PBP Commentary

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

Mavroeidis
vs
Goranov

193 cm
18
238 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aris Mavroeidis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Goranov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Goranov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Mavroeidis napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Goranov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mavroeidis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mavroeidis is not content to let Goranov control the position.

Goranov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mavroeidis knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mavroeidis on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Mavroeidis tries to get out of the position.
Mavroeidis is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Goranov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Mavroeidis, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goranov misses with the ground and pound.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Goranov wants to control but Mavroeidis is keeping him busy.
Mavroeidis gets back to half guard.
Mavroeidis keeping control of the position.
Mavroeidis is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mavroeidis trying to get back to full guard but Goranov takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Mavroeidis is trying to escape the mount.
Mavroeidis holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Goranov tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Goranov tries to control but Mavroeidis wriggling away.
Mavroeidis tries to lock up and control but Goranov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Goranov working for a guillotine from mount but Mavroeidis is in no mood to give up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mavroeidis is looking to get to half guard.
Goranov tries to control but Mavroeidis wriggling away.
Goranov throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Goranov controlling the pace for now.
Goranov with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Goranov is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Mavroeidis can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Mavroeidis slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Mavroeidis has hold of Goranov's hands but Goranov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Goranov lands a nice short elbow.
Goranov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mavroeidis knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Goranov tries to stand but can't do so whilst Mavroeidis controls his leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Goranov has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Goranov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Goranov scores with a takedown into Mavroeidis's guard.
Goranov trying to control the position from guard on top but Mavroeidis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mavroeidis managing to control the position.
Goranov trying to control but Mavroeidis is working from the bottom.
Mavroeidis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Goranov is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mavroeidis keeping full guard, as Goranov tries to pass.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Alexander Goranov was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Goranov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Goranov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Goranov wants to take a breather but Mavroeidis is having none of it.
Goranov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Goranov wants to control but Mavroeidis is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Goranov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mavroeidis is positioning himself well to prevent Goranov advancing to mount.
Goranov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mavroeidis's head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Goranov trying to control the action but Mavroeidis is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Goranov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mavroeidis trying to control from the bottom.
Goranov wants to pass the guard but Mavroeidis is defending well.
Goranov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mavroeidis. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Goranov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Goranov is looking to stall here but Mavroeidis recovers full guard.
Goranov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Goranov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Goranov trying to control but Mavroeidis is working from the bottom.
Goranov won't allow Mavroeidis to sweep him here.
Goranov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Goranov wants to control from the top but Mavroeidis keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Alexander Goranov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Goranov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Goranov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Mavroeidis has Goranov up against the cage in a clinch.

Goranov wants the takedown. Mavroeidis is fighting it off but Goranov persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Mavroeidis's guard against the cage.
Alexander Goranov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mavroeidis keeping moving, preventing Goranov from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Alexander Goranov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Goranov gets a double leg takedown into Mavroeidis's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Goranov tries to stand but Mavroeidis is controlling from the bottom.
Goranov trying to control the position from guard on top but Mavroeidis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Goranov pushes down on Mavroeidis's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Goranov is looking to take a break and control but Mavroeidis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Goranov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Mavroeidis is trying to control but can't.
Alexander Goranov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Goranov trying to control from half guard but Mavroeidis is working away.

Goranov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Goranov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Mavroeidis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Goranov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Mavroeidis is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Goranov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Goranov's back!
Mavroeidis struggling to land strikes to the head as Goranov covers up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mavroeidis throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Goranov tries to escape the position.
Goranov trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Goranov breaks Mavroeidis's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Goranov trying to control but Mavroeidis is working from the bottom.
Mavroeidis striking off his back but it's not causing Goranov any problems.
Goranov wants to control from the top but Mavroeidis keeps moving.

Mavroeidis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mavroeidis looking for a sweep. Not yet Mavroeidis, not yet.
Mavroeidis is trying to control the position but Goranov postures up.
Goranov won't allow Mavroeidis to sweep him here.
Goranov is stalling in the full guard.
Aris Mavroeidis has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alexander Goranov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Goranov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Goranov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Goranov 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Goranov!