PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Burak Mihalev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dimka Medvedev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Mihalev
vs
Medvedev

195 cm
24
256 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

200 cm
27
265 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Kemists ↑ 5x160Q

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Burak Mihalev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dimka Medvedev!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksandr Martynov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mihalev misses with a right hand
and Medvedev counters with a nice body shot.
Burak Mihalev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd cheers as Medvedev lands an impressive looking overhand right. Mihalev doesn't seem phased though.
Nice sprawl there from Medvedev as Mihalev shoots in.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mihalev is defended easily by Medvedev.
Mihalev thows a left - swing and a miss!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Mihalev.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Burak Mihalev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mihalev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Mihalev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Medvedev takes a swing at Mihalev's ribcage but misses.
Mihalev shoots for a double leg takedown but Medvedev sprawls well. He's pushed Mihalev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Mihalev closes the distance and clinches up with Medvedev, looking for a takedown. Mihalev pushes Medvedev against the cage but Medvedev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Medvedev connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Medvedev moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mihalev looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Mihalev moves away.
Medvedev lands a right hook to the body.
Medvedev throws a body punch but Mihalev moves out of range.
Medvedev scores with a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A looping hook to the body misses from Medvedev. Mihalev does a little dance to reset his feet.
Good shot there by Medvedev.
Medvedev just misses with a punch to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mihalev manages to avoid it.

Mihalev closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Medvedev's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Mihalev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Mihalev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Medvedev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Medvedev controls Mihalev momentarily but Mihalev frees himself.
Mihalev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Medvedev 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.
Mihalev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev trying to keep a closed guard but Mihalev is proving a slippery customer.
Mihalev is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mihalev wants to control from the top but Medvedev keeps moving.
Mihalev prevents Medvedev from getting back to his feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Medvedev looking for a sweep. Not yet Medvedev, not yet.
Mihalev is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Burak Mihalev has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Medvedev misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dimka Medvedev dominated that round.
That's time! Mihalev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Medvedev throws out a loose jab but Mihalev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mihalev connects with a crisp jab.
Mihalev doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Mihalev keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mihalev finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Mihalev throws a lazy right hand but Medvedev sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Mihalev avoids the body shot from Medvedev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mihalev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Medvedev enables Mihalev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Medvedev manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Mihalev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Medvedev's head.
Medvedev wants to stand and escape but Mihalev is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Medvedev is looking for a triangle but Mihalev pushes his legs off easily.
Mihalev slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Mihalev landing some decent shots from guard.
Mihalev throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mihalev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Medvedev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mihalev throwing strikes from guard but Medvedev blocks nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Mihalev stands up over Medvedev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Medvedev is trying to keep Mihalev in close.
Mihalev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mihalev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Medvedev keeping moving, preventing Mihalev from controlling successfully.
Medvedev seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Mihalev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Mihalev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Medvedev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Mihalev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Medvedev's head.
Mihalev content to stall in guard here.
Mihalev has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Medvedev trying to keep a closed guard but Mihalev is proving a slippery customer.
Mihalev is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Mihalev throws a big right hand that misses.
Medvedev trying to strike off his back.
Medvedev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev controlling from the top position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Medvedev misses the shot to the body.
Medvedev slaps away a takedown attempt from Mihalev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mihalev is looking to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burak Mihalev dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Nice sprawl there from Medvedev as Mihalev shoots in.

Mihalev fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Medvedev to the ground. Mihalev is now in Medvedev's guard.
Medvedev wants to sweep but no luck.
Mihalev wants to control from the top but Medvedev keeps moving.
Medvedev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Medvedev is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Mihalev throws a big elbow that misses.
Mihalev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mihalev's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Mihalev wants to control from the top but Medvedev keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mihalev throws a big right hand that misses.
Mihalev is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Medvedev keeping moving, preventing Mihalev from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Burak Mihalev wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Mihalev closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mihalev lands in his opponent's guard.
Medvedev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Medvedev keeping moving, preventing Mihalev from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev throws a big elbow that misses.
Mihalev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Mihalev preventing the sweep.
Medvedev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Mihalev showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Mihalev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mihalev landing some decent shots from guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mihalev slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Mihalev is controlling him.
Mihalev controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Mihalev seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Medvedev for as long as he can get away with.

We're going to have a standup here because Burak Mihalev wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Mihalev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev drops his hands momentarily and Medvedev takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Mihalev thows a body shot but no joy.
Mihalev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Burak Mihalev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mihalev misses with a takedown attempt
and Medvedev counters with a lovely shot to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Medvedev connects with a single shot there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Burak Mihalev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mihalev 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Burak Mihalev!
Burak Mihalev thanked the fans post fight for their support.