PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anatoliy Lapikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Phukyorselvf Uzannavabizch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lapikov comes to the cage accompanied by AC/DC - Hells Bells . Uzannavabizch has chosen Brandon Loveladdy's band WE ARE THE CHOSEN : BREAKING THE KARMIC CYCLE as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Anatoliy Lapikov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lapikov
vs
Uzannavabizch

186 cm
31
220 lbs
16 - 16 - 0

189 cm
38
204 lbs
35 - 20 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Modern Wear Apparel
Spartan Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 16 - 0, fighting out of New York, Anatoliy Lapikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Phukyorselvf Uzannavabizch!
The judges for this bout are Dean Styles, David Schapiro and Reed Andrews.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Uzannavabizch takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Uzannavabizch will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Uzannavabizch just misses with a punch to the body.
Uzannavabizch keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Lapikov throws a hook but Uzannavabizch avoids it easily.
Uzannavabizch ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Lapikov moves away.
Lapikov swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Lapikov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Uzannavabizch.
Uzannavabizch attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Uzannavabizch.
Lapikov throws a shot from downtown. Uzannavabizch moves away and avoids it.
Lapikov has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Uzannavabizch misses with a wild body shot.
Lapikov misses with a looping right.
Lapikov tests Uzannavabizch's chin there with a solid looking shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lapikov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Uzannavabizch avoids a punch combination nicely.
Uzannavabizch moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uzannavabizch dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Lapikov. That did some damage!
Uzannavabizch turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lapikov scores with a shot to the body.
Nice uppercut lands for Lapikov. That snapped Uzannavabizch's head back.
Uzannavabizch lands the left hand.

Lapikov drives through with a takedown into Uzannavabizch's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Lapikov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Uzannavabizch looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lapikov is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Uzannavabizch is trying to control the position but Lapikov postures up.
Lapikov sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lapikov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lapikov won't allow Uzannavabizch to sweep him here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lapikov wants to control from the top but Uzannavabizch keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Uzannavabizch throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lapikov.
Uzannavabizch throws a series of punches but Lapikov avoids them all with ease.
Uzannavabizch lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lapikov tries for a takedown but Uzannavabizch sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Lapikov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Uzannavabizch's half guard.
Uzannavabizch is looking to control Lapikov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Uzannavabizch avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lapikov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Uzannavabizch is looking to control Lapikov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Uzannavabizch avoid being mounted?
Lapikov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Uzannavabizch trying to control but Lapikov postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Phukyorselvf Uzannavabizch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Uzannavabizch digs a good body shot into Lapikov's ribs.
Uzannavabizch looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Lapikov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Lapikov shoots for a double leg takedown but Uzannavabizch sprawls well. He's pushed Lapikov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Uzannavabizch is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Lapikov rather than just go for the knockout.

Lapikov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Uzannavabizch was covering up waiting for the punch and Lapikov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Lapikov being controlled here momentarily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Anatoliy Lapikov will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lapikov shoots for a takedown but Uzannavabizch saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Uzannavabizch wants to slow Lapikov down by chopping away at his legs.
Uzannavabizch finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Uzannavabizch chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Lapikov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Lapikov lands in his opponent's guard.
Uzannavabizch wants to get back to his feet but Lapikov passes into half guard.

Uzannavabizch has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lapikov is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lapikov is pressing down on Uzannavabizch's thigh, looking to free his foot. Uzannavabizch is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lapikov is thwarting Uzannavabizch's attempts to control the position.
Uzannavabizch is looking for a sweep. Lapikov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lapikov content to control rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Uzannavabizch trying to control from the bottom.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Lapikov in particular looking to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Uzannavabizch gets a double leg takedown into Lapikov's guard.
Uzannavabizch wants to control from the top but Lapikov keeps moving.
Uzannavabizch must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Lapikov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Uzannavabizch can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Lapikov controls the pace.
Uzannavabizch wants to control the position but Lapikov says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Uzannavabizch has hold of Lapikov's hands but Lapikov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lapikov not doing much here.
Uzannavabizch controlling the position well.
Ground and pound from Lapikov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Anatoliy Lapikov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lapikov lands a nice looking body shot.
Some wild striking there from Lapikov.
Uzannavabizch lands with an uppercut that bounces Lapikov off the cage and back into range.
Lapikov clobbers Uzannavabizch with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Uzannavabizch.
Uzannavabizch looks to throw the jab but Lapikov is out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Lapikov misses the target.
Uzannavabizch throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Uzannavabizch fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lapikov.
Lapikov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Uzannavabizch takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Anatoliy Lapikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Uzannavabizch buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Lapikov throws a body punch but Uzannavabizch moves out of range.
Both fighters circling a little - Uzannavabizch finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lapikov fails to land the takedown.
Lapikov misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Uzannavabizch connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Lapikov throws a hook but Uzannavabizch avoids it easily.
Uzannavabizch tries to land a body kick
enabling Lapikov to counter with a crisp jab.
Lapikov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Lapikov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lapikov staying calm.
Anatoliy Lapikov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Uzannavabizch is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Lapikov trying to control the action but Uzannavabizch is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Uzannavabizch is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Phukyorselvf Uzannavabizch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Lapikov shoots for a double leg takedown but Uzannavabizch sprawls well. He's pushed Lapikov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Uzannavabizch appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Uzannavabizch misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Some wild striking there from Lapikov.
Lapikov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Uzannavabizch moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Uzannavabizch lands a nice looking body shot.
A jab from Lapikov finds it's way through Uzannavabizch's defenses.
Lapikov scores with a jab to the head.
Uzannavabizch throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Lapikov sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Uzannavabizch stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anatoliy Lapikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Lapikov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Uzannavabizch manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
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!
Uzannavabizch trying to control the position.
Anatoliy Lapikov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lapikov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Lapikov passes Uzannavabizch's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Lapikov trying to control the pace.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Anatoliy Lapikov.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lapikov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Dean Styles scores the fight 30:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 30:27
Judge Reed Andrews scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anatoliy Lapikov!
Anatoliy Lapikov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.