PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Eugeniy Akulenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timoteo Belo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akulenko's entrance music is Cowboys From Hell. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Akulenko
vs
Belo

170 cm
23
165 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

182 cm
24
158 lbs
7 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eugeniy Akulenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Timoteo Belo!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belo ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Akulenko moves away.
Belo keeps the fight on the outside.
Belo shoots in looking for a takedown but Akulenko manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Belo's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Akulenko darts in and clinches Belo up against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Akulenko.
Akulenko is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Belo is keeping busy.
Akulenko gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Belo.
Belo drops down looking for an ankle pick but Akulenko pulls his leg out and moves away.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Belo has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Eugeniy Akulenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Timoteo Belo.
Belo swats away the attempt to clinch by Akulenko.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akulenko takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Akulenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Belo closes the distance and clinches up with Akulenko, looking for a takedown. Belo pushes Akulenko against the cage but Akulenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Belo scores with a hook.
Eugeniy Akulenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belo misses with a few strikes there.
Akulenko tries to clinch but Belo is having none of it.
Akulenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Belo moves out of range as Akulenko throws a body kick.
Eugeniy Akulenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Belo avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Akulenko tries to clinch up

and Belo counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Akulenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Akulenko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Belo is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Akulenko wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Belo manages to pass to side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akulenko is refusing to be controlled, as Belo sits in half guard.
Akulenko wants to control but Belo is keeping busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Akulenko is defending against the submission attempts here by Belo.
Akulenko wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Belo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Akulenko sees it coming and defends easily.

Belo is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Akulenko defends it well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Akulenko wants to get back to his feet.
Akulenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Belo is looking for a kimura. It's pretty deep but Akulenko still has the half guard so he's probably OK. Oh, Akulenko has exploded into a beautiful escape there and after a quick scramble, he's ended up in side control on top! Nice work!
Belo tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Belo wants to control but Akulenko postures up.
Akulenko tries to advance to mount but can't.
Belo is looking to regain half guard here but Akulenko keeps moving and retains side control.
Belo tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Belo manages to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timoteo Belo dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Belo scores with a three punch combo!
Akulenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Belo moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Akulenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Eugeniy Akulenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Some wild striking there from Akulenko.
Akulenko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Akulenko wants to clinch but Belo slips to the side

so Belo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Belo scoring with some ground and pound.
Belo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Belo throws a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akulenko has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Belo off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Belo shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Belo wants to control but Akulenko is keeping him busy.

Belo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Belo wants to pass the guard but Akulenko is defending well.

Belo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Akulenko has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Timoteo Belo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Belo wants to control but Akulenko is keeping him busy.

Belo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Belo seems to be working for a kimura but Akulenko defends the submission attempt.
Belo has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Akulenko is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belo trying to control the action but Akulenko is working from the bottom.
Belo wants to pass the guard but Akulenko is defending well.
Belo is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

Akulenko uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Akulenko wants to clinch but Belo slips to the side

so Belo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Belo wants to control from the top but Akulenko keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belo with a flurry of punches that miss.
Belo trying to control the position from guard on top but Akulenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Akulenko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Belo wants to control from the top but Akulenko keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Belo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timoteo Belo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Belo is trying hard to land a takedown here. Akulenko sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Belo cracks Akulenko with an open hand slap.
Akulenko moves to clinch but Belo breaks away

so Belo counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Akulenko is trying to keep Belo in close.

Belo has gone for a leg lock! Akulenko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Belo's guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Akulenko's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belo is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Akulenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Belo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Belo throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Akulenko escapes and throws Belo's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Akulenko stands up.
Akulenko scores with a kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belo shoots for a double leg takedown but Akulenko sprawls well. He's pushed Belo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Akulenko is looking to clinch but Belo is avoiding it.
Akulenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Belo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Belo looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Akulenko is fending him off so far but Belo persists. Nope, Akulenko circles away and we're back to standing.
Eugeniy Akulenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Timoteo Belo.
Akulenko tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Belo counters with a single leg into guard. Akulenko didn't expect that.

Akulenko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Belo looking to sit in guard and control but Akulenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Belo wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Akulenko is now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belo wants to control but Akulenko is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Belo is looking to get back to full guard here but Akulenko has managed to pass to side control instead.
Belo looking for a sweep but Akulenko has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Timoteo Belo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Akulenko stands up from mount. Strange move.
Akulenko moves to clinch but Belo breaks away

and Belo counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Akulenko!
Belo landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Belo is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Akulenko will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belo's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Eugeniy Akulenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Belo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Akulenko has escaped the position, nice work there.
Akulenko controls the position for a moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Akulenko sneaks out the side door and pushes Belo away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Timoteo Belo.
I've got Belo winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timoteo Belo!
After winning the bout, Timoteo Belo thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.