PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yevgeni Ratchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Boris Anyukov (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!

Ratchenko
vs
Anyukov

178 cm
19
187 lbs
5 - 5 - 1

183 cm
23
185 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

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 5 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yevgeni Ratchenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Boris Anyukov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Aleksandr Martynov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Anyukov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Anyukov throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Ratchenko because Anyukov loaded up on that one.
Anyukov trying to control but Ratchenko is having none of it.

Anyukov looking to secure an arm triangle but Ratchenko defends it well.
Ratchenko is squirming around, avoiding Anyukov's attempts to control the action.
Anyukov is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Anyukov there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Anyukov controlling the pace for now.
Anyukov trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Anyukov 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!
Anyukov keeping moving, preventing Ratchenko from controlling successfully.

Boris Anyukov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Anyukov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Anyukov controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ratchenko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Anyukov.
Anyukov misses with a head shot. Ratchenko uses the momentum to regain guard.
Anyukov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Anyukov postures up and lands a big shot to Ratchenko's brow.
Ratchenko keeping full guard, as Anyukov tries to pass.
Anyukov content to stall in guard here.

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.
Anyukov trying to control but Ratchenko is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Anyukov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ratchenko kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Anyukov dominated that round.
That's time! Ratchenko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Anyukov shoots in for a double leg but Ratchenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Anyukov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Ratchenko's guard.
Anyukov tries to free his leg and advance position but Ratchenko is retaining full guard.
Anyukov trying to control the position from guard on top but Ratchenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Anyukov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ratchenko looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ratchenko looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ratchenko!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anyukov is looking to regain half guard here but Ratchenko keeps moving and retains side control.
Ratchenko controlling the position.
Anyukov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ratchenko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Ratchenko is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Anyukov's shoulder. That is not cool.
Ratchenko is looking to take a break and control but Anyukov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Anyukov tries to bench press Ratchenko off him but Ratchenko keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Anyukov being controlled for a moment.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ratchenko trying to control the position but Anyukov is working away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Anyukov struggling a bit here.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Anyukov trying to remain calm as Ratchenko controls from the top position.

We're going to have a standup here because Yevgeni Ratchenko wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Anyukov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Anyukov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anyukov goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Ratchenko turns into him and now he's in Anyukov's guard.
Anyukov keeping moving, preventing Ratchenko from controlling successfully.

Anyukov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ratchenko postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ratchenko trying to control but Anyukov is working from the bottom.

Yevgeni Ratchenko has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Anyukov scores a takedown into full mount!
Ratchenko blocking the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Anyukov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Ratchenko stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ratchenko wants it to stay on the feet.

Anyukov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Anyukov is trying to control the action in half guard but Ratchenko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Anyukov with the ground and pound but Ratchenko uses the opportunity to regain guard.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Anyukov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Anyukov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ratchenko keeping moving, preventing Anyukov from controlling successfully.
Anyukov is working Ratchenko over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Anyukov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ratchenko keeping moving, preventing Anyukov from controlling successfully.

That's two 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.
Anyukov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ratchenko swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Anyukov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Boris Anyukov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Anyukov lands with an uppercut that bounces Ratchenko off the ropes and back into rage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anyukov 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.
Anyukov content to stall in guard here.
Ratchenko keeping moving, preventing Anyukov from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Ratchenko 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.

Anyukov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ratchenko is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ratchenko has escaped and now he's on top!
Anyukov keeping moving, preventing Ratchenko from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boris Anyukov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Anyukov 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Boris Anyukov!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Boris Anyukov!
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Boris Anyukov!

Boris Anyukov wins by unanimous decision!