PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Igor Samedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustav Marailov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marailov is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Вставай. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Samedov
vs
Marailov

173 cm
26
235 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

191 cm
19
267 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Samedov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gustav Marailov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Illya Tyunina and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Samedov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Marailov.
Samedov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Marailov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Samedov keeps the fight on the outside.
Marailov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Samedov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Samedov swats away the attempt to clinch by Marailov.
Marailov with a poor takedown

and Samedov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Marailov!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Samedov decides to stand back up. Samedov steps back and let's Marailov get back to his feet.
Marailov tries to bum rush Samedov with a series of wild strikes but Samedov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Samedov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Marailov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Samedov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marailov throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Samedov on the side of the head.
Samedov keeps the fight on the outside.
Marailov doesn't manage to clinch there - Samedov circles away.
A punch lands to the side of Marailov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Sloppy strikes from Marailov. Those never looked like landing.
Marailov tries to clinch

and Samedov counters by moving into the clinch.

Samedov has Marailov pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Samedov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Marailov tumbling to the mat - Samedov dives into Marailov's guard.
Marailov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samedov tries to stand but Marailov is controlling from the bottom.

Samedov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Samedov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Samedov takes a swing at Marailov's ribcage but misses.
Marailov throws a nice looking combination but Samedov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Samedov looks to score with a jab to the body but Marailov is just out of range.

Marailov moves into the clinch successfully.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marailov.

Marailov gets control of Samedov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Marailov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.

Samedov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

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

Marailov wriggles free and stands up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Marailov doesn't manage to clinch there - Samedov circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marailov fails with the takedown

and Samedov counters with a takedown into side control.
Samedov is working Marailov over with some ground and pound from side control.
Marailov tries to escape but Samedov is in control.

Samedov decides to stand up, so the ref orders Marailov to his feet.
Marailov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Samedov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Marailov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Samedov has managed to clinch.
Marailov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Igor Samedov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gustav Marailov.
Samedov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Marailov smiles and moves away.
Marailov takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Marailov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Marailov throws a right and a left that Samedov avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Samedov does no damage.
Gustav Marailov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marailov moves in looking to clinch but Samedov pushes him off.
Marailov throws a series of punches but Samedov moves out of range.
Marailov tries to clinch but Samedov moves away
and Samedov counters with a straight right hand.
Samedov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Marailov slips under a jab.
Samedov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Marailov rushes Samedov and presses him up against the cage.

Marailov is fighting off a takedown attempt but Samedov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Marailov to the mat. Marailov regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Marailov wants to stand and escape but Samedov is having none of it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Samedov stands and steps away. Marailov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Samedov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Marailov doesn't manage to clinch there - Samedov circles away.

Marailov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Samedov, pushing him back against the cage.
Samedov is looking for a takedown.
Marailov working hard to break the clinch.
Marailov working hard to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Samedov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Marailov is defending well.
Marailov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Samedov has him pressed against the cage.
Samedov looking for a takedown.

Marailov breaks from the clinch.
Marailov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Samedov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No joy there for Marailov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Marailov lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.

Samedov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Marailov, pushing him back against the cage.
Samedov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Marailov after a bit of a struggle.
Samedov fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Samedov gets to his feet - Marailov follows without any prompting.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Marailov sizes up Samedov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Samedov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Marailov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Samedov circles away quickly and effectively.

It looks like Igor Samedov has been cut.
Marailov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Samedov doesn't seem bothered though.
Marailov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Samedov misses with an uppercut. Marailov saw that one coming.
Marailov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Samedov moves out of range as Marailov strikes.
Marailov lands with a nice body punch.
Marailov throws a body punch but Samedov moves out of range.
Samedov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Marailov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Marailov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Samedov, pushing him back against the cage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Samedov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Marailov can't fight it off and eventually Samedov manages to take the fight to the floor. Marailov looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Marailov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Samedov.
Marailov wants to stand and escape but Samedov is having none of it.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Samedov here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Marailov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Samedov gets to his feet - Marailov follows without any prompting.
Marailov fails to land with a series of punches.
Samedov keeps the fight on the outside.
Marailov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Samedov manages to avoid it.
Samedov misses with a two punch combination.
Marailov dodges the punch combination from Samedov.
Samedov throws a looping overhand right but Marailov ducks down to avoid it.
Samedov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Marailov throws out a loose jab but Samedov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Marailov wants to clinch up but Samedov keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marailov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Marailov tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Samedov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marailov pushes Samedov off looking to stand but Samedov dives back in and keeps control.
Samedov moves nicely into side control.

Samedov decides to stand back up. Samedov steps back and let's Marailov get back to his feet.
Marailov tries to clinch there but Samedov circles away.
Marailov fails to land with a series of punches.
Samedov throws a looping overhand right but Marailov ducks down to avoid it.
Marailov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Samedov.

Samedov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Marailov was covering up waiting for the punch and Samedov finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Samedov gets to his feet - Marailov follows without any prompting.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Samedov throws a jab when Marailov was well out of range.
Marailov tries to clinch but Samedov moves out of range.
Nice shot lands for Samedov.
Marailov looks to clinch

and Samedov counters with a takedown into side control.

Samedov decides to stand back up.
Samedov tries to bum rush Marailov with a series of wild strikes but Marailov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Samedov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Marailov tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Samedov is in Marailov's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Marailov scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Marailov shoots in for a double leg but Samedov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Samedov shoots in and bounces Marailov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Marailov wants to stand up but Samedov is controlling him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Samedov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Marailov tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Marailov scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Samedov misses with an uppercut. Marailov saw that one coming.
Jab from Samedov.
Samedov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Samedov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Marailov backs up against the cage.
Marailov misses with a wild body shot.
Marailov with a nice cross.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Samedov misses with a double jab.
Samedov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
No joy there for Samedov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Samedov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Marailov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Samedov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Igor Samedov's cut.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Marailov misses with a wild combination.
Horrible takedown by Samedov or perhaps it was just good defense by Marailov which made him look bad.
Marailov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Samedov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Marailov lands with a shot to the body.
Igor Samedov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marailov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Marailov tries to clinch up but Samedov circles away and keeps his distance.
Samedov throws a hook but Marailov avoids it easily.
Marailov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Marailov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Marailov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Samedov.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marailov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Nice body punch from Marailov.
Samedov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Samedov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Marailov swivels and escapes.
Marailov lands a two punch combo.
A combination from Samedov does no damage.
Marailov thows a body shot but no joy.

Samedov moves into the clinch.
Marailov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Marailov lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.

Marailov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marailov throws a right and a left that Samedov avoids nicely.

Marailov moves into the clinch successfully.
Marailov is looking to break free of the clinch but Samedov has double underhooks.
Samedov has Marailov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Marailov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Samedov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A nice right hand lands inside from Marailov.
Marailov has Samedov pressed against the cage, preventing Samedov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Samedov goes for a takedown attempt but Marailov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Marailov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Samedov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marailov doesn't manage to clinch there - Samedov circles away.
Marailov tries to clinch but Samedov moves out of range.
Marailov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Marailov tries to clinch up but Samedov circles away and keeps his distance.
Marailov lands a jab to Samedov's midsection.
Marailov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
A looping hook to the body misses from Marailov. Samedov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Samedov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Marailov throws out the jab.
Samedov ducks right into an uppercut from Marailov.
Marailov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Samedov rather than just go for the knockout.
Marailov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Samedov circles away quickly and effectively.

Samedov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Marailov's half guard.
Samedov tries to stand but can't do so whilst Marailov controls his leg.
Marailov wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marailov tries to roll over but Samedov keeps him under control.

Marailov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Samedov escapes and gets back to his feet.
A combination from Samedov does no damage.
Samedov defending well as Marailov loads up on a big left hand.
Samedov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Marailov throws a body punch but Samedov moves out of range.
The fighters circling - Marailov throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Marailov looks to clinch

and Samedov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Samedov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marailov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Samedov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marailov wants to clinch.
Marailov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Samedov manages to avoid it.
Marailov lands a nice shot to the body.
Marailov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Samedov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Marailov somewhat.
Samedov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Marailovs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Marailov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Samedov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Marailov throws a right hand that Samedov ducks under and follows up with a left that Samedov also avoids with ease.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Marailov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Igor Samedov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Marailov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Samedov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Gustav Marailov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marailov darts in trying to clinch

and Samedov counters by clinching up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gustav Marailov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Samedov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Samedov!
A victorious Igor Samedov thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.