PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vevrin Betlach (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Kourdakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Betlach might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Higher Ground. Kourdakov comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Sonata Arctica - San Sebastian kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! On his way into the cage it seems that Vevrin Betlach has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Vevrin Betlach seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Betlach
vs
Kourdakov

176 cm
29
145 lbs
24 - 11 - 0

165 cm
29
141 lbs
17 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Gilop®

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Vevrin Betlach!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 6 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Kourdakov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Betlach looks to land a right hand but Kourdakov moved out of range.
Kourdakov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kourdakov misses with a looping left.

Betlach pushes Kourdakov up against the cage in a clinch.
Kourdakov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kourdakov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kourdakov is looking to break free of the clinch but Betlach has double underhooks.

Kourdakov manages to break the clinch.
Betlach lands an overhand right.
Betlach digs a good hook to Kourdakov's body.
Kourdakov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Betlach cracks Kourdakov with a good jab.
Betlach throws a right hand that Kourdakov ducks under and follows up with a left that Kourdakov also avoids with ease.
Betlach lands a right hook to the body.
Betlach fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Betlach tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kourdakov is able to avoid easily.
Betlach throws a wild body kick that Kourdakov sees coming a mile off.
The fighters circling - Betlach throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A slow jab from Betlach misses its intended target.
Betlach looks to land a combination. Kourdakov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kourdakov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Betlach takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kourdakov ducks under a wild hook from Betlach.
Kourdakov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kourdakov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Betlach is able to avoid easily.
Betlach's corner calls for a 1-2. Betlach obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
A bone on bone clash there as Kourdakov blocks the leg kick.
Kourdakov on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kourdakov throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Kourdakov slips under a jab.
Kourdakov misses with an uppercut
and Betlach counters with a thumping low kick.
An inside leg kick from Kourdakov misses.
Betlach is looking to slow Kourdakov down with leg kicks.
Betlach swings for the body but Kourdakov moves out of range.
Betlach uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kourdakov.
Kourdakov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Betlach was well out of range. Poor timing from Kourdakov.
Kourdakov avoids a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Betlach avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Betlach.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kourdakov takes one to the side of the head.

Betlach gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kourdakov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Betlach keeping moving, preventing Kourdakov from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kourdakov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kourdakov wants to control from the top but Betlach keeps moving.
Betlach looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kourdakov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Betlach manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kourdakov is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Kourdakov is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Betlach lands a big elbow.

Betlach goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Kourdakov turns into him and now he's in Betlach's guard.

Betlach is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kourdakov defends well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kourdakov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Betlach can't keep his opponent in guard - Kourdakov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kourdakov thows a huge punch but Betlach dodges it nicely.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kourdakov is thwarting Betlach's attempts to control the position.
Kourdakov moves into full mount! Betlach won't be happy about that!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vevrin Betlach dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kourdakov takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Betlach is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.

Kourdakov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Betlach to the mat! Betlach manages to get full guard.
Kourdakov throws a big right hand that misses.

Kourdakov has gone for a leg lock! Betlach slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kourdakov's guard.
Kourdakov wants to stand and escape but Betlach is having none of it.
Kourdakov keeping moving, preventing Betlach from controlling successfully.
Betlach wants to stand but Kourdakov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kourdakov wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Betlach manages to pass to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kourdakov wants to get back to his feet.
Betlach throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kourdakov pushes Betlach off looking to stand but Betlach dives back in and keeps control.

Kourdakov makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kourdakov misses with a body shot
and Betlach counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kourdakov thinking.
Betlach checks a leg kick.
Kourdakov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kourdakov scores with a hook to the body. Betlach takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kourdakov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
That kick from Betlach tenderised Kourdakov's leg. Kourdakov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Betlach lands a nice shot to the body.
Kourdakov walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Betlach scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kourdakov doesn't seem bothered though.
Kourdakov takes a swing at Betlach's ribcage but misses.
A slow jab from Kourdakov misses its intended target.
Betlach throws a head kick that misses.
Kourdakov scores with a nice head shot.
Betlach misses with a head kick.
Kourdakov pivots, looking for a leg kick but Betlach is out of range and Kourdakov settles back down.
Kourdakov with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Betlach to score with a decent uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Betlach scores with a kick to the body.
Kourdakov tries to land a front kick but Betlach steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Betlach uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kourdakov.
Betlach throws an overhand right that lands on Kourdakov's shoulder, as Kourdakov tries to avoid the shot.
Betlach throws a quick inside leg kick.
Betlach blocks a head kick by Kourdakov.
Kourdakov throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Betlach lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Betlach looks to score with a jab to the body but Kourdakov is just out of range.
Betlach takes one to the chin there.
Kourdakov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Betlach counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Betlach tries to land a front kick but Kourdakov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Betlach misses with a low kick.
Kourdakov just misses with a punch to the body.
Kourdakov misses with a hook.
Kourdakov shoots for a double leg takedown but Betlach sprawls well. He's pushed Kourdakov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Betlach avoids the body shot from Kourdakov.
Kourdakov scores with a punch to the head.
Betlach looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Betlach tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Betlach misses with an uppercut. Kourdakov saw that one coming.
Vevrin Betlach is winning the standup battle so far.
Kourdakov throws a nice head kick!
Betlach bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kourdakov's head.
Good shot there by Betlach.
Kourdakov swings for the body but Betlach moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kourdakov. Betlach does a little dance to reset his feet.

Kourdakov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Betlach breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Betlach goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Betlach is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kourdakov's jab looks to have found its range, popping Betlach under the eye.
Kourdakov scores with a push kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Sergei Kourdakov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kourdakov swings widly with a right hand
and Betlach counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kourdakov.
Kourdakov dives in and grabs Betlach's left leg, looking for a takedown. Betlach pushes down on Kourdakov's head and hops out.
Betlach moves out of range as Kourdakov strikes.
Betlach connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kourdakov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kourdakov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Betlach throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Betlach misses with a hook.
Betlach tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kourdakov was well out of range. Poor timing from Betlach.
Betlach's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Kourdakov connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Betlach scrambles back to his feet.
Kourdakov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kourdakov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Betlach digs a good hook to Kourdakov's body.
Kourdakov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Betlach momentarily.
Kourdakov misses with an uppercut.
Kourdakov walks into a stiff left hand from Betlach.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Betlach fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kourdakov manages to avoid it.
Betlach throws a body punch but Kourdakov moves out of range.
Kourdakov connects with a jab.
Sergei Kourdakov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Betlach stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Betlach throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Betlach scores with a kick to the midsection.
Kourdakov slips a jab from Betlach.
Kourdakov looks for a takedown but Betlach sprawls well.
Betlach misses with a body kick.
A jab from Betlach misses.
Betlach connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kourdakov looks to land a right hand but Betlach moved out of range.
Kourdakov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Betlach throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Betlach tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kourdakov tries a head kick but it misses.
Betlach missing with a left hand there. Kourdakov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Betlach throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kourdakov sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kourdakov tries to move into range but Betlach moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
That kick from Kourdakov tenderised Betlach's leg. Betlach is trying to keep his angry face on.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kourdakov slips under a jab from Betlach.
Kourdakov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Betlach throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kourdakov lands a jab.
Betlach tries to clinch up.
Kourdakov misses with a hook
and Betlach counters with a good, hard body kick but Kourdakov shrugs it off.
Betlach scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kourdakov doesn't seem bothered though.
Kourdakov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Betlach digs a good body shot into Kourdakov's ribs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Betlach lands a nice looking body kick.
Kourdakov throws a body punch but Betlach moves out of range.
Kourdakov throws a shot to the body.
Kourdakov misses with a head kick.
Kourdakov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Betlach throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Betlach with a body punch. A glancing blow.
A looping hook to the body misses from Betlach. Kourdakov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kourdakov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Betlach.
Kourdakov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kourdakov throws a jab when Betlach was well out of range.
Kourdakov tries to land a front kick but Betlach steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
A swing and a miss from Kourdakov.
Betlach is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kourdakov.
Kourdakov throws a shot from downtown. Betlach moves away and avoids it.
Betlach lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kourdakov at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Betlach. That snapped Kourdakov's head back.
Betlach tries to clinch but Kourdakov moves away
and Kourdakov counters with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Betlach throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kourdakov counters with a right hand to the body.
Betlach tried to score with a low kick but Kourdakov checks it.
Betlach uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kourdakov.
Betlach scores with the left hand. Kourdakov knows he should have avoided that one.
Kourdakov takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Betlach lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A head kick misses from Kourdakov.
Kourdakov staying out of range there.
Betlach takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kourdakov throws a combination. Betlach tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Betlach is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kourdakov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kourdakov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kourdakov throws a shot from downtown. Betlach moves away and avoids it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vevrin Betlach showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Betlach has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vevrin Betlach!
An out of breath Vevrin Betlach thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.