PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Rakhmanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marek Jebut (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rakhmanov comes to the cage accompanied by Russian national anthem. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Marek Jebut was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Rakhmanov
vs
Jebut

179 cm
23
190 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

177 cm
24
193 lbs
7 - 1 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Rakhmanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Marek Jebut!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rakhmanov throws a shot from downtown. Jebut moves away and avoids it.
A swing and a miss from Jebut.
Jebut is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rakhmanov.
Rakhmanov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Rakhmanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Jebut connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Rakhmanov loads up on a big right hand but Jebut slips the punch.
Jebut tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Rakhmanov is able to avoid easily.
Rakhmanov is looking to slow Jebut down with leg kicks.
Rakhmanov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Jebut.
Rakhmanov throws a hook but Jebut avoids it easily.
Rakhmanov misses with a body shot.
Rakhmanov throws the left hand but Jebut avoids the punch easily.
Rakhmanov throws a leg kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A cross from Jebut lands.
Some wild striking there from Rakhmanov.
Jebut ducks under a wild hook from Rakhmanov.

Jebut closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Jebut lands in his opponent's guard.
Rakhmanov looking to control.
Jebut postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rakhmanov wants to sweep here but Jebut controlling him for the moment.
Jebut throws an elbow that misses. Rakhmanov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Jebut's guard. Nice move by Rakhmanov!

Rakhmanov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jebut has his hands on Rakhmanov's head, controlling the position.
Jebut tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jebut has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Jebut is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Jebut keeping moving, preventing Rakhmanov from controlling successfully.
Jebut avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jebut looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rakhmanov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Jebut is trying to keep Rakhmanov in close.
Rakhmanov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mikhail Rakhmanov.
Rakhmanov misses the jab.

Rakhmanov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rakhmanov as Jebut tries to tie him up.
Rakhmanov pushes off an throws an elbow but Jebut leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Rakhmanov is trying to maintain a safe position but Jebut gets an underhook and turns Rakhmanov into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rakhmanov is looking to control Jebut's arms but Jebut gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rakhmanov has his back to the cage.
Rakhmanov taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Jebut trying to control the position but instead, Rakhmanov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Jebut into the cage.
Rakhmanov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Jebut takes a shot to the head.

Rakhmanov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jebut clobbers Rakhmanov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Rakhmanov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Rakhmanov misses with a series of wild punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Marek Jebut will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Rakhmanov scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Rakhmanov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Jebut misses with a takedown
and Rakhmanov counters with a straight right hand.
Jebut digs a good hook to Rakhmanov's body.
Jebut jabs Rakhmanov to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Jebut scores with the left hand. Rakhmanov knows he should have avoided that one.
Rakhmanov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rakhmanov throws a chopping leg kick but Jebut manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Rakhmanov misses with a hook to the body

and Jebut counters with a single leg into guard. Rakhmanov didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Jebut working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rakhmanov's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jebut with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rakhmanov pulls Jebut in close to prevent any damage.
Jebut looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Jebut postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rakhmanov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rakhmanov controls Jebut momentarily but Jebut frees himself.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Jebut accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rakhmanov seems keen to control Jebut's posture.
Jebut trying to control but Rakhmanov is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov is controlling Jebut's posture.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Jebut distracts Rakhmanov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Jebut stays in close to Rakhmanov's body and controls the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jebut cracks Rakhmanov with a good jab.
Rakhmanov is looking to clinch but Jebut is avoiding it.
Mikhail Rakhmanov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rakhmanov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Rakhmanov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Jebut manages to avoid it.
Jebut avoids the body shot from Rakhmanov.
An inside leg kick from Jebut misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jebut looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Rakhmanov is looking for a sweep. Jebut is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Jebut is trying to work for a kimura but Rakhmanov is defending well.
Jebut wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rakhmanov keeps working.
Jebut controlling the pace.
Rakhmanov wants to control but Jebut is keeping busy.

Jebut is trying to work for a kimura but Rakhmanov is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov wants to get back to full guard.
Marek Jebut has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jebut is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rakhmanov is refusing to be controlled, as Jebut sits in half guard.
Jebut throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rakhmanov gets back to full guard.
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!
Rakhmanov has his hands on Jebut's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rakhmanov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Rakhmanov has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Jebut has passed into side control.
Jebut looks up at the clock and then as Rakhmanov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Jebut smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marek Jebut 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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Jab, jab by Jebut - just one landing.
Jebut's jab looks to have found its range, popping Rakhmanov under the eye.
Jebut checks a leg kick nicely.
Jebut looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Jebut tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Rakhmanov swivels and escapes.
Rakhmanov missing with a left hand there. Jebut was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Marek Jebut seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rakhmanov digs a good body shot into Jebut's ribs.
Jebut moves forwards but Rakhmanov connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Jebut steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Rakhmanov. That one must have hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jebut stalks Rakhmanov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rakhmanov's face. Rakhmanov staggers backwards, shaken.
Jebut fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Rakhmanov avoids it really well and circles away.
Jebut swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jebut looks to land a left hand but Rakhmanov moved out of range nicely.
A jab lands there for Jebut.
Rakhmanov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Jebut.

Rakhmanov clinches up with Jebut and pushes him back against the cage.
Jebut letting Rakhmanov take a breather here.
The referee is keeping an eye on Jebut - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

Rakhmanov breaks from the clinch.
Marek Jebut seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov throws an off balance right hand

and Jebut counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rakhmanov gets full guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Jebut working some strikes from top position.
Jebut trying to control but Rakhmanov is working from the bottom.
Jebut trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Rakhmanov keeping moving, preventing Jebut from controlling successfully.
Rakhmanov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jebut trying to control the position from guard on top but Rakhmanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rakhmanov wants to sweep here but Jebut controlling him for the moment.
Jebut throws a strike but Rakhmanov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rakhmanov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Rakhmanov lands a couple of elbows.
Rakhmanov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Jebut has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Rakhmanov is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Jebut.
Mikhail Rakhmanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jebut tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Jebut is trying to improve his position.
Marek Jebut is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jebut can't do much from the bottom here.
Jebut stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Jebut tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Rakhmanov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Rakhmanov tries for a kimura but Jebut is defending well.
Rakhmanov trying to control the position but Jebut is working away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jebut is looking for a sweep.
Jebut defending against the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Marek Jebut.
I've got Jebut 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

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