PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Sanofskij (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Konstantin Vasilenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sanofskij
vs
Vasilenko

182 cm
25
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
24
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Sanofskij!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Konstantin Vasilenko!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sanofskij gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Vasilenko postures up.
Vasilenko trying to control but Sanofskij is working from the bottom.
Sanofskij avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vasilenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanofskij is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sanofskij preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vasilenko trying to control but Sanofskij is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Konstantin Vasilenko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Vasilenko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Sanofskij to the mat! Sanofskij manages to get full guard.
Vasilenko is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Vasilenko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasilenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vasilenko pushing down on Sanofskij's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sanofskij knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vasilenko on the ground.
Vasilenko looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sanofskij wants to improve his position but Vasilenko is controlling well.
Sanofskij trying to control but Vasilenko postures up.
Sanofskij is trying to get back to full guard.
Vasilenko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Vasilenko seems to be working for a kimura but Sanofskij defends the submission attempt.
Sanofskij is trying to maintain the position but Vasilenko is very close to passing his half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sanofskij keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Sanofskij avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vasilenko.

Vasilenko looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Vasilenko looks gassed!
Vasilenko prevents Sanofskij from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanofskij keeping control of the position.
Sanofskij is pressing down on Vasilenko's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Sanofskij looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Vasilenko puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Sanofskij wants to control but Vasilenko is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Vasilenko looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Sanofskij with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Sanofskij on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Sanofskij tries to get out of the position.
Sanofskij is looking to improve his position.
Vasilenko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vasilenko prevents Sanofskij from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Vasilenko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sanofskij is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vasilenko is thwarting Sanofskij's attempts to control the position.
Vasilenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vasilenko wants to get back to his feet.
Sanofskij trying to control from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konstantin Vasilenko dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Sanofskij doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Vasilenko counters with a single leg into guard. Sanofskij didn't expect that.
Vasilenko wants to stand but Sanofskij is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sanofskij is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sanofskij avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vasilenko postures up and lands a big shot to Sanofskij's brow.
Sanofskij keeping moving, preventing Vasilenko from controlling successfully.
Vasilenko thows a big elbow that misses.
Vasilenko is fighting to break Sanofskij's control of his arms but Sanofskij is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasilenko throws a big right hand that misses.
Sanofskij wants to sweep but no luck.
Vasilenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanofskij works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vasilenko is breathing heavily.
Sanofskij utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sanofskij looking for a sweep. Not yet Sanofskij, not yet.
Vasilenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanofskij is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vasilenko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Sanofskij 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.
Vasilenko with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sanofskij keeping moving, preventing Vasilenko from controlling successfully.
Sanofskij tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vasilenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vasilenko looking to pass the guard.
Sanofskij looking to control.
Sanofskij looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vasilenko is one step ahead there.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vasilenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasilenko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sanofskij keeping moving, preventing Vasilenko from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Konstantin Vasilenko hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Sanofskij has his takedown stuffed

and Vasilenko counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Vasilenko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vasilenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Vasilenko drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sanofskij looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sanofskij looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sanofskij!
Vasilenko struggling a bit here.
Sanofskij cracks Vasilenko with a big right hand but Vasilenko just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanofskij cracks Vasilenko with a big right hand but Vasilenko just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sanofskij is chipping away with strikes.
Sanofskij wants to control but Vasilenko is keeping him busy.
Sanofskij is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Vasilenko is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Vasilenko struggling a bit here.
Sanofskij grinds an elbow into Vasilenko's temple.
Sanofskij connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Vasilenko some visible discomfort.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sanofskij in side control lands a decent elbow.
Sanofskij lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Vasilenko down.
Sanofskij working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Konstantin Vasilenko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Sanofskij shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Vasilenko napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sanofskij lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Vasilenko down.
Sanofskij is putting a hurting on Vasilenko here, landing some big shots from side control.
Vasilenko misses with a strike from the bottom.
Vasilenko can't do much from the bottom here.
Vasilenko on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Sanofskij in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Check out the look on Sanofskij's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Vasilenko is trying to control Sanofskij's posture but Sanofskij avoids it.
Sanofskij lands a few punches from side control.
Sanofskij scores with a couple of short elbows.
Vasilenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Sanofskij lands a decent elbow from side control.
Sanofskij lands some shots froms side control.
Vasilenko takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanofskij lands an elbow.
Sanofskij is putting a hurting on Vasilenko here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sanofskij working the head and body with strikes.
Vasilenko takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Sanofskij lands a nice forearm strike.
Sanofskij scores with punches from side control.
Sanofskij working the ground and pound.
Sanofskij working the ground and pound.
Sanofskij working the ground and pound.
Sanofskij landing a few strikes.
Sanofskij looks up at the clock and then as Vasilenko takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sanofskij smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Vasilenko taking punishment in the form of punches.
Vasilenko taking punishment in the form of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanofskij trying to control the action but Vasilenko is working from the bottom.
Vasilenko taking a bit of punishment here - Sanofskij scoring with strikes.
Vasilenko is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sanofskij connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Vasilenko some visible discomfort.
Vasilenko takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Sanofskij scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Vasilenko to see if he's OK.
Vasilenko is looking for a sweep.
Sanofskij cracks Vasilenko with a big right hand but Vasilenko just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Vasilenko tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Sanofskij looks up at the clock and then as Vasilenko takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Sanofskij smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Sanofskij cracks Vasilenko with a big right hand but Vasilenko just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sanofskij is chipping away with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanofskij landing a few strikes.
Vasilenko is looking to regain half guard here but Sanofskij keeps moving and retains side control.
Sanofskij working the head and body with strikes.
Vasilenko is working to avoid the ground and pound but Sanofskij connects with a decent elbow.
Check out the look on Sanofskij's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Sanofskij cracks Vasilenko with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sanofskij cracks Vasilenko with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Sanofskij wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vasilenko keeps working.
Sanofskij is putting a hurting on Vasilenko here, landing some big shots from side control.
Sanofskij scoring with punches and elbows.
Sanofskij in side control lands a decent elbow.
Vasilenko takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Sanofskij lands some shots froms side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanofskij working the ground and pound.
Sanofskij working the ground and pound.
Sanofskij trying to control the position but Vasilenko is working away.
Vasilenko is trying to control Sanofskij's posture but Sanofskij avoids it.
Sanofskij lands an elbow.
Sanofskij wants to control but Vasilenko is keeping him busy.
Sanofskij grinds an elbow into Vasilenko's temple.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vasilenko is looking to regain half guard here but Sanofskij keeps moving and retains side control.
Sanofskij is chipping away with strikes.
Vladimir Sanofskij has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Konstantin Vasilenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sanofskij landing strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Sanofskij showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vasilenko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!