PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Almaz Method (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Eden (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Almaz Method has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Method
vs
Eden

185 cm
20
161 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

187 cm
20
164 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Experienced

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Almaz Method!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Martin Eden!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Konstantin Menshow and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Method getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

It looks like Martin Eden has been cut.
Eden avoids a punch combination nicely.
Method scores with a nice right hand.
Method tests Eden's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Nice defenses there by Eden.
Eden uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Method.
Method tries to bum rush Eden with a series of wild strikes but Eden uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Method misses with a few strikes there.
Eden shoots in for a takedown but Method shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
No joy there for Method, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
No joy there for Method, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Method lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Method.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Eden keeps control of Method as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Eden can't get the takedown.
Method wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Eden is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Eden has clasped his hands together around Method's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Eden tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Method is trying to improve his position.

Eden stands up.
Method lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
The fighters circling - Method throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Eden lands a nice looking kick to the body. Method takes a step back to recover.
Eden showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Method.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Eden shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Eden throws some wild stikes that Method manages to avoid easily.
Eden tries to control but Method wriggling away.
Eden lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Eden has hold of Method's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Method manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Eden trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Martin Eden wasn't active enough on the ground.
Method scores with a jab.
Almaz Method seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Method throws a series of punches but Eden moves out of range.

Eden drives through with a takedown into guard.
Eden advances to half guard.
Eden content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Method regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Eden.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Eden trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Eden dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Martin Eden's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Eden dives in and scores a takedown into Method's guard.

Eden decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Method, up you get!
Eden fails to land the takedown.

Eden clinches up against the cage.
Eden just leaning against Method, taking a breather.
Method prevents the takedown attempt.
Method tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Eden tries to land a knee to the head but Method blocks with his arms.
Eden is pushing Method up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Method wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Eden is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Method escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A jab from Method misses.
Almaz Method is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Eden drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Method tries to bum rush Eden with a series of wild strikes but Eden uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Almaz Method is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Method loads up on a big right hand but Eden slips the punch.
Eden lands a body shot.
Eden looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Method will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Eden misses with a low kick.
Some wild striking there from Method.
Method tries to bum rush Eden with a series of wild strikes but Eden uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Method connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Jab from Method.

Eden looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Method keeping moving, preventing Eden from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Eden is pushing down on Method's leg trying to pass to half guard. Method is fighting to maintain full guard but Eden has managed to sneak the leg through.
Eden wants to lay and pray for a moment but Method keeps working.

Method is defending against the submission attempts here by Eden.

Eden is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Method doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Eden.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Eden passes the guard and advances to mount!
Eden tries to control but Method wriggling away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Eden sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eden looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Eden wants to control the pace but Method is squirming around nicely.
Method wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Method is squirming around, avoiding Eden's attempts to control the action.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Method regains half guard.
Method trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Eden showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Martin Eden's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Eden looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Eden.
A head kick misses from Eden.
Eden ducks under a wild hook from Method.
Almaz Method is winning the standup battle so far.
Sloppy strikes from Method. Those never looked like landing.
Method looks to throw the jab but Eden is out of range.
Method throws a one two combo.

Eden rushes Method and presses him up against the cage.

Eden successfully pulls guard.
Eden utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Eden is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Eden stands up from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Method thows a left - swing and a miss!

Eden feints and as Method raises his hands in defense, Eden changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Method has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Eden can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Eden is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Eden wants to control from the top but Method keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Eden stands and steps away. Method gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
A punch combination from Method misses.
Method stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Method wants it to stay on the feet.
Method lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Eden circles away quickly and effectively.
Eden slips a jab and a cross from Method.
Eden uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Method.
Eden tries for a takedown but Method sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Almaz Method has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Martin Eden.

Eden shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Method napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Method tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Eden missing with punches from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Eden working for the choke.
Method is trying to get back to his feet but Eden has full control of the position and if anything, Method has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Eden is looking to control Method but Method is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Eden working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Eden struggling to keep hold of the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Eden is trying to control but Method is trying to escape here - he's now mounted.
Eden punishing his opponent with strikes.
Method regains half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Method is looking to escape.
Almaz Method has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Martin Eden is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Eden takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martin Eden comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Eden winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Martin Eden!
Martin Eden is the new lightweight champion!