PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Artem Muhomorov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Povetkin (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.

Muhomorov
vs
Povetkin

200 cm
22
250 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
23
270 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artem Muhomorov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Povetkin!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Muhomorov throws a right hand that Povetkin ducks under and follows up with a left that Povetkin also avoids with ease.
Muhomorov shoots in for a takedown but Povetkin shows good takedown defense.
Povetkin swats away the attempt to clinch by Muhomorov.
Povetkin changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Muhomorov tries to avoid it but Povetkin manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Muhomorov to the ground. Muhomorov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Povetkin keeps the fight on the outside.
Povetkin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Povetkin darts in trying to clinch

and Muhomorov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Povetkin pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Muhomorov stuffs the takedown attempt from Povetkin. Povetkin gets slowly back to his feet.
Povetkin tries for a takedown but Muhomorov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Artem Muhomorov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Povetkin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Muhomorov connects with a jab.
Povetkin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Muhomorov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Muhomorov clinches but Povetkin breaks the clinch

and Povetkin counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Muhomorov's guard now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Muhomorov is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muhomorov 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.
Muhomorov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two 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.
Muhomorov working a defensive guard here.
Povetkin postures up in Muhomorov's guard and throws a big left but Muhomorov blocks it.
Povetkin tries to free his leg and advance position but Muhomorov is retaining full guard.
Muhomorov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Muhomorov is controlling Povetkin's posture.

Povetkin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Muhomorov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Povetkin, into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muhomorov trying to control but Povetkin is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Artem Muhomorov.
Povetkin tries to move into range but Muhomorov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Povetkin staying out of range there.
Muhomorov wants to clinch

and Povetkin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Muhomorov has a closed guard, preventing Povetkin from standing up.
Povetkin throws a strike but Muhomorov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muhomorov tries to stand but Povetkin is controlling from the bottom.

Muhomorov drops back looking for a leg! Povetkin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Povetkin manages to kick Muhomorov off! Muhomorov jumps back into Povetkin's guard.

Povetkin has an active guard here but Muhomorov has managed to pass into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Povetkin takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Muhomorov darts in trying to clinch

and Povetkin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Muhomorov won't be happy with that.
Povetkin is trying to ground and pound but Muhomorov uses the momentary lack of control by Povetkin to regain half guard.
Muhomorov regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Povetkin.
Povetkin sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Muhomorov's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Povetkin is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muhomorov manages to get to full guard.
Muhomorov has Povetkin pulled in close to control his posture.
Muhomorov controls Povetkin momentarily but Povetkin frees himself.
Povetkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Muhomorov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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.
Muhomorov trying to keep a closed guard but Povetkin is proving a slippery customer.
Povetkin looking to sit in guard and control but Muhomorov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Muhomorov is looking to work some ground and pound but Povetkin has wrist control.
Muhomorov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Muhomorov wants to control from the top but Povetkin keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Muhomorov looks to clinch

and Povetkin counters with a takedown into side control.
Alexander Povetkin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Muhomorov is looking to reverse the position.
Povetkin is looking to take a break and control but Muhomorov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Povetkin with the ground and pound but Muhomorov regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Muhomorov is doing well to control the position and prevent Povetkin from advancing to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Povetkin prevents Muhomorov from improving his position.
Povetkin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Povetkin not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Muhomorov scores with a body shot.
Povetkin moves in looking to clinch but Muhomorov pushes him off.
Povetkin shoots in looking for a takedown. Muhomorov tries to sprawl out of it but Povetkin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Muhomorov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Muhomorov tries to clinch up

and Povetkin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Povetkin.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Povetkin 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!

Muhomorov tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Povetkin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Muhomorov controlling the position well.
Povetkin throwing shots but Muhomorov is blocking nicely.
Povetkin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Povetkin is stalling here. Muhomorov is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Povetkin seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Muhomorov has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Muhomorov decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Artem Muhomorov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muhomorov tries to clinch up.
Povetkin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Muhomorov goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Muhomorov looks to clinch

and Povetkin counters by moving into the clinch.

Muhomorov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Povetkin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Povetkin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Muhomorov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Artem Muhomorov is winning the standup battle so far.
Povetkin drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Muhomorov closes the distance but Povetkin moves to the side
and Povetkin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Muhomorov tries to clinch up.
Muhomorov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Muhomorov tries to clinch there but Povetkin circles away.
Muhomorov doesn't manage to clinch there - Povetkin circles away.
Muhomorov tries to clinch up but Povetkin circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muhomorov fails with the takedown.
Povetkin with a poor takedown
and Muhomorov counters with a straight right hand.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Muhomorov, as that shot connected.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Muhomorov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Muhomorov clinches but Povetkin breaks the clinch

and Povetkin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Muhomorov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Povetkin's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Povetkin's back!
Muhomorov slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Muhomorov's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Muhomorov working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Povetkin is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Muhomorov has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Povetkin taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Artem Muhomorov!