PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between ALPHA SANT (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anatoliy Himura (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). SANT comes to the cage accompanied by oy,to ne vecher. Anatoliy Himura is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

SANT
vs
Himura

190 cm
20
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
160 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, ALPHA SANT!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anatoliy Himura!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Some wild striking there from SANT.
SANT tries to clinch but Himura moves out of range.

Himura shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

SANT is working an open guard so Himura takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
SANT tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
SANT looks to land a combination but Himura avoids it well.

Himura shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Himura trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Himura content just to control the position here.

Himura wants to finish this one by submission but SANT is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Himura.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Himura is standing up, even though he is in mount.
SANT tries for a takedown but Himura circles away easily

and Himura counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Himura controlling the action here.
SANT is breathing heavily.
Himura is pressing down on SANT's thigh, looking to free his foot. SANT is holding on for now.

Himura stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
SANT tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Himura paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
SANT throws a left and a right that both miss

and Himura counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Himura.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Himura's corner is telling him to maintain position.
SANT striking off his back but it's not causing Himura any problems.

Himura 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.

SANT looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Himura stands up and waves to SANT to follow him.

Himura decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Himura really doesn't want to stay on the ground with SANT. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Himura stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows SANT to get to his feet.
A combination from SANT does no damage.
ALPHA SANT seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Himura gets the takedown into side control.
SANT is trying to control Himura's posture but Himura avoids it.

Himura stands up.

Himura shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in SANT's guard.

Himura decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Himura bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Himura works to advance to full mount. SANT defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
SANT tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Himura controlling from mount.

Himura is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But SANT has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from SANT!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Himura holds on and takes a little breather.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Himura can't keep his opponent in guard - SANT advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Himura keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anatoliy Himura dominated that round.
That's time! SANT's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Himura looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
SANT is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Himura would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Himura showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Himura trying to control but SANT is working from the bottom.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Himura won't allow SANT to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Himura slips nicely into half guard.
SANT wants to get back to his feet.
Himura perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
SANT is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Anatoliy Himura has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Himura closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. SANT quickly recovers to half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Himura's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Himura seems to be looking for submissions.
SANT wants to stand back up but Himura manages to pass into side control.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Himura wants to control but SANT is keeping him busy.

Himura thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Himura wants to control but SANT is keeping him busy.
SANT tries to buck Himura off but Himura is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Himura is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. SANT knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
SANT tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Himura wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Himura remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
SANT tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four 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.
The referee asks Himura politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Himura prefers to stall for the moment though.

Himura decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Himura circles away from the clinch attempt.

Himura feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
SANT really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
SANT wants to stand up but Himura is controlling him.
Himura wants to control from the top but SANT keeps moving.
Himura is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anatoliy Himura showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

SANT with a poor takedown

and Himura counters with a shoot takedown. SANT fights it but they end up in guard.
Himura wants to pass the guard but SANT is keeping the position.
Himura is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

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

Himura drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Himura jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
SANT has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Himura has passed into side control.
Himura is staying tight to SANT's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Himura is trying to get an arm triangle but SANT is defending well.
SANT wants to get back to his feet.

Himura is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but SANT is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Himura wants to control but SANT is keeping him busy.
SANT seems a little lost for a moment, as Himura dominates the positioning.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
SANT is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Himura asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Himura is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt SANT will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Anatoliy Himura has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Anatoliy Himura hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
SANT throws a right hand that Himura ducks under and follows up with a left that Himura also avoids with ease.

Himura shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
SANT is looking for a sweep. Himura is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Himura is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Himura is looking for a kimura but SANT is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Himura to get the leverage.
SANT looks like he's trying to stand up.
Himura takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
SANT looks like he's trying to stand up.
Himura has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Himura controlling the action here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
SANT is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
SANT is looking to escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Anatoliy Himura was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Himura drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
SANT wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
SANT is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Himura off and has taken his back!
Himura wants to escape the position.

SANT looking for the RNC.
Himura trying to control the hands but SANT breaks the grip.
ALPHA SANT has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
Anatoliy Himura comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Himura 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anatoliy Himura!