PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Iain Durrant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stuno Mashinata (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Durrant
vs
Mashinata

170 cm
29
145 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

175 cm
22
144 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Iain Durrant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stuno Mashinata!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Konstantin Menshow and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Durrant fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Mashinata sprawls well initially but Durrant persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Durrant tries to pass to full mount but Mashinata defends it.
Durrant thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Durrant wants to pass to mount but Mashinata is defending the position.
Mashinata is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Durrant wants to work for an arm triangle but Mashinata is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Mashinata taking some punishment here, with Durrant in his half guard.
Mashinata gets full guard.
Durrant postures up.

Mashinata is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Durrant is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Mashinata had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Durrant defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durrant wants to control from the top but Mashinata keeps moving.

Mashinata looking for a guillotine here but Durrant defends easily.
Mashinata is trying to keep Durrant in close.

Durrant thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Durrant trying to control the position from guard on top but Mashinata is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Durrant loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Durrant wants to pass the guard but Mashinata is keeping the position.

Mashinata working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Durrant doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Durrant manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Durrant content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Durrant thows a big elbow that misses.
Mashinata looking to control.
Durrant lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Durrant pushes down on Mashinata's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Durrant seems to be working for a kimura but Mashinata defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durrant thows a huge punch but Mashinata dodges it nicely.

Mashinata is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Durrant pulls his head out easily.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Durrant lands a nice short elbow.

Durrant gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Mashinata with a poor takedown

so Durrant counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Durrant keeping moving, preventing Mashinata from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mashinata accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Mashinata loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mashinata is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Mashinata trying to control the position from guard on top but Durrant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mashinata moves to clinch but Durrant breaks away

and Durrant counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mashinata won't be happy with that.
Durrant wants to control but Mashinata is keeping him busy.
Durrant wants to take a breather but Mashinata manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Durrant.
Durrant won't allow Mashinata to sweep him here.
Durrant trying to control but Mashinata is working from the bottom.

Mashinata is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Durrant lands a couple of elbows.

Durrant thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Mashinata is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Durrant is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Mashinata is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Mashinata has escaped and now he's on top!

Mashinata drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Durrant manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Mashinata has Durrant in his guard.
Mashinata preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Durrant drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Mashinata manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Durrant has Mashinata in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mashinata controls from within his opponent's guard.
Durrant looking to control.
Iain Durrant overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mashinata trying to control but Durrant is working from the bottom.
Mashinata sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mashinata trying to control the position from guard on top but Durrant is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Durrant is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mashinata tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Mashinata throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Durrant tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Mashinata is in Durrant's guard.
Mashinata loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mashinata throwing strikes from guard but Durrant blocks nicely.
Mashinata is looking to work some ground and pound but Durrant has wrist control.
Mashinata working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mashinata stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Durrant swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Durrant bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Mashinata's guard.
Durrant postures up.
Durrant trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Durrant wants to control from the top but Mashinata keeps moving.

Mashinata is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Iain Durrant will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Durrant keeps the fight on the outside.
Durrant throws a series of punches but Mashinata moves out of range.

Durrant gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Durrant keeping moving, preventing Mashinata from controlling successfully.
Mashinata is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Mashinata throws a strike but Durrant rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Durrant wants to get up but he can't break Mashinata's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Durrant drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Durrant jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Durrant drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mashinata dives on top into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mashinata wants to control from the top but Durrant keeps moving.
Durrant preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Durrant keeping full guard, as Mashinata tries to pass.
Iain Durrant is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Durrant has Mashinata pulled in close to control his posture.
Mashinata postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Mashinata connects with a couple of short punches.
Mashinata wants to control from the top but Durrant keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mashinata passes Durrant's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Durrant is controlling Mashinata's trapped leg to prevent Mashinata from advancing to side control.
Durrant has hold of Mashinata's hands but Mashinata slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Mashinata thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Durrant tries to kick Mashinata off but Mashinata keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Mashinata stalling.

That's four 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.
Mashinata wants to control but Durrant is keeping him busy.
Mashinata takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Durrant wants to control but Mashinata is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Durrant wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

Excellent takedown into side control there by Mashinata.
Mashinata wants to control but Durrant is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stuno Mashinata comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Durrant has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Iain Durrant!