PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Frankie Craft (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zurab Sergeev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zurab Sergeev will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Craft
vs
Sergeev

182 cm
18
177 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
175 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, Frankie Craft!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zurab Sergeev!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sergeev closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Craft's guard.

Sergeev is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Craft is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Craft has escaped and now he's on top!

Sergeev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Craft throws a big right hand that misses.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Craft accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craft throwing strikes from guard but Sergeev blocks nicely.

Sergeev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Craft is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sergeev working for a triangle but Craft defends it easily.

Sergeev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sergeev looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Craft passes into side control.
Sergeev wants to control but Craft postures up.
Sergeev wants to get back to his feet but Craft drags him back down.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Craft goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Sergeev has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Craft but great work by Sergeev.

Sergeev swings around for an armbar but Craft sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Sergeev's guard.

Sergeev looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Craft passes into side control.
Sergeev can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zurab Sergeev 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.

Craft gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sergeev trying to control but Craft is working from the bottom.
Craft 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.
Craft keeping moving, preventing Sergeev from controlling successfully.
Sergeev won't allow Craft to get back to his feet.
Craft looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Sergeev puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Sergeev looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Craft is not content to let Sergeev control the position.

Sergeev is trying to work for a kimura but Craft is defending well.
Craft is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Craft regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Sergeev.
Craft keeping moving, preventing Sergeev from controlling successfully.
Sergeev passes into half guard.

Sergeev seems to be working for a kimura but Craft defends the submission attempt.

Sergeev has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Craft defend it? Sergeev steps over the head and cranks it - Craft is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Sergeev!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Zurab Sergeev!
Our winner, Zurab Sergeev, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.