PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kowalzki Psycoti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timur Rafkatovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Psycoti is coming into this fight with a significant injury, which will no doubt have an effect on his cardio. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Psycoti
vs
Rafkatovich

185 cm
18
208 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

182 cm
24
210 lbs
1 - 8 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kowalzki Psycoti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Timur Rafkatovich!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Psycoti fails with the takedown

so Rafkatovich counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Psycoti is breathing heavily.
Rafkatovich looking to pass the guard.
Rafkatovich should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

Rafkatovich stands and steps away. Psycoti gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Rafkatovich tries to clinch up but Psycoti circles away and keeps his distance.

Psycoti tries to sprawl but Rafkatovich drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rafkatovich is looking for a kimura here.
Rafkatovich throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Rafkatovich stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafkatovich throws a head kick that Psycoti semi-blocks.

Rafkatovich throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Psycoti tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rafkatovich is in Psycoti's guard.

Psycoti is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rafkatovich is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Rafkatovich trying to control but Psycoti is working from the bottom.

Psycoti working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rafkatovich doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rafkatovich manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rafkatovich passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Rafkatovich decides to stand back up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rafkatovich wants to clinch.
Rafkatovich moves in looking to clinch but Psycoti pushes him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rafkatovich looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rafkatovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Psycoti is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Psycoti looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Rafkatovich tries to free his leg and advance position but Psycoti is retaining full guard.
Rafkatovich is pushing down on Psycoti's leg trying to pass to half guard. Psycoti is fighting to maintain full guard but Rafkatovich has managed to sneak the leg through.
Psycoti is looking to improve his position.

Rafkatovich is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Psycoti is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rafkatovich scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Psycoti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rafkatovich slips a nice elbow through Psycoti's hands, connecting with Psycoti's forehead.

Psycoti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Psycoti wants to improve his position but Rafkatovich is controlling well.

Psycoti looking for submissions off his back.
Rafkatovich trying to control from half guard but Psycoti is working away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timur Rafkatovich dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thud! ouch! good body kick from Rafkatovich - that will leave a mark!

Rafkatovich drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Rafkatovich scores with punches from side control.
Rafkatovich scoring with punches from side control.
Psycoti taking punishment in the form of punches.
Rafkatovich looks up at the clock and then as Psycoti takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rafkatovich smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Rafkatovich is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Psycoti knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rafkatovich in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Psycoti is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Psycoti looking for a sweep but Rafkatovich has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Rafkatovich with the ground and pound from mount.
Rafkatovich trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Psycoti is working to get back to half guard.

Rafkatovich is working for a guillotine from mount but Psycoti frees his head quite easily.
Psycoti taking shots to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Psycoti is in all sorts of trouble here.
Psycoti is squirming around, avoiding Rafkatovich's attempts to control the action.
Rafkatovich might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Psycoti kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Timur Rafkatovich has got the better of the ground game so far.
Psycoti keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Rafkatovich scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Psycoti is squirming around, avoiding Rafkatovich's attempts to control the action.
Rafkatovich prevents Psycoti from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rafkatovich trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Rafkatovich looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Psycoti regains half guard.

Psycoti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rafkatovich sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Psycoti defending well though.
Rafkatovich working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Psycoti is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Rafkatovich pulls his head out easily.

Psycoti looking for submissions off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Psycoti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Psycoti wants to improve his position but Rafkatovich is controlling well.

Psycoti actively working from the bottom here.
Rafkatovich takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rafkatovich is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Psycoti is just riding it out for now. Rafkatovich eventually gives up the hold.
Rafkatovich really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Psycoti. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Psycoti looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timur Rafkatovich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Psycoti keeps the fight on the outside.

Rafkatovich closes the distance and pushes Psycoti back into the cage.
Rafkatovich controlling the action here for a moment.
Rafkatovich jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Psycoti walks away with a smile on his face. Rafkatovich gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rafkatovich is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Rafkatovich throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Psycoti tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Rafkatovich is in Psycoti's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Psycoti is working an open guard so Rafkatovich takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Psycoti misses with a takedown attempt - Rafkatovich sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Rafkatovich moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Rafkatovich shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Psycoti looking for submissions off his back.
Rafkatovich wants to take a breather but Psycoti is having none of it.
Rafkatovich has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Psycoti is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Rafkatovich is looking to take a break and control but Psycoti is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Psycoti looking for submissions off his back.
Rafkatovich trying to control from half guard but Psycoti is working away.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Timur Rafkatovich.

Psycoti gets tackled into the cage by Rafkatovich. Rafkatovich maintains the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Psycoti tries to pull guard but Rafkatovich forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Rafkatovich breaks from the clinch.

Rafkatovich scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Rafkatovich looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Psycoti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rafkatovich seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Psycoti does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Psycoti looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Psycoti actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Psycoti tries to roll over but Rafkatovich keeps him under control.
Psycoti is working hard here to advance position.
Psycoti regains full guard. Nicely done.

Psycoti looking for a guillotine here but Rafkatovich defends easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rafkatovich wants to pass the guard but Psycoti is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Rafkatovich stands up and waves to Psycoti to follow him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Timur Rafkatovich comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Rafkatovich 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timur Rafkatovich!
Timur Rafkatovich seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.