PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fabio Gurgel (ranked 1637 p4p, 1779 weight class) and Aslan Krabutov (ranked 251 p4p, 278 weight class). Aslan Krabutov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Gurgel
vs
Krabutov

183 cm
28
215
7 - 4 - 0

191 cm
23
217
8 - 3 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Powerful

Fantasy Threads

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 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Fabio Gurgel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Aslan Krabutov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Krabutov lands a jab to Gurgel's midsection.
Gurgel throws a body punch but Krabutov moves out of range.
Fabio Gurgel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Gurgel misses with a few strikes there.
Decent striking displayed by Krabutov there.
Krabutov slips a jab from Gurgel.
Gurgel fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Krabutov avoids it really well and circles away.
Gurgel shoots and misses

and Krabutov counters with a single leg into guard. Gurgel didn't expect that.

Gurgel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Krabutov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Krabutov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gurgel is looking for a triangle here but Krabutov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Krabutov remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Krabutov in side control lands a decent elbow.
Krabutov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Krabutov scoring with punches from side control.
Krabutov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Krabutov working away.
Gurgel tries to buck Krabutov off but Krabutov is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krabutov working the body and head with strikes.
Gurgel is trying to get back to half guard.
Krabutov is putting a hurting on Gurgel here, landing some big shots from side control.
Gurgel looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Krabutov takes a little break here. Gurgel wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Krabutov wants to control but Gurgel is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gurgel tries to buck Krabutov off but Krabutov is having none of it.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Krabutov trying to control the action but Gurgel is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krabutov cracks Gurgel with a big right hand but Gurgel just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Gurgel sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Gurgel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Krabutov sitting and controlling from the half guard.

Gurgel looking for submissions off his back.
Krabutov trying to pass the guard but Gurgel defending well.
Krabutov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gurgel is staying active underneath Krabutov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Krabutov lands with a punch from half guard.
Krabutov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Gurgel does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Krabutov wants to free his trapped foot but Gurgel is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gurgel wants to improve his position but Krabutov is controlling well.
Krabutov not doing much here.

Gurgel looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Krabutov working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Krabutov controlling the action here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Good shot there by Krabutov.
Gurgel takes a swing at Krabutov's ribcage but misses.
A telegraphed right hand from Gurgel misses the target.
Krabutov with the counter takedown but Gurgel avoids it easily.
Krabutov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gurgel.

Krabutov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Gurgel is trying to control Krabutov's posture but Krabutov avoids it.
Gurgel is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Krabutov off and has taken his back!
Krabutov can't escape the position.
Gurgel is not going to allow Krabutov to sit and survive in this position.

Gurgel looking for the choke from the back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gurgel controlling well, preventing Krabutov from escaping the position.
Gurgel gets his hands free as Krabutov looks to control.

Gurgel looking to break Krabutov's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Krabutov remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gurgel will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Gurgel tries to keep control of the position but Krabutov is staying busy.
Krabutov can't escape the position.

Gurgel is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Krabutov has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Gurgel working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

Gurgel looking to break Krabutov's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Krabutov remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Gurgel will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Gurgel is hanging on to Krabutov's back as he tries to escape.
Krabutov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krabutov is still trying to improve position.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Gurgel's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Gurgel working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
A lull in the action here.

Gurgel working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Krabutov manages to reverse the position and now he's in Gurgel's guard. Nice work there by Krabutov.

Gurgel looking for a guillotine here but Krabutov defends easily.

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

Gurgel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Krabutov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Krabutov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Krabutov trying to control but Gurgel is working from the bottom.
Krabutov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Aslan Krabutov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Gurgel looking for a guillotine here but Krabutov defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Krabutov pushes down on Gurgel's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Krabutov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Krabutov drops an elbow to the side of Gurgel's head.
Krabutov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Krabutov is looking to take a break and control but Gurgel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Krabutov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Aslan Krabutov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Krabutov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Gurgel's guard.

Gurgel has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Krabutov is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Gurgel.
Krabutov lands a decent elbow from side control.
Krabutov scoring with punches from side control.
Krabutov lands an elbow.
Krabutov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gurgel keeps working.
Gurgel trying to remain calm as Krabutov controls from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gurgel tries to bench press Krabutov off him but Krabutov keeps the position.
Krabutov trying to control the action but Gurgel is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krabutov remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Gurgel is looking for a sweep.
Krabutov trying to control the position but Gurgel is working away.
Gurgel manages to work his way to half guard, despite Krabutov's best efforts.
Gurgel won't allow Krabutov to pass to mount.

Krabutov moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Gurgel.
Krabutov is staying tight to Gurgel's torso, preventing him from escaping.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gurgel is looking for a sweep.

Krabutov tries for a kimura but Gurgel is defending well.
Krabutov grinds an elbow into Gurgel's temple.
Gurgel is looking to regain half guard here but Krabutov keeps moving and retains side control.
Krabutov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Krabutov working the head with strikes.
Krabutov in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Krabutov goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Gurgel rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Krabutov's guard! Nice work there by Gurgel!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krabutov looking for a sweep. Not yet Krabutov, not yet.
Gurgel tries to free his leg and advance position but Krabutov is retaining full guard.
Krabutov controlling the position.

Krabutov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Gurgel preventing the sweep.
Krabutov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gurgel's guard.

Krabutov 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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gurgel looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Gurgel escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Krabutov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Gurgel had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Krabutov defends it easily.
Krabutov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Krabutov distracts Gurgel with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aslan Krabutov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Krabutov 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aslan Krabutov!
Aslan Krabutov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.