PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitaliy Smekhov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Georgy Degratov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Georgy Degratov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Smekhov
vs
Degratov

174 cm
22
198 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

179 cm
23
191 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

CEC Nutrition Q160

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 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vitaliy Smekhov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Georgy Degratov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smekhov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Degratov.
Smekhov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Degratov.
Degratov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Smekhov drops his hands momentarily and Degratov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

It looks like Vitaliy Smekhov has been cut.
Degratov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Degratov jabs Smekhov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Smekhov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
A telegraphed right hand from Degratov misses the target.
Degratov misses with a head kick.
Smekhov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Degratov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Georgy Degratov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smekhov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Degratov, pushing him back against the ropes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A frustrated look appears on Degratov's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Degratov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Smekhov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Degratov is looking to break free of the clinch but Smekhov has double underhooks.
Smekhov lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Georgy Degratov has been cut.
Degratov wants to get back to striking at distance but Smekhov won't allow it.

Smekhov breaks from the clinch.

Smekhov clinches up with Degratov and pushes him back against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Degratov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Smekhov has him pressed against the ropes.
Smekhov keeps control of Degratov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Smekhov breaks the clinch.
Degratov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Degratov looks to land a left hand but Smekhov moved out of range nicely.
Smekhov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Sloppy strikes from Degratov. Those never looked like landing.
Degratov scores with a sloppy right hand. Smekhov should have avoided that one.
Degratov misses with a straight right.
Smekhov tries to clinch but Degratov is having none of it.
Degratov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Smekhov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Degratov circles away quickly and effectively.
Smekhov checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Degratov throws a jab when Smekhov was well out of range.

Smekhov rushes Degratov and presses him up against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed against the ropes, as the pace of the fight slows.

Degratov breaks from the clinch.
A nice combination there by Degratov.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Degratov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Smekhov instigates a clinch.
Degratov can't break the clinch.
Degratov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smekhov is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Smekhov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Smekhov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Degratov.
Some wild striking there from Degratov.
Degratov throws a sloppy head kick and Smekhov moves out of range easily.
Smekhov doesn't manage to clinch there - Degratov circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smekhov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Smekhov slips under a jab from Degratov.
Degratov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Smekhov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Degratov might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Smekhov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Degratov.
Smekhov moves away from the strike by Degratov.
Degratov throws a poor cross that misses

and Smekhov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Smekhov taking a breather.
Degratov being controlled against the ropes.
Degratov stops a takedown attempt from Smekhov.
Degratov is trying to break the clinch but Smekhov has him pressed against the ropes.
Degratov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Degratov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Degratov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitaliy Smekhov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Smekhov throws an elbow but misses.

Degratov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Smekhov clinches up against the ropes.

Degratov breaks from the clinch.
Degratov with a hook.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
No joy there for Degratov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Degratov is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Degratov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Degratov misses with a few strikes there.
Smekhov digs a good hook to Degratov's body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Degratov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Smekhov moves away.
Smekhov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Degratov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Degratov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georgy Degratov dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Degratov connects with a nice looking jab.
Smekhov tries to clinch but Degratov moves out of range.
Degratov swinging wildly here.
Degratov misses with a double jab.
A punch lands to the side of Degratov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Smekhov is looking to clinch but Degratov is avoiding it.
Smekhov tries to clinch up.
Degratov connects with a body shot.
Degratov throws a hook but Smekhov blocks it.
Smekhov tries to clinch up.
Smekhov doesn't manage to clinch there - Degratov circles away.
Degratov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Smekhov looks to clinch
and Degratov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Degratov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Smekhov fails with a takedown attempt.
Vitaliy Smekhov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Degratov pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Smekhov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Smekhov can't find room to land a body shot as Degratov controls the action.
Smekhov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Smekhov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Degratov is trying to break free.

Degratov manages to break the clinch.
Degratov throws a good cross that connects.
Smekhov avoids the body shot from Degratov.
Degratov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Degratov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Degratov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smekhov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Degratov is breathing heavily.
Degratov throws a right and a left that Smekhov avoids nicely.
Degratov scores with a sloppy right hand. Smekhov should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smekhov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Smekhov ducks under a wild hook from Degratov.
Smekhov tries to close the distance and clinch but Degratov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smekhov tries to clinch but Degratov is having none of it.

Smekhov gets a clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Smekhov.
Degratov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Degratov takes an elbow to the forehead.
Smekhov throws an elbow that misses.
Degratov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Degratov tries to break the clinch but Smekhov is controlling the position.

Smekhov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Georgy Degratov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Degratov.
Smekhov tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Degratov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smekhov defending well as Degratov loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smekhov wants to clinch up but Degratov keeps it at a distance.
Smekhov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Degratov lands a really nice looking cross but Smekhov seems unphased.
Smekhov tries to clinch up but Degratov circles away and keeps his distance.
Left hook, right uppercut from Smekhov.
Degratov lands an overhand right.
Degratov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Degratov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smekhov circles away quickly and effectively.
A head kick misses from Degratov.
Smekhov tries to clinch up but Degratov circles away and keeps his distance.
Smekhov moves in looking to clinch but Degratov pushes him off.
Degratov misses with a series of wild punches.
Smekhov moves in looking to clinch but Degratov pushes him off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Degratov misses with a lunging right hand

and Smekhov moves into the clinch.
Smekhov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Smekhov breaks from the clinch.
Smekhov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Degratov tests Smekhov's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Degratov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Smekhov checks it well.
Degratov pushes Smekhov away with a front kick.
Smekhov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Degratov throws an overhand right that lands on Smekhov's shoulder, as Smekhov tries to avoid the shot.
Degratov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Degratov misses with a wild combination.
Degratov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Degratov wants it to stay on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georgy Degratov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

A combination from Degratov does no damage.
Smekhov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Degratov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Degratov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Degratov tries to bum rush Smekhov with a series of wild strikes but Smekhov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Degratov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Smekhov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Smekhov closes the distance and clinches.
Degratov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Smekhov creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Degratov's defenses.
Degratov is trying to force a seperation but Smekhov has the dominant position.
Smekhov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Smekhov is trying to stall.
Smekhov scores a nice knee to the body.
Smekhov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Degratov's elbow.
Degratov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Smekhov throws an elbow but it misses.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Degratov is trying to break the clinch but Smekhov is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smekhov lands a nice uppercut.

Degratov breaks from the clinch.
Smekhov wants to clinch up but Degratov keeps it at a distance.
Degratov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Degratov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Degratov misses with a hook.
Smekhov is looking to clinch.
Georgy Degratov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Degratov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Smekhov tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Degratov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Degratov tries to keep at a distance but Smekhov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Degratov managing to block the knees to the body from Smekhov.
Smekhov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Degratov tries to break free but Smekhov pushes him back against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smekhov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Degratov throws the left hand but Smekhov avoids the punch easily.
Smekhov blocks a head kick by Degratov.
A nice combination there by Smekhov.
Degratov throws a right and a left that Smekhov avoids nicely.
Smekhov throws a nice looking combination but Degratov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Degratov tries to bum rush Smekhov with a series of wild strikes but Smekhov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Smekhov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Degratov as he jumps to the side.
Smekhov takes one to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Smekhov darts in and clinches Degratov up against the ropes.
Smekhov lands an elbow inside.
Degratov is trying to push Smekhov away but Smekhov has him pressed against the ropes, so he's going nowhere.
Degratov is trying to break the clinch but Smekhov is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smekhov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Degratov misses with a series of wild punches.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Degratov.
Degratov throws a sloppy head kick and Smekhov moves out of range easily.
Vitaliy Smekhov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The fight stays on the outside here - Smekhov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Degratov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Smekhov dodges the punch combination from Degratov.
Degratov throws a right and a left that Smekhov avoids nicely.
Smekhov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Degratov lands with a nice combination. Smekhov backs away looking to recover.
Smekhov fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smekhov tries to clinch but Degratov is having none of it.
Smekhov is looking to clinch but Degratov is avoiding it.
Smekhov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Degratov throws a series of punches but Smekhov moves out of range.
Smekhov is looking to clinch but Degratov is avoiding it.

Smekhov has closed the distance and engaged Degratov in a clinch.
Degratov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Smekhov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
The referee is keeping an eye on Smekhov - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Smekhov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smekhov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Degratov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Georgy Degratov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Degratov circles away from the clinch attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vitaliy Smekhov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Degratov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Georgy Degratov!