PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Anthony Almeida (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Krystov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Almeida might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to 24 theme song. Alexander Krystov has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Anthony Almeida's chin.

Almeida
vs
Krystov

170 cm
23
163 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

179 cm
26
163 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

GTi - MTG - New Stock !!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anthony Almeida!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Krystov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Krystov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Almeida moves away.
Krystov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Krystov.
Krystov ducks under a wild hook from Almeida.
A swing and a miss from Krystov.
Krystov fails with a takedown attempt.
Almeida falls off balance throwing a combination
and Krystov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Almeida throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Krystov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Almeida.

Krystov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Krystov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krystov working a defensive guard here.

Almeida stands up from Krystov's guard - Almeida perhaps looking for a knockout.
Almeida misses with a straight right.
Almeida displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Krystov slips under a jab from Almeida.
Almeida pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Krystov needs to keep his hands up - Almeida had a free shot at his head there.
Almeida scores with a nice right hand.
Almeida throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Krystov counter with a right hand.
Krystov just misses with a punch to the body.
Almeida looks to land a combination but Krystov avoids it well.
Krystov with a jab.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Almeida lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Krystov scores with a takedown into Almeida's guard.
Almeida wants to stand but Krystov is controlling the position.
Krystov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Krystov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Krystov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Almeida swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Krystov trying to control the position from guard on top but Almeida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Krystov stops Almeida from standing up.
Krystov passes Almeida's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Krystov wants to pass the guard but Almeida is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Almeida kicks off Krystov and gets to his feet.
A decent looking cross lands there for Almeida.

Krystov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida wants to get back to his feet but Krystov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Almeida is breathing heavily.
Almeida tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Krystov is looking to work some ground and pound but Almeida has wrist control.

Krystov drops back looking for a leg! Almeida is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Almeida manages to kick Krystov off! Krystov jumps back into Almeida's guard.
Almeida is looking to stand up but Krystov isn't so interested in that idea.
Almeida wants to sweep here but Krystov controlling him for the moment.
Krystov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Almeida is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Almeida rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Krystov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Krystov moves out of range of the strikes.
Almeida misses with a head kick.
Almeida throws a left and a right that both miss
and Krystov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Anthony Almeida is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Almeida throws a head kick but Krystov moves out of range.
Almeida misses with a head kick.
Anthony Almeida seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Krystov is defended easily by Almeida.

Krystov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Almeida is trying to get back to half guard.

Krystov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Krystov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Almeida lands a head kick!
Krystov clobbers Almeida with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Krystov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Almeida's head backwards.
Almeida throws a left and a right that both miss
letting Krystov counter with a right hand.
Krystov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Krystov fails to land with a series of punches.
A jab from Almeida misses.
Krystov throws a right and a left that both miss.
A swing and a miss from Almeida.
Krystov moves out of range as Almeida strikes.
Anthony Almeida is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Krystov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Almeida's head backwards.
Almeida misses with a looping left.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Almeida misses with a shot to the body
and Krystov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Almeida misses with the combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Almeida tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Krystov throws a left that rocks Almeida and follows with a right that sends him tumbling to the canvas! Krystov dives into side control, looking to finish! Can Almeida regain composure!

Almeida is rocked!
Krystov scoring with punches and elbows.
Oh Almeida is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Almeida is trying to improve his position.
Krystov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

Krystov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Almeida can't do much from the bottom here.

Krystov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Almeida seems to have got his legs back now.
Almeida wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Krystov wants to work for an arm triangle but Almeida is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Almeida blocking the ground and pound attempt from Krystov.
Almeida wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Krystov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Krystov is trying to work for a kimura but Almeida is defending well.
Almeida tries to kick Krystov off but Krystov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Krystov misses with a looping left.
Krystov misses with the combination.
Alexander Krystov seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Krystov moves out of range of the body kick.
Almeida is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Almeida throws a right and a left that both miss.
Krystov misses with a double jab.
Almeida tries a head kick but it misses.
Almeida keeps the fight on the outside.
Krystov scores with the left hand. Almeida knows he should have avoided that one.
Almeida with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Krystov lands with a nice body punch.
Krystov tries for a takedown but Almeida sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Almeida throws a head kick that misses.
Krystov lands with an uppercut that bounces Almeida off the cage and back into rage.
Krystov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Almeida looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Krystov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Almeida takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Krystov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Almeida on the side of the head.
Almeida misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Krystov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Almeida is trying to defend but Krystov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Almeida is trying to get back to full guard.

Krystov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Almeida has managed to free his arm - good work.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Krystov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Krystov 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!

Almeida swinging wildly here.
Almeida misses with a series of wild punches.
Krystov fails with a takedown attempt.
Almeida throws a head kick but Krystov moves out of range.
Almeida misses with a combination

and Krystov counters with a takedown into side control.
Almeida sneaks back into half guard.

Krystov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Almeida is just riding it out for now. Krystov eventually gives up the hold.
Almeida wants to control but Krystov is keeping busy.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krystov stops Almeida from getting back to his feet.
Krystov working over Almeida with some ground and pound. Almeida looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Almeida is trying to stand.

Krystov is looking for a kimura here.
Krystov is keen to just control but Almeida is a slippery customer.
Almeida is trying to maintain the position but Krystov is very close to passing his half guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Krystov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Almeida napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Krystov working away.
Anthony Almeida has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Almeida manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Almeida gets back to full guard.
Krystov tries to free his leg and advance position but Almeida is retaining full guard.

Almeida looking for a guillotine here but Krystov defends easily.
Krystov throws a big right hand that misses.
Krystov content to stall in guard here.
Krystov wants to control from the top but Almeida keeps moving.
Krystov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Almeida swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Almeida is pulling down on Krystov's head to control his posture.
Krystov chips away with some ground and pound.
Almeida tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Krystov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Almeida wants to stand but Krystov is controlling the position.
Krystov looking to pass the guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Almeida swinging wildly here.
Krystov misses with a hook.
Almeida throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Krystov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Almeida counters with a body kick.
Almeida scores with a jab to the head.
Almeida misses with a head kick.
A punch combination from Krystov misses.
Almeida tries a head kick but it misses.
Alexander Krystov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Krystov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Almeida tries a head kick but it misses.

Krystov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Krystov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

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

Almeida had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Krystov defends it easily.
Krystov trying to control the position from guard on top but Almeida is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Krystov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Krystov 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Krystov!