PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bagdan Khmelnytsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Luzhin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Luzhin is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Enae Volare Mezzo by Era. 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.

Khmelnytsky
vs
Luzhin

180 cm
22
196 lbs
11 - 2 - 1

190 cm
20
195 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 11 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bagdan Khmelnytsky !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Luzhin!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khmelnytsky throws a wild body kick that Luzhin sees coming a mile off.
Khmelnytsky misses with a double jab.
Luzhin misses with a two punch combination.
Luzhin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Khmelnytsky .
Jab by Luzhin.
Luzhin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Khmelnytsky throws a nice outside leg kick.
A big left from Luzhin misses.
Luzhin tests Khmelnytsky 's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Khmelnytsky keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Khmelnytsky throws a half hearted mid kick.
Khmelnytsky throws a combination that misses
and Luzhin makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Luzhin scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Khmelnytsky doesn't seem bothered though.
Khmelnytsky waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Luzhin.
Luzhin misses with a double jab
and Khmelnytsky connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luzhin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Luzhin throws out a loose jab but Khmelnytsky uses good head movement to avoid it.
Luzhin bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Khmelnytsky 's head.
Luzhin connects with a body shot.
Luzhin scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Khmelnytsky misses with a kick to the body.
Luzhin throws a hook but Khmelnytsky blocks it.
Khmelnytsky throws a combination that misses
and Luzhin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Luzhin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Luzhin slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Luzhin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Luzhin misses with a combination
letting Khmelnytsky counter with a right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Luzhin.
Luzhin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Khmelnytsky throws a leg kick that misses.
Khmelnytsky avoids the body shot from Luzhin.
Khmelnytsky throws a wild body kick that Luzhin sees coming a mile off.
Khmelnytsky keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Luzhin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Nice defenses there by Khmelnytsky .
Khmelnytsky misses with a head kick.
Khmelnytsky fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Luzhin checks it well.
Luzhin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Khmelnytsky counters with a series of strikes. Luzhin will be more careful next time no doubt.
Khmelnytsky displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Luzhin throws out the jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khmelnytsky throws a right and a left that both miss.
Luzhin scores with a hook to the body. Khmelnytsky takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Luzhin takes a swing at Khmelnytsky 's ribcage but misses.
Nice body kick from Khmelnytsky .
Luzhin misses the body punch
and Khmelnytsky cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Luzhin throws a right and a left that Khmelnytsky avoids nicely.
Nice body punch from Luzhin.
Khmelnytsky takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Luzhin bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Some wild striking there from Luzhin.
Luzhin swinging wildly here.
Khmelnytsky rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Luzhin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Luzhin connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice straight punches there by Luzhin. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Luzhin.
Khmelnytsky is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Khmelnytsky wants to slow Luzhin down by chopping away at his legs.
Nikolai Luzhin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Luzhin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Khmelnytsky counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Khmelnytsky throws a head kick that misses.
Luzhin scores with a nice strike.
A jab from Luzhin finds it's way through Khmelnytsky 's defenses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Luzhin scores with a hook.
A slow jab from Luzhin misses its intended target.
Khmelnytsky on the wrong end of a nice jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Luzhin dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Khmelnytsky throws a low kick but it's checked well by Luzhin.
Khmelnytsky throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Luzhin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Khmelnytsky misses with a double jab
and Luzhin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Luzhin with a nice cross.
A shot to the body from Luzhin misses
and Khmelnytsky counters with a nice body shot.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Luzhin!
Luzhin misses with a few strikes there.
Luzhin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Luzhin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Khmelnytsky throws a leg kick but Luzhin sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Khmelnytsky misses the jab.
Khmelnytsky throws a head kick that misses.
Khmelnytsky throws a right and a left that Luzhin avoids nicely.
Luzhin fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Khmelnytsky on the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Luzhin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Luzhin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Khmelnytsky tries to work over Luzhin's front leg with a kick but Luzhin checks it.
Khmelnytsky goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Luzhin closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Luzhin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Khmelnytsky lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Luzhin circles away quickly and effectively.
Khmelnytsky closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Khmelnytsky lands with a thumping leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Khmelnytsky comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Khmelnytsky tries to move into range but Luzhin moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Bagdan Khmelnytsky is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Khmelnytsky misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Luzhin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Khmelnytsky was well out of range. Poor timing from Luzhin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khmelnytsky moves out of range of the strikes.
Luzhin blocks a jab.
The fighters circling - Khmelnytsky throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Luzhin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Khmelnytsky lands a head kick. Luzhin smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Nikolai Luzhin has been cut.
Khmelnytsky uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Luzhin.
Luzhin scores with a decent looking hook.
Khmelnytsky avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Khmelnytsky will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A head kick misses from Khmelnytsky .
Luzhin connects with a good right hand that stumbles Khmelnytsky . Khmelnytsky circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khmelnytsky gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Luzhin.
Luzhin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Khmelnytsky moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Khmelnytsky throws and low kick but Luzhin moves out of range easily.
Luzhin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Luzhin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Luzhin throws a looping overhand right but Khmelnytsky ducks down to avoid it.
Khmelnytsky throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Luzhin scores with a shot to the body.
Luzhin loads up on a big right hand but Khmelnytsky slips the punch.
A slapping leg kick lands for Khmelnytsky .
Khmelnytsky takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Khmelnytsky looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Luzhin misses with a combination
and Khmelnytsky counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin throws a left and a right that both miss
and Khmelnytsky counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Khmelnytsky on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Luzhin misses with a series of wild punches.
Khmelnytsky moves out of range of the strikes.
Decent striking displayed by Luzhin there.
Luzhin misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Luzhin thows a body shot but no joy.
Khmelnytsky looks to land a combination but Luzhin avoids it well.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Luzhin throws a nice looking combination but Khmelnytsky bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Luzhin checks a leg kick.
Nikolai Luzhin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Luzhin uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Khmelnytsky .
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Nikolai Luzhin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Nikolai Luzhin's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Luzhin swings for the body but Khmelnytsky moves out of range.
Khmelnytsky tried to score with a low kick but Luzhin checks it.
A slow jab from Luzhin misses its intended target.
Khmelnytsky scores with a kick to the body.
Khmelnytsky misses with a head kick.
Luzhin lands a lovely overhand right.
Khmelnytsky misses with a double jab.
Khmelnytsky takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Luzhin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Luzhin moves out of range as Khmelnytsky throws a body kick.
Luzhin cracks Khmelnytsky with an open hand slap.
Khmelnytsky swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
letting Luzhin counter with a right hand.
Khmelnytsky swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Luzhin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khmelnytsky uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Luzhin.
Khmelnytsky misses with a head kick.
Luzhin throws a combination that misses
and Khmelnytsky counters with a solid body kick.
Luzhin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Khmelnytsky moves away.
Khmelnytsky throws a left and a right that both miss
enabling Luzhin to counter with a crisp jab.
Khmelnytsky takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Luzhin checks a leg kick.
Luzhin lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Luzhin.
Luzhin showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Khmelnytsky .
Khmelnytsky takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Khmelnytsky looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Khmelnytsky throws a head kick but Luzhin moves out of range.
Luzhin swings away with a body shot that misses
and Khmelnytsky makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Nice body punch from Luzhin.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A left and a right from Luzhin both land. Nice combination.
Luzhin scores with a sloppy right hand. Khmelnytsky should have avoided that one.
Luzhin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Khmelnytsky with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Luzhin to score with a decent uppercut.
Luzhin fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Luzhin lands with a shot to the body.
Luzhin throws a body punch but Khmelnytsky moves out of range.
Luzhin misses with a double jab.
Luzhin connects with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Luzhin both land. Nice combination.
Luzhin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Luzhin listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Luzhin lands a body shot.
Luzhin ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Luzhin scores with a one two! Khmelnytsky had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Luzhin drops Khmelnytsky with a beautiful combination! Khmelnytsky stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Luzhin is looking for the KO!

Khmelnytsky is rocked!
Khmelnytsky doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Luzhin throws a series of strikes that have Khmelnytsky backpedaling.
Oh Khmelnytsky is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Luzhin throws a hook but Khmelnytsky avoids it easily.
Khmelnytsky seems to have got his legs back now.
Luzhin looks to land a combination. Khmelnytsky sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Luzhin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Luzhin blocks a leg kick.
No joy there for Luzhin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Luzhin sizes up Khmelnytsky with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Khmelnytsky shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Luzhin lands a slapping body shot.
Khmelnytsky takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Bagdan Khmelnytsky has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Luzhin is working the combinations to good effect here.
Khmelnytsky throws a leg kick that misses.
Luzhin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Luzhin misses with a body shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Luzhin moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Khmelnytsky takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Luzhin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Luzhin 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolai Luzhin!