PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Kharitonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jim Beckett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kharitonov's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, BLUNT - Raggae All Day. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kharitonov
vs
Beckett

170 cm
37
147 lbs
30 - 16 - 0

168 cm
32
146 lbs
24 - 12 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Big Bear Nutrition 160Q
MMA Hype Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Vladimir Kharitonov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 12 - 1, fighting out of New York, Jim Beckett!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Steven Brown and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Beckett cracks the inside of Kharitonov's front leg.
Kharitonov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Beckett is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Beckett throws the kick towards the body but Kharitonov avoids it.
Beckett thuds a left hand into Kharitonov's body.
Beckett scores with a nice body kick.
Beckett takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Kharitonov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kharitonov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Kharitonov has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Blackthorn Gym in the buildup to the fight.

Beckett closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Beckett lands in his opponent's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kharitonov looking for a sweep. Not yet Kharitonov, not yet.
Beckett trying to control the position from guard on top but Kharitonov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kharitonov is on top in guard.

Kharitonov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Beckett escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kharitonov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kharitonov is stalling in the full guard.
Kharitonov working some strikes from top position.
Kharitonov wants to control from the top but Beckett keeps moving.
Kharitonov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kharitonov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Beckett looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kharitonov trying to control the position from guard on top but Beckett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kharitonov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Beckett has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kharitonov has managed to get both his arms back between Beckett's legs - danger averted.

Beckett is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kharitonov defends well.
Beckett working a defensive guard here.
Kharitonov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kharitonov slips nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckett is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kharitonov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kharitonov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Beckett gets full guard.
Kharitonov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Beckett keeping moving, preventing Kharitonov from controlling successfully.

Beckett looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kharitonov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kharitonov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Beckett has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kharitonov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kharitonov stopping the sweep attempt from Beckett.
Kharitonov postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kharitonov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kharitonov trying to control the position from guard on top but Beckett is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kharitonov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Beckett stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kharitonov.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Good exchange - Kharitonov coming out on top.
Beckett looks to throw a body kick
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
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 Vladimir Kharitonov will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kharitonov scores with a nice right hand.
Beckett throws a right hand that Kharitonov ducks under and follows up with a left that Kharitonov also avoids with ease.
Kharitonov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kharitonov sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
A swing and a miss from Beckett.
Kharitonov misses with a right hand

and Beckett counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Beckett is looking to work some ground and pound but Kharitonov has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Beckett slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Kharitonov wants to sweep but no luck.
Beckett advances position into side control!
Kharitonov keeps Beckett under control for a moment.
Kharitonov is looking to regain half guard here but Beckett keeps moving and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kharitonov is working hard here to advance position.
Beckett advances nicely into full mount.
Jim Beckett has got the better of the ground game so far.
Beckett avoids the attempt from Kharitonov to control.
Kharitonov is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beckett sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

Beckett has control of Kharitonov's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Kharitonov regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Kharitonov can't escape the position.
Beckett has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kharitonov blocking the ground and pound.

Beckett looking to secure an arm triangle but Kharitonov defends it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kharitonov tries to hold on but Beckett postures up.
Kharitonov is working to get back to half guard.
Kharitonov wants to hold on but Beckett pushes him away.
Beckett tries to push Kharitonov's head away but Kharitonov is holding on tight.
Kharitonov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kharitonov is trying to escape the mount.
Beckett avoids the attempt from Kharitonov to control.
Beckett throws some wild stikes that Kharitonov manages to avoid easily.
Beckett avoids the attempt from Kharitonov to control.
Kharitonov is trying desperately to improve position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Beckett pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Beckett throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kharitonov because Beckett loaded up on that one.
Kharitonov working to try and regain half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jim Beckett 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. 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.

A solid body kick from Kharitonov.
Kharitonov moves out of range of the strikes.
Kharitonov throws out a loose jab but Beckett uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kharitonov works the jab nicely.
Beckett avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kharitonov throws out a powerful jab.
Beckett lands with a good body shot.
Beckett lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Beckett lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Kharitonov ducks under a wild hook from Beckett.
As Beckett backs away, Kharitonov returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Kharitonov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Beckett. Beckett obviously looking to wear him down.
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!
Beckett throws a leg kick but Kharitonov moved away.
A nice leg kick lands there from Beckett.
Beckett misses with a wild body shot.
Kharitonov was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Beckett lands with a good body shot.
Kharitonov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Beckett throws out the jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kharitonov looks to throw the jab but Beckett is out of range.
Kharitonov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Beckett.
Kharitonov throws a lazy right hand but Beckett sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Beckett scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kharitonov misses with a body kick.
Kharitonov moves out of range of the leg kick from Beckett.
Kharitonov moves away from the strike by Beckett.
A low kick from Beckett is predictable there
and Kharitonov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Beckett throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kharitonov ducks under a wild hook from Beckett.
Kharitonov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Beckett. Beckett obviously looking to wear him down.
Beckett misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kharitonov.
Kharitonov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Beckett.
Kharitonov throws a push kick but Beckett slaps the foot to one side.
That kick from Beckett tenderised Kharitonov's leg. Kharitonov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Beckett lands a front kick.
Beckett wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Beckett plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kharitonov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Beckett will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Beckett closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kharitonov to the mat! Kharitonov manages to get full guard.
Beckett postures up.
Kharitonov managing to control the position.
Kharitonov 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.
Kharitonov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kharitonov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Beckett won't allow Kharitonov to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beckett throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Beckett trying to control the position from guard on top but Kharitonov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kharitonov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Jim Beckett seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Beckett blocks a head kick by Kharitonov.
Beckett misses with a leg kick
enabling Kharitonov to counter with a crisp jab.
Beckett lands a front kick.
Kharitonov checks the leg kick nicely there.
Beckett tries to score with a low kick but Kharitonov moves his leg out of the way.
Kharitonov is looking to counter punch.
A big left from Kharitonov misses.
Beckett drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Kharitonov defends it well.
Beckett throws a head kick but Kharitonov moves out of range.
Beckett lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kharitonov's sensitive parts.
Kharitonov checks a leg kick.
Vladimir Kharitonov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Beckett takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Beckett fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kharitonov throwing a counter right hand but Beckett manages to avoid it.
A cross from Kharitonov lands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kharitonov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Beckett. Beckett obviously looking to wear him down.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Beckett.
Beckett keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kharitonov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kharitonov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Beckett lands a glancing blow to the side of Kharitonov's head.
Kharitonov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Beckett.
A bone on bone clash there as Beckett blocks the leg kick.
Kharitonov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Beckett. That did some damage!
Beckett fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kharitonov connects with a high kick.
Kharitonov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Beckett cracks Kharitonov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Beckett goes for a double leg but Kharitonov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kharitonov continues to drive forward.
Vladimir Kharitonov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jim Beckett.
Kharitonov with a nice cross.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jim Beckett comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Beckett has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jim Beckett!
Our winner, Jim Beckett, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.