PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Valery Vanchugov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alex Alexejev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Vanchugov
vs
Alexejev

200 cm
25
188 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

190 cm
18
186 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Valery Vanchugov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alex Alexejev!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Igor Prikhodko and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Vanchugov scores with a takedown into Alexejev's guard.
Alexejev pulls Vanchugov in close to his closed guard and prevents Vanchugov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Vanchugov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Alexejev is proving hard to escape from.
Vanchugov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Vanchugov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Vanchugov wants to pass the guard but Alexejev is keeping the position.
Vanchugov wants to control from the top but Alexejev keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexejev will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Valery Vanchugov wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Alexejev shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Alexejev throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Alexejev trying to control from half guard but Vanchugov is working away.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Alexejev lands a nice short elbow.
Vanchugov tries to get to full guard but Alexejev has control of the leg.
Alexejev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vanchugov keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanchugov is trying to maintain the position but Alexejev is very close to passing his half guard.

Alexejev 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Still in half guard, Alexejev seems content to control.
Vanchugov wants to improve his position but Alexejev is controlling well.
Alexejev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vanchugov defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alexejev prevents Vanchugov from improving his position.
Vanchugov keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Alexejev tries for a takedown but Vanchugov circles away easily

and Vanchugov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Vanchugov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Vanchugov wants to pass to mount but Alexejev is defending the position.
Vanchugov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alexejev keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanchugov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Vanchugov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Alexejev sees it coming and defends easily.

Vanchugov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Alexejev sees it coming and defends easily.
Vanchugov is keen to just control but Alexejev is a slippery customer.
Vanchugov is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Alexejev manages to get to full guard.

Alexejev is working an open guard so Vanchugov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valery Vanchugov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

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

It looks like Alex Alexejev has been cut.
Vanchugov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Alexejev counters with a single leg into guard. Vanchugov didn't expect that.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Alexejev won't allow Vanchugov to get back to his feet.
Alexejev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Alexejev advances position into side control!
Vanchugov is looking to regain half guard here but Alexejev keeps moving and retains side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Alexejev is breathing heavily.
Vanchugov is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Alexejev throws an elbow but Vanchugov slips to the side and avoids it well.

Alexejev stands up and beckons Vanchugov to his feet.
Vanchugov fails with the takedown

and Alexejev counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vanchugov won't be happy with that.
Vanchugov tries to escape but Alexejev is in control.
Vanchugov wants to control but Alexejev postures up.
Vanchugov is not content to let Alexejev control the position.
Alex Alexejev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vanchugov is looking to regain half guard here but Alexejev keeps moving and retains side control.
Vanchugov wants to control but Alexejev postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanchugov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Vanchugov kicks off Alexejev and gets to his feet.

Alexejev has taken the fight to the clinch.
Vanchugov is pressed up against the cage. Alexejev has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Vanchugov down to the mat. Vanchugov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Vanchugov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Vanchugov grinds an elbow into Alexejev's temple.
Vanchugov taking a breather here.

Vanchugov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Alexejev's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Vanchugov cracks Alexejev with a big elbow.
Vanchugov trying to control the position but Alexejev is working away.

That's four 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.

Vanchugov decides to stand back up.
Alexejev tries to clinch up
and Vanchugov counters with a three punch combo that has Alexejev backing up. Alexejev nods at Vanchugov to acknowledge the strikes.

Vanchugov shoots in and bounces Alexejev off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Vanchugov wants to control from the top but Alexejev keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vanchugov is working Alexejev over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valery Vanchugov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alex Alexejev's cut.
That's time! Vanchugov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Alexejev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Alexejev scores with a takedown into Vanchugov's guard.
Alexejev preventing the sweep.
Alexejev trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vanchugov's guard.
Vanchugov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Alexejev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Vanchugov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Alexejev is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Valery Vanchugov just wasn't active enough.
Vanchugov has his takedown stuffed

and Alexejev counters by clinching up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanchugov tries to circle away but Alexejev has him pinned against the cage.
Alexejev prevents the takedown attempt.
Vanchugov has had enough of the clinch but Alexejev keeps him there for the moment.
Vanchugov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Valery Vanchugov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Alexejev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Vanchugov scores a takedown into full mount!
Alexejev is squirming around, avoiding Vanchugov's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alexejev tries to hold on but Vanchugov postures up.
Vanchugov punishing his opponent with strikes.
Alexejev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Vanchugov looking to control but Alexejev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee warns Alexejev that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Vanchugov is landing with some decent strikes but Alexejev is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Vanchugov looking to control but Alexejev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Vanchugov is really struggling to control Alexejev but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Vanchugov.
Alex Alexejev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
BOOM! Vanchugov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Alexejev is squirming around, avoiding Vanchugov's attempts to control the action.
Vanchugov lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valery Vanchugov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vanchugov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valery Vanchugov!