PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anatoly Bazanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Stamkos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Stamkos will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Bazanov
vs
Stamkos

170 cm
20
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

197 cm
18
217 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Zombie Nutrition - LOD
Vanquish Fight Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anatoly Bazanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Stamkos!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Illya Tyunina and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bazanov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Stamkos on his heels. He'll look to pass Stamkos's guard now, I'm sure.
Bazanov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Stamkos's guard.
Bazanov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Stamkos manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Bazanov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Bazanov distracts Stamkos with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Stamkos working a defensive guard here.
Bazanov preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stamkos looking to control.
Bazanov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bazanov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Stamkos's head.
Stamkos manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Bazanov manages to get himself to full guard.
Stamkos prevents Bazanov from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stamkos wants to stand and escape but instead Bazanov has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Bazanov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bazanov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Bazanov closes the distance and pushes Stamkos back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stamkos lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Bazanov.

Bazanov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Stamkos is trying to keep an underhook but Bazanov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Bazanov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Stamkos trying to control but Bazanov postures up.

Bazanov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Stamkos defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stamkos looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bazanov trying to mount his opponent but Stamkos defends it.
Bazanov stalling.
Bazanov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Stamkos knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stamkos trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Stamkos wants to hold on but Bazanov pushes him away.
Bazanov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Stamkos on the ground.
Bazanov content just to control the position here.
Stamkos tries to control Bazanov's body but Bazanov pushes him off. Stamkos squirms to his side and now Bazanov has his back!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stamkos is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anatoly Bazanov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Bazanov keeps the fight on the outside.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Bazanov.
Bazanov tries to advance to mount but Stamkos denies him.
Bazanov has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Stamkos!
Bazanov content just to control the position here.
Bazanov lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Stamkos is wriggling around trying to escape.
Bazanov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Anatoly Bazanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bazanov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Stamkos tries to hold on but Bazanov pushes him away.
Stamkos slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Bazanov slows the pace down in half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Anatoly Bazanov.

Bazanov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bazanov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Bazanov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Bazanov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Stamkos is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Stamkos has escaped and now he's on top!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Stamkos wants to control from the top but Bazanov keeps moving.

Bazanov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Stamkos has passed into half guard!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stamkos sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bazanov defending well though.
Stamkos is trying to control. Bazanov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bazanov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Stamkos trying to control but Bazanov is working from the bottom.
Bazanov wants to sweep here but Stamkos controlling him for the moment.
Bazanov has control of Stamkos's left arm, preventing Stamkos from doing any damage.

Bazanov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Stamkos passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bazanov is trying to get back to full guard.
Bazanov wants to get back to his feet.
Stamkos prevents Bazanov from improving his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Stamkos not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anatoly Bazanov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Stamkos wants to clinch up but Bazanov keeps it at a distance.
Stamkos fails with the takedown
and Bazanov counters with a nice leg kick.

Bazanov has closed the distance and engaged Stamkos in a clinch.
Stamkos tries to break the clinch but Bazanov is controlling the position.

Bazanov ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Bazanov no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Bazanov pulls Stamkos in close to his closed guard and prevents Stamkos from doing any damage or advancing position.

Bazanov looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Stamkos has picked Bazanov up and slammed him! Bazanov can't keep hold of the triangle and Stamkos manages to pass to side control!
Bazanov is pushing Stamkos's head away, looking to escape. Stamkos manages to hold on to the position though.
Bazanov can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stamkos tries to move to mount but Bazanov blocks the move with his legs.
Bazanov is trying to get back to his feet.
Bazanov tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Stamkos presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Stamkos wants to stand but Bazanov is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Bazanov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stamkos wants to control the pace but Bazanov is squirming around nicely.
Stamkos looking to ground and pound but Bazanov is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bazanov wants to control but Stamkos is having none of it.
Stamkos wants to control the pace but Bazanov is squirming around nicely.
Bazanov can't escape the position.
Bazanov bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stamkos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Stamkos 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.
Bazanov tries to free his leg and advance position but Stamkos is retaining full guard.
Bazanov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Bazanov feints and as Stamkos raises his hands in defense, Bazanov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Bazanov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stamkos is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stamkos looking to control but Bazanov passes into half guard.
Stamkos wants to get back to full guard but Bazanov has passed into side control.
Bazanov landing a few strikes.
Bazanov tries to stand but Stamkos is controlling his head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Stamkos is trying to get back to half guard.
Alexander Stamkos has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Anatoly Bazanov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
You can see the frustration on Stamkos's face as Bazanov controls the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anatoly Bazanov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Bazanov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 for Anatoly Bazanov!
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Anatoly Bazanov!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Anatoly Bazanov!

Anatoly Bazanov wins by unanimous decision!