PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ahwal Mahtulak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Byryndyk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Mahtulak
vs
Byryndyk

176 cm
23
182 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

178 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very confident

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 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ahwal Mahtulak!
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, Vladimir Byryndyk!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Dmitry Maklakov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Byryndyk misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mahtulak feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Byryndyk's calf.
A good leg kick by Mahtulak.
Mahtulak lands a nice leg kick that just misses Byryndyk's sensitive parts.

Mahtulak pushes Byryndyk up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Byryndyk is trying to drag Mahtulak to the mat but Mahtulak just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Mahtulak wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Byryndyk has him pressed against the cage.
Byryndyk has Mahtulak pressed against the cage, preventing Mahtulak from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Byryndyk has Mahtulak pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Mahtulak manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ahwal Mahtulak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Byryndyk.
A frustrated look appears on Mahtulak's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Mahtulak prevents the takedown attempt.
Byryndyk looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Mahtulak is trying to break the clinch but Byryndyk has him pressed against the cage.
Mahtulak is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Byryndyk wants a takedown but no success here.
Mahtulak misses with a punch on the inside.

Mahtulak breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mahtulak misses with a head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byryndyk fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Mahtulak lands with a thumping leg kick.
Mahtulak throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahtulak throws a sloppy head kick and Byryndyk moves out of range easily.
Byryndyk shoots in looking for a takedown. Mahtulak tries to sprawl out of it but Byryndyk keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Mahtulak manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Mahtulak slaps away a takedown attempt from Byryndyk, before circling back to the center of the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahwal Mahtulak dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mahtulak throws a leg kick which misses Byryndyk's front leg but catches the back leg as Byryndyk tries to avoid it.
Mahtulak throws a solid leg kick but Byryndyk takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Mahtulak.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byryndyk shoots in but no luck this time.
Byryndyk shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Mahtulak pinned against the cage. Mahtulak gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Byryndyk is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahtulak finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Mahtulak displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Byryndyk.
Ahwal Mahtulak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Byryndyk.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Mahtulak throws a low kick, looking for Byryndyk's leg but Byryndyk calmly moves out of range.
Vladimir Byryndyk is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mahtulak shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Byryndyk but Byryndyk pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Byryndyk gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Mahtulak counters with a nice leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahtulak throws a solid leg kick but Byryndyk takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Mahtulak.
Byryndyk has his takedown stuffed
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Byryndyk misses with a takedown
and Mahtulak connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
A good leg kick by Mahtulak.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ahwal Mahtulak dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Byryndyk doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Mahtulak counters with an inside leg kick.
Byryndyk with a lazy takedown attempt
and Mahtulak counters with an inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Byryndyk with a poor takedown
and Mahtulak counters with an outside leg kick.
Ahwal Mahtulak has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vladimir Byryndyk.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahtulak shoots in for a takedown but Byryndyk shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Byryndyk tries for a takedown but Mahtulak circles away easily
and Mahtulak counters with a nice low kick that buckles Byryndyk's knee momentarily.
Mahtulak fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Byryndyk.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Byryndyk shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Mahtulak counters with a slapping leg kick.
Mahtulak throws a nice outside leg kick.

Byryndyk changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Mahtulak looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Byryndyk lands some shots froms side control.
Byryndyk scoring with punches and elbows.
Mahtulak tries to buck Byryndyk off but Byryndyk is having none of it.
Byryndyk scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Mahtulak to see if he's OK.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mahtulak takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Byryndyk scores with a couple of short elbows.
Mahtulak is not content to let Byryndyk control the position.
Mahtulak is looking to regain half guard here but Byryndyk keeps moving and retains side control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mahtulak shoots for a double leg takedown but Byryndyk sprawls well. He's pushed Mahtulak's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Byryndyk misses with a takedown
and Mahtulak counters with an outside leg kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vladimir Byryndyk.
I think Mahtulak has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ahwal Mahtulak!