PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aleksander Rykov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Piet Kriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Rykov
vs
Kriel

183 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

171 cm
25
195 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksander Rykov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Piet Kriel!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Vladimir Khabensky and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kriel shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rykov's guard.
Rykov is looking to stand back up but Kriel counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Rykov.

Kriel trying to control from half guard but Rykov is working away.
Rykov pushes Kriel off but Kriel dives into side control.
Kriel trying to control the position but Rykov is working away.
Rykov tries to improve position but can't.
Rykov can't do much from the bottom here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kriel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rykov keeps working.
Rykov throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Rykov prevents Kriel from moving into mount.
Kriel should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kriel is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Rykov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rykov is looking to regain half guard here but Kriel keeps moving and retains side control.
Kriel trying to control the position but Rykov is working away.
Rykov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rykov is trying to work for a sweep but Kriel has mounted him!
Rykov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kriel working Rykov over with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kriel thowing shots but they're missing.
Kriel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rykov is looking to escape.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kriel blocks Rykov's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Rykov manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Kriel keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Rykov is in trouble now - Kriel has advanced to mount!
Kriel working Rykov over with strikes here.
Rykov is trying to escape the mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kriel thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Rykov manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Kriel thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rykov's head.

Rykov looking for submissions off his back.
Rykov is breathing heavily.
Kriel seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rykov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kriel content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Kriel wants to control but Rykov is keeping him busy.

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.
Rykov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kriel works his foot free and advances to mount.
Rykov looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Kriel sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Kriel prevents Rykov from getting the reversal.
Rykov is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kriel cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Kriel thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Kriel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rykov is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kriel closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kriel lands in his opponent's guard.
Kriel pushes down on Rykov's leg and manages to get into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Rykov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rykov is looking to get back to is feet but Kriel passes into side control.
Kriel advances to mount.
Kriel wants to control the pace but Rykov is squirming around nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kriel controlling from mount.
Kriel looking to finish with strikes here!
Rykov regains half guard.
Kriel has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kriel lands a nice short elbow.
Nice strikes from Kriel there.
Piet Kriel has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kriel is keen to just control but Rykov is a slippery customer.
Kriel content to control rather than advance.
Kriel wants to control but Rykov is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rykov is defending against the submission attempts here by Kriel.

Rykov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rykov gets back to full guard.

Rykov throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Kriel escapes and throws Rykov's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Rykov stops Kriel from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kriel controlling from side mount.
Check out the look on Kriel's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Rykov wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Kriel trying to control the action but Rykov is working from the bottom.

Kriel is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rykov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kriel trying to control the action but Rykov is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kriel is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Rykov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kriel's best efforts.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kriel throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Rykov looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Piet Kriel showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Kriel shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kriel was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rykov tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Rykov rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Kriel stops Rykov from getting back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kriel is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Rykov is looking to get back to full guard here but Kriel has managed to pass to side control instead.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rykov stops Kriel from passing to mount.
Rykov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kriel wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Rykov wants to control but Kriel postures up.
Rykov is not content to let Kriel control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kriel works to advance to full mount. Rykov defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Rykov is desperately trying to improve his position but Kriel has a good base and remains in mount.
Rykov is just holding on here. Kriel manages to take his back.
Kriel struggling to land strikes to the head as Rykov covers up.

Rykov has hold of Kriel's leg, trying to break free but it's let Kriel lock up a rear naked choke! This could be big trouble! Rykov is turning an unusual color here… he's out! Kriel throws him to one side and jumps onto the cage to celebrate with his fans.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Piet Kriel!