PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleks Malinkovikh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilmari Laine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Malinkovikh's entrance music is Disturbed - Down with the sickness. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Malinkovikh
vs
Laine

220 cm
25
296 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

209 cm
24
300 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleks Malinkovikh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilmari Laine!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malinkovikh defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Laine.
Malinkovikh throws a right and a left that both miss.
Laine misses with a wild body shot.

Laine throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Malinkovikh was covering up waiting for the punch and Laine finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Laine wants to control from the top but Malinkovikh keeps moving.
Malinkovikh will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Laine is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Malinkovikh 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.
Laine trying to control the position from guard on top but Malinkovikh is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malinkovikh avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Laine won't allow Malinkovikh to sweep him here.
Laine throws a big right hand that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laine is working Malinkovikh over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
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.
Malinkovikh trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Malinkovikh has momentary wrist control but Laine slips an elbow through the middle.
Laine missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Malinkovikh utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Laine prevents Malinkovikh from getting back to his feet.
Laine throwing strikes from guard but Malinkovikh blocks nicely.
Malinkovikh wants to stand up but Laine is controlling him.
Laine keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Malinkovikh's head.
Laine with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Malinkovikh is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Laine is controlling him.
Laine chips away with some ground and pound.
Laine scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Laine is in close to Malinkovikh's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Malinkovikh is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malinkovikh wants to get back to his feet but Laine is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Laine stays in close to Malinkovikh's body and controls the position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Malinkovikh has momentary wrist control but Laine slips an elbow through the middle.
Laine controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Malinkovikh looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Laine puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Laine is trying to control the action in half guard but Malinkovikh is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Laine is working for a submission of some sort.
Malinkovikh has hold of Laine's hands but Laine slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Laine has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malinkovikh is not content to let Laine control the position.
Laine sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laine lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Laine has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Laine looking to control and managing it successfully.
Laine breaks from Malinkovikh's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Malinkovikh in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Malinkovikh is bucking up trying to escape but Laine cracks him with another couple of good strikes.

Malinkovikh is rocked!
Laine scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Oh Malinkovikh is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Laine controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laine lands a big shot to the head and Malinkovikh winces in pain. He's tapped out due to strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Ilmari Laine!