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Petrov is fending him off so far but Maki persists. Nope, Petrov circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ko Maki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Petrov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Maki moves into the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Maki as Petrov tries to tie him up.

Maki ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Maki no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Maki has Petrov pulled in close to control his posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov preventing the sweep.
Maki bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Petrov's guard.

Maki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Petrov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Maki is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Maki sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Petrov's guard.

Maki is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Petrov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Maki.
Maki passes to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maki is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Petrov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Petrov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Maki wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Maki takes a little break here. Petrov wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Maki is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Petrov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Maki moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Maki landing a few strikes.
Maki misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Maki throws an elbow but Petrov slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sloppy strikes there by Maki.

Maki tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Petrov lands a nice shot to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ko Maki dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Maki is defended easily by Petrov.
Maki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Petrov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Petrov misses with a double jab.
Maki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Petrov.
Maki went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Maki shoots in for a takedown but Petrov shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ko Maki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Petrov lands a left and a right that send Maki crashing to the mat, dazed. Petrov thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!

Maki is rocked!

It looks like Ko Maki has been cut.
Maki doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Oh Maki is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Petrov grits his teeth and throws a big right-left combo! Maki takes both shots clean on the chin and is out cold! Petrov cracks him once more on his way down, as the crowd goes wild! They enjoyed that one!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Maxim Petrov!