PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Artem Irhin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Savas Bulent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Irhin
vs
Bulent

180 cm
20
200 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
195 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Artem Irhin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Savas Bulent!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Irhin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bulent.
Irhin shoots in looking for a takedown. Bulent tries to sprawl out of it but Irhin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bulent manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Bulent swings for the body but Irhin moves out of range.
As Bulent looks to move away, Irhin throws a big counter combo bu Bulent just gets out of the way.
Bulent throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Irhin throws a left and a right that both miss

and Bulent counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Irhin makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Bulent leaves Irhin with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jab from Bulent.

Irhin closes the distance and pushes Bulent back into the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bulent tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Irhin's elbow.
Irhin slowing the pace effectively.
Irhin jumps guard but Bulent turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artem Irhin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irhin will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Bulent up against the cage.
Bulent managing to block the knees to the body from Irhin.
Stalling in the clinch from Bulent.

Irhin escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Bulent throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Irhin fails to land the takedown.
A looping hook to the body misses from Bulent. Irhin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Bulent misses the shot to the body.
Irhin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bulent swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Irhin wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bulent tests Irhin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
A slow jab from Bulent misses its intended target.
Irhin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Bulent looks to land a left hand but Irhin moved out of range nicely.
The fighters circling - Bulent throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Bulent misses with an uppercut

and Irhin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Irhin wants to pass the guard but Bulent is defending well.
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!

Irhin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Bulent has managed to free his arm - good work.
Bulent is controlling Irhin's position as best he can from this difficult position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulent is looking to improve his position.

Bulent actively working from the bottom here.
Irhin throws a strike but Bulent avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

Irhin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bulent is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Irhin, into his guard.

Bulent wants to control from the top but Irhin keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Irhin is trying to control the position but Bulent postures up.
Bulent looking to sit in guard and control but Irhin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Irhin passes Bulent's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Irhin is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Bulent as he works his way to full guard.
Irhin wants to control from the top but Bulent keeps moving.
Bulent wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Savas Bulent dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Irhin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bulent but Bulent pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Bulent avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bulent misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Irhin thinks about countering with a body kick.
Bulent throws a hook but Irhin avoids it easily.
Irhin is looking to counter with a body kick.
Nice takedown defense from Bulent. No joy for Irhin on that attempt.
Bulent looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Irhin scores with a spinning back kick!
Irhin misses with a hook to the body
enabling Bulent to counter with a crisp jab.
Bulent thuds his right hand into Irhin's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Irhin fails in his attempt to clinch.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Bulent! But no joy.
Irhin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Savas Bulent seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bulent throws a jab when Irhin was well out of range.
Irhin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Bulent manages to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irhin shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Bulent but Bulent pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artem Irhin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bulent ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Irhin tries to clinch
letting Bulent counter with a right hand.
Bulent stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Bulent wants it to stay on the feet.
Bulent thows a left - swing and a miss!
Bulent has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Bulent looks to land a left hand but Irhin moved out of range nicely.
Irhin jabs Bulent right on the nose. Bulent blinks but takes it well.
Bulent throws a good cross that connects.

Irhin changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Bulent looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
You can see the frustration on Bulent's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Bulent regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bulent regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Irhin.
Bulent pulls Irhin in close to prevent any damage.
Irhin wants to control from the top but Bulent keeps moving.
Bulent has control of Irhin's left arm, preventing Irhin from doing any damage.
Bulent wants to sweep but no luck.
Bulent working a defensive guard here.
Bulent keeping full guard, as Irhin tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Irhin trying to control the position from guard on top but Bulent is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Irhin slaps away a takedown attempt from Bulent, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Irhin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Irhin goes for a takedown attempt but Bulent pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
A telegraphed right hand from Bulent misses the target.
Bulent cracks a nice hook into Irhin's ribs.
Bulent slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Bulent lands the left hand.
Irhin staying out of range there.
Savas Bulent seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bulent misses with a hook. Irhin ducked under it nicely.
Bulent throws an overhand right that lands on Irhin's shoulder, as Irhin tries to avoid the shot.
Irhin thinks about countering with a head kick.
Bulent goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Bulent misses with a double jab.
Bulent lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Irhin circles away quickly and effectively.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bulent fails with a takedown attempt.
Irhin wants to clinch up but Bulent keeps it at a distance.
Bulent defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Irhin.
Irhin keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Bulent.
Bulent swings away with a body shot that misses
and Irhin counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Irhin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bulent as he avoids it easily.

Irhin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Savas Bulent showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Irhin ducks right into an uppercut from Bulent.
Irhin tries for a takedown but Bulent circles away easily
and Bulent counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Irhin moves to clinch but Bulent breaks away
and Bulent counters with a right hand to the body.
A slow jab from Bulent misses its intended target.
Horrible takedown attempt by Irhin or perhaps it was just good defense by Bulent, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bulent looks to land a combination but Irhin avoids it well.
Bulent bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Irhin's head.
Bulent takes a swing at Irhin's ribcage but misses.
Artem Irhin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Bulent looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Irhin shoots in for a double leg but Bulent sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artem Irhin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Bulent gets caught napping as Irhin dives in and scores a takedown. Bulent manages to retain guard.
Bulent is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Bulent trying to control the pace.
Bulent sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Irhin defending well though.
Irhin controlling the position well.
Bulent looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Irhin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Irhin is trying to stand.
Artem Irhin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Irhin trying to control from the bottom.
Bulent wants to control but Irhin is keeping him busy.
Irhin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Bulent works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Bulent missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Irhin is doing well to control the position and prevent Bulent from advancing to side control.
Irhin is looking to control Bulent's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Irhin avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bulent seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Irhin wants to control but Bulent is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Irhin is not content to let Bulent control the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bulent goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Irhin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Irhin fails with a takedown attempt.
Irhin shoots in for a double leg but Bulent sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bulent thows a left - swing and a miss!
Irhin dodges the punch combination from Bulent.
Irhin wants to clinch.
Bulent tries for a takedown but Irhin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Irhin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Savas Bulent is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Bulent throws a hook but Irhin avoids it easily.
Irhin wants to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Irhin shoots in but Bulent avoids the takedown attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Savas Bulent comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Bulent 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Savas Bulent!