PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Ankudinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gustav Marailov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ankudinov comes to the cage accompanied by I must break you.. Marailov has chosen Вставай as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ankudinov
vs
Marailov

193 cm
26
265 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

191 cm
19
267 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Hates pizza

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

GREEN!

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eric Ankudinov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gustav Marailov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ankudinov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Marailov was covering up waiting for the punch and Ankudinov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Marailov looking to control.
Ankudinov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Marailov is looking to stand back up but Ankudinov counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Marailov.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marailov is trying to stand.
Ankudinov wants to control but Marailov is keeping him busy.
Ankudinov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ankudinov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Marailov is trying to stand back up but Ankudinov is controlling him
Ankudinov trying to control the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Eric Ankudinov just wasn't active enough.
Ankudinov takes a swing at Marailov's ribcage but misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ankudinov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Marailov was well out of range. Poor timing from Ankudinov.
Ankudinov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Marailov shoots for a double leg takedown but Ankudinov sprawls well. He's pushed Marailov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Marailov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Marailov tries to clinch but Ankudinov moves out of range.
Marailov tries to clinch there but Ankudinov circles away.

Ankudinov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Marailov tries to score a body lock takedown but Ankudinov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Marailov can't break the clinch.
Ankudinov tries to break free but Marailov pushes him back against the cage.
Ankudinov is looking to take this one to the mat.

Marailov breaks the clinch.
Marailov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ankudinov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Marailov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Marailov is trying to break free.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marailov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ankudinov walks away with a smile on his face. Marailov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Eric Ankudinov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gustav Marailov.
Marailov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ankudinov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ankudinov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Marailov tries to close the distance and clinch but Ankudinov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Marailov closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Marailov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Marailov pulls guard effortlessly.
Marailov wants to get back to his feet but Ankudinov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Ankudinov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Marailov is pulling down on Ankudinov's head to control his posture.
Ankudinov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marailov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ankudinov.
Ankudinov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ankudinov trying to control but Marailov is working from the bottom.
Ankudinov controlling from the top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Eric Ankudinov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Marailov sizes up Ankudinov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Marailov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Ankudinov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Marailov to the mat! Marailov manages to get full guard.

Marailov pushes Ankudinov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marailov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marailov lands a glancing blow to the side of Ankudinov's head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marailov tries to clinch there but Ankudinov circles away.
Ankudinov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Marailov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Marailov tries to sprawl but Ankudinov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Ankudinov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Marailov pushes Ankudinov off looking to stand but Ankudinov dives back in and keeps control.
Ankudinov lands strikes from half guard.
Ankudinov controlling the action here.

Marailov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ankudinov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Eric Ankudinov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Ankudinov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Marailov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ankudinov.
Marailov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Ankudinov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ankudinov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ankudinov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ankudinov swats away the attempt to clinch by Marailov.

Ankudinov closes the distance and pushes Marailov back into the cage.

Marailov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Marailov misses with a series of wild punches.

Marailov takes the fight into the clinch.
Marailov is trying to break the clinch but Ankudinov is controlling him.
Ankudinov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Marailov wants a takedown but no success here.
Ankudinov tries to pull guard but Marailov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Eric Ankudinov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ankudinov tries to score a body lock takedown but Marailov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Marailov - that landed with a thud.
Marailov scores with a shoulder strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Marailov wants to break free but Ankudinov has control.

Marailov breaks from the clinch.

Marailov clinches up with Ankudinov and pushes him back against the cage.

Marailov drags the fight down to the ground.
Marailov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Ankudinov is controlling him.
Ankudinov trying to control the position from guard on top but Marailov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ankudinov is stalling in the full guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Marailov is looking to stand up but Ankudinov isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marailov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ankudinov.
Marailov is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Ankudinov dives into side control.
Marailov wants to control but Ankudinov postures up.
Marailov is trying to get back to his feet.
Ankudinov trying to control the position but Marailov is working away.
Ankudinov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Ankudinov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Marailov, who protects the arm well.
Ankudinov wants to control but Marailov is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marailov is letting Ankudinov control him for a moment.
Marailov wants to get back to his feet.
Marailov sneaks back into half guard.
Marailov wants to get back to his feet.

Marailov has one foot on Ankudinov's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Marailov darts in and clinches Ankudinov up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Marailov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ankudinov tries to clinch up but Marailov circles away and keeps his distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marailov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Marailov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Marailov throws a right and a left that Ankudinov avoids nicely.
Eric Ankudinov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Marailov moves in looking to clinch but Ankudinov pushes him off.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ankudinov looking to score a takedown here. Marailov is defending well but Ankudinov drives through and ends up in Marailov's guard.
Marailov wants to stand but Ankudinov is controlling the position.
Ankudinov wants to control from the top but Marailov keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ankudinov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ankudinov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gustav Marailov 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. This is the final round!

Marailov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Marailov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Marailov is looking to clinch but Ankudinov is avoiding it.
Marailov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ankudinov was well out of range. Poor timing from Marailov.
Ankudinov throws a head kick but Marailov moves out of range.
Marailov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Marailov misses with a few strikes there.
Marailov tries to bum rush Ankudinov with a series of wild strikes but Ankudinov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ankudinov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Marailov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Marailov swings for the body but Ankudinov moves out of range.
Ankudinov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Ankudinov gets the takedown into side control.
Ankudinov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Marailov to see if he's OK.
Eric Ankudinov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ankudinov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Ankudinov trying to control the position but Marailov is working away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ankudinov is working Marailov over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marailov is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Ankudinov has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Ankudinov wants to control but Marailov is keeping him busy.
Ankudinov cracks Marailov with a big right hand but Marailov just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Marailov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Ankudinov is controlling him well.
Marailov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ankudinov working the ground and pound.
Ankudinov lands a decent elbow from side control.
Marailov wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Marailov takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marailov pushes Ankudinov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Ankudinov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ankudinov trying to control the action but Marailov is working from the bottom.
Ankudinov connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Marailov some visible discomfort.
Ankudinov trying to control the action but Marailov is working from the bottom.
Check out the look on Ankudinov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ankudinov trying to control the position but Marailov is working away.

Ankudinov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Marailov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ankudinov's best efforts.
Marailov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ankudinov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Ankudinov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ankudinov trying to control the action but Marailov is working from the bottom.
Marailov wants to get back to his feet.
Ankudinov is looking to take a break and control but Marailov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Marailov is looking to improve his position.
Marailov is trying to stand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ankudinov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Marailov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ankudinov slows the pace down in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Ankudinov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ankudinov 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Ankudinov!