PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Konstantine Erokhin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vitaly Minakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Erokhin comes into the arena with Russian national anthem by-HIM blaring out of the sound system. Minakov has chosen МС DONI ft Тимати - Б as his entrance music. Konstantine Erokhin has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Erokhin
vs
Minakov

198 cm
26
278 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

187 cm
25
260 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Decent knees
Determined

Arcticus University: London

Underworld Clothing /w 90% Laundry
GREEN!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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Konstantine Erokhin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Vitaly Minakov!
The judges for this bout are Roger Salmon, Jeff Smith and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Minakov moves into the clinch.
Erokhin struggles to land a body shot inside as Minakov controls his hands.

Minakov is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Erokhin can't fight it off and eventually Minakov manages to take the fight to the floor. Erokhin looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Erokhin 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.
Minakov lands a couple of digs.
Minakov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Minakov passes Erokhin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Erokhin wants to control the action here but instead Minakov manages to pass to full mount!
Minakov looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minakov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Erokhin tries to hold on but Minakov pushes him away.
Erokhin tries to reverse the position but Minakov maintains control.
Minakov controlling the pace for now.
Minakov with a couple of short strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erokhin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Erokhin squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Minakov controlling the pace for now.
Let's hope that Minakov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erokhin keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Minakov controlling from the full mount.
Minakov throwing strikes here but Erokhin is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Erokhin avoids a strike by Minakov and manages to complete a very nice reversal in the process, to end up in Minakov's guard! Fantastic escape!
Erokhin tries to free his leg and advance position but Minakov is retaining full guard.
Minakov managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erokhin looking to sit in guard and control but Minakov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Erokhin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Erokhin tries to get out of the position.
Minakov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Erokhin wants to sweep here but Minakov controlling him for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitaly Minakov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Erokhin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Erokhin throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Minakov on the side of the head.
Minakov throws a shot from downtown. Erokhin moves away and avoids it.
Minakov walks into a left hand.
Minakov tries to clinch
and Erokhin counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Erokhin connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Minakov momentarily.
Erokhin could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Minakov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Erokhin definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Erokhin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Minakov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Konstantine Erokhin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice defenses there by Erokhin.
Erokhin appears to be looking for a big counter.
Erokhin digs a good body shot into Minakov's ribs.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Minakov has Erokhin up against the cage in a clinch.
Minakov keeps control of Erokhin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Minakov lands a damaging elbow.

It looks like Konstantine Erokhin has been cut.
Minakov landing knees to the head.
Minakov is looking to control Erokhin's arms but Erokhin gets an underhook and turns him. Now Minakov has his back to the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Erokhin fails to land.
Erokhin misses with the head strike.
Erokhin digs a right hand underneath Minakov's ribcage. Minakov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Minakov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Erokhin's efforts to push away.
Erokhin tries to break free but Minakov pushes him back against the cage.
Erokhin throws a punch but it's blocked by Minakov.
Erokhin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Minakov scores with a knee to the head.
Erokhin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Erokhin misses with a body punch.
Minakov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Minakov prevents a body shot from Erokhin.
Minakov lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Minakov misses with a short punch on the inside.

Minakov drags the fight down to the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Erokhin wants to control from the top but Minakov keeps moving.
Erokhin sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Erokhin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Erokhin throws an elbow that misses. Minakov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Erokhin's guard. Nice move by Minakov!

Vitaly Minakov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Minakov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minakov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Minakov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Minakov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

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.
Minakov advances to half guard.
Minakov controlling the pace.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vitaly Minakov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Konstantine Erokhin's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Minakov avoids the body shot from Erokhin.
Erokhin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Erokhin went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Erokhin throws a lazy right hand but Minakov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A little jabbing left from Minakov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Erokhin fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Minakov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Erokhin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Erokhin circles away from the clinch attempt
and Erokhin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Minakov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Erokhin.
Erokhin scores with a three punch combo!

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Erokhin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Konstantine Erokhin is winning the standup battle so far.
Minakov fails with an attempt to clinch.
A little feinted left hand from Erokhin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Minakov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Minakov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Erokhin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Minakov now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Minakov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Erokhin manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Minakov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Erokhin.
Erokhin looks to score with a jab to the body but Minakov is just out of range.
Erokhin clobbers Minakov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erokhin uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Konstantine Erokhin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Minakov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Konstantine Erokhin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Minakov has closed the distance and engaged Erokhin in a clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Erokhin fails to land.
Erokhin is looking to control Minakov's arms but Minakov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Erokhin has his back to the cage.
Erokhin pushes Minakov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Minakov stalling in the clinch.
Minakov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Erokhin in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Minakov tries a knee to the head but Erokhin blocks it.
Erokhin blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Erokhin takes an elbow to the temple.
Konstantine Erokhin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Minakov scores with a knee to the head.
Minakov lands a good knee to the midsection. Erokhin won't want to take too many of those.
Minakov lands a nice elbow.
Nice elbow from Minakov.
Minakov with a knee to the head.
Minakov landing some nice looking knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minakov landing knees to the head.
Minakov stalling the fight.
Minakov working Erokhin over with knees to the body.

Minakov drops Erokhin with a big knee straight up the middle! Erokhin is covering up against the cage but manages to escape and gets back to his feet!

Erokhin is rocked!

Minakov drives through and clinches with Erokhin against the cage.
Oh Erokhin is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The referee calls for Minakov to work.
Erokhin seems to have got his legs back now.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Nice elbow from Minakov.
Vitaly Minakov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Vitaly Minakov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Minakov successfully pulls guard.
Minakov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Erokhin's guard.

Minakov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Erokhin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minakov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Erokhin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Erokhin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Minakov controls the pace.
Minakov is standing up over Erokhin. Erokhin looks to escape but Minakov dives into side control.
Erokhin being controlled for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vitaly Minakov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Minakov 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 Roger Salmon scores the fight 27:30
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 27:30
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vitaly Minakov!
After the big win, Vitaly Minakov made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors GREEN!160 and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.
In defeat, Konstantine Erokhin stepped up to the mic, saying 'Blabbers something in russian'.