PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gregory Ant (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yevgeni Ratchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ant
vs
Ratchenko

187 cm
25
197 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
187 lbs
5 - 3 - 1

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gregory Ant!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yevgeni Ratchenko!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ant shoots in looking for a takedown. Ratchenko tries to sprawl out of it but Ant keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Ratchenko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Good work by Ratchenko as he checks the leg kick.

Ant shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ratchenko is trying to defend but Ant finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Ant wants to stand up but Ratchenko is controlling the position.
Ant thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ant is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ratchenko sees it coming and defends easily.
Ratchenko is not content to let Ant control the position.

Ant seems to be working for a kimura but Ratchenko defends the submission attempt.
Ratchenko looks gassed!
Ant winds up and cracks Ratchenko with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ant works his foot free and advances to mount.
Poor strikes thrown by Ant there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Ant tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Ratchenko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ant. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Ant has control of Ratchenko's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Ratchenko regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Ant is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ratchenko has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ratchenko!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ant is on top in guard.
Ant stands and throws Ratchenko's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Ant tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Ant has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ant is working to tighten is grip on Ratchenko's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Ratchenko has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Ant is really squeezing tight and eventually Ratchenko passes out! Ant breaks the hold and jumps onto the ropes to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:31 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Gregory Ant!