PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikhail Van Kirkland (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Petr Jakovlev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jakovlev comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Devour kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Van Kirkland
vs
Jakovlev

194 cm
29
285 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

195 cm
26
290 lbs
10 - 10 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Milwaukee's Best 160

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 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikhail Van Kirkland!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Petr Jakovlev!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jakovlev misses with an uppercut

and Van Kirkland counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Van Kirkland stands and throws Jakovlev's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Van Kirkland working away.
Jakovlev is looking for a sweep.
Van Kirkland trying to control the action but Jakovlev is working from the bottom.
Jakovlev tries to improve position but can't.
Van Kirkland cracks Jakovlev with a big elbow.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Kirkland is working Jakovlev over with some ground and pound from side control.
Van Kirkland wants to lay and pray for a moment but Jakovlev keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jakovlev prevents Van Kirkland from improving position.
Van Kirkland tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jakovlev is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Van Kirkland's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Jakovlev actively working from the bottom here.
Jakovlev wants to get back to full guard.
Van Kirkland missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Van Kirkland looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Van Kirkland throwing shots but Jakovlev is blocking nicely.
Jakovlev trying to control from the bottom.
Jakovlev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Van Kirkland.
Van Kirkland is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Van Kirkland is pressing down on Jakovlev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jakovlev is holding on for now.
Van Kirkland is working hard here to advance position.

Jakovlev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland controlling the action here.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Van Kirkland working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Kirkland prevents Jakovlev from improving his position.
Jakovlev is staying active underneath Van Kirkland, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Jakovlev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Jakovlev actively working from the bottom here.

Jakovlev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Kirkland looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Jakovlev with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Jakovlev looking for submissions off his back.
Van Kirkland looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Jakovlev with the active half guard here but Van Kirkland passes nicely into side control.
Van Kirkland trying to control the action but Jakovlev is working from the bottom.
Jakovlev tries to improve position but can't.
Van Kirkland in side control lands a decent elbow.
Jakovlev gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Van Kirkland trying to control from Jakovlev's half guard. Jakovlev has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Jakovlev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Van Kirkland defends well.
Van Kirkland scoring with punches to the head and body.
Van Kirkland trying to control but Jakovlev is working from the bottom.
Jakovlev looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Van Kirkland puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Van Kirkland has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Van Kirkland punishing his opponent with strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Jakovlev regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikhail Van Kirkland dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Van Kirkland ducks under a wild hook from Jakovlev.
Jakovlev looks to land a right hand but Van Kirkland moved out of range.
Jakovlev jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

It looks like Mikhail Van Kirkland has been cut.
Jakovlev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
A big right from Jakovlev misses.
Jakovlev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Van Kirkland swivels and escapes.
The fighters circling - Jakovlev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Jakovlev shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Van Kirkland counters with a leg kick then a big left hand that sends Jakovlev down! Van Kirkland is looking to finish but Jakovlev is intelligently defending himself.
Mikhail Van Kirkland has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Petr Jakovlev.
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!

Jakovlev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Van Kirkland doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Van Kirkland manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jakovlev is breathing heavily.
Jakovlev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mikhail Van Kirkland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van Kirkland cracks Jakovlev with a solid left hand.
Van Kirkland pushes down on Jakovlev's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Van Kirkland trying to control the pace.
Jakovlev won't allow Van Kirkland to pass to mount.
Van Kirkland wants to take a breather but Jakovlev is having none of it.
Van Kirkland looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Jakovlev looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jakovlev works his way to full guard. Good work.

Jakovlev has his feet on Van Kirkland's thighs here. He's pushed Van Kirkland off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Van Kirkland screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Petr Jakovlev!
A relieved looking Petr Jakovlev thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.