PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Uster Best (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Malikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Best
vs
Malikov

187 cm
31
265 lbs
7 - 10 - 0

191 cm
25
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Uster Best!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Malikov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malikov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Best.
Best with a lazy takedown attempt

so Malikov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Malikov throws a big right hand that misses.

Best looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Malikov passes into half guard.
Malikov trying to control from half guard but Best is working away.
Malikov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Best looking for submissions off his back.
The fighters are battling for position here. Best manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Best escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Malikov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Best is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malikov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Malikov trying to control but Best is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexander Malikov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Malikov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Best with a poor takedown

and Malikov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Malikov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Uster Best. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Best working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Malikov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Malikov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Best can't keep his opponent in guard - Malikov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Malikov controlling the action here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Malikov is looking to pass Best's guard but actually Best recovers to full guard.
Malikov trying to control but Best is working from the bottom.

Best throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malikov wants to get up but he can't break Best's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Malikov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Malikov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Best. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Best looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Best looking for a guillotine here but Malikov defends easily.

Best looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malikov wants to control from the top but Best keeps moving.
Malikov trying to move into half guard but instead Best has managed to sweep!
Best stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Malikov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Malikov keeping moving, preventing Best from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Malikov looking for a sweep. Not yet Malikov, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexander Malikov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Malikov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Best trying to control from the bottom.
Malikov trying to control the pace.

Best is defending against the submission attempts here by Malikov.
Best has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Malikov is working away from the top position though.
Malikov is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Best reverses the position - he's now on top in Malikov's guard.
Malikov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Best is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Best trying to control the position from guard on top but Malikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malikov keeping full guard, as Best tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Uster Best wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Malikov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Malikov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Best defending well though.
Malikov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Best actively working from the bottom here.
Best trying to hold on to Malikov's head to control him but Malikov postures up.
Best manages to get to full guard.
Best is trying to keep Malikov in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Malikov stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Best shoots for a takedown but Malikov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Malikov drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Best with a poor takedown

and Malikov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Best trying to keep a closed guard but Malikov is proving a slippery customer.
Malikov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Malikov throws a strike but Best rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Malikov keeping moving, preventing Best from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Uster Best wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Malikov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Malikov trying to control the position but Best is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
You can see the frustration on Best's face as Malikov controls the position.
Malikov throwing strikes but Best manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Malikov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Best connects with a body shot that sends Malikov's belly button to the back.
Best closes this distance looking for a takedown but Malikov circles away.
Best fails to land the takedown.
Malikov wants to clinch up but Best keeps it at a distance.
Best doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Malikov counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Uster Best. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Best is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Malikov to keep the fight standing.

Malikov jumps into guard, dragging Best to the mat.
Best forces his way into half guard.

Malikov is defending against the submission attempts here by Best.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Best trying to mount his opponent but Malikov defends it.
Alexander Malikov has got the better of the ground game so far.

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.

Best wants to work for an arm triangle but Malikov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Best is trying to control the action in half guard but Malikov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Best looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Best seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Best seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Malikov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Alexander Malikov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Best is really struggling to control Malikov but he's trying to hold on to the position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Uster Best just wasn't active enough.
Best shoots and misses

and Malikov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Best's guard now.
Malikov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Best wants to sweep here but Malikov controlling him for the moment.
Malikov wants to stand but Best is controlling his posture from full guard.
Malikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Best is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Best is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Malikov rolls with it to try and escape but Best cranks on the arm and Malikov is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Uster Best!