PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexey Juravlev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sailele Lealofi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lealofi has chosen Mata Mata Me as his entrance music. Sailele Lealofi will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Juravlev
vs
Lealofi

182 cm
30
240 lbs
17 - 6 - 0

199 cm
29
255 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Fast

Max Octane Fight Wear

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 17 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Juravlev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sailele Lealofi!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Phil Schofield and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lealofi tries to clinch up.

Lealofi looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Lealofi is pressing down on Juravlev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Juravlev is holding on for now.
Lealofi trying to control the action but Juravlev is working from the bottom.
Juravlev definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Juravlev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Lealofi seems to be working for a kimura but Juravlev defends the submission attempt.
My spies in Holding Cell inform me that Lealofi has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Juravlev on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Juravlev tries to get out of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lealofi stalling.
Lealofi is pressing down on Juravlev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Juravlev is holding on for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lealofi is working for a submission of some sort.
Juravlev is looking for a sweep. Lealofi is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lealofi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Juravlev looks like he's trying to stand up.
Lealofi seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Juravlev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Juravlev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Lealofi trying to control from Juravlev's half guard. Juravlev has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Lealofi passes into half guard.

That's two 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.
Juravlev tries to kick Lealofi off but Lealofi keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Juravlev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lealofi on the ground.
Juravlev is holding on to half guard well.
Lealofi trying to control from half guard but Juravlev is working away.
Well, if Lealofi is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Lealofi is pressing down on Juravlev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Juravlev is holding on for now.
Lealofi prevents Juravlev from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lealofi is looking to stall here but Juravlev recovers full guard.
Lealofi tries to free his leg and advance position but Juravlev is retaining full guard.

Juravlev pushes Lealofi off and gets back to his feet.
Lealofi moves out of range as Juravlev strikes.
Lealofi uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Juravlev.
Lealofi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Juravlev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Lealofi somewhat.
Juravlev just misses with a punch to the body.
Lealofi shoots in and drives through. Juravlev sprawls well.
Lealofi tries to close the distance and clinch but Juravlev swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lealofi is looking to clinch but Juravlev is avoiding it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Juravlev throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Alexey Juravlev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lealofi is defended easily by Juravlev.
Alexey Juravlev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sailele Lealofi.
Juravlev misses with a hook

and Lealofi counters with a nice double leg into side control. Juravlev won't be happy with that.

Juravlev bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lealofi doesn't manage to clinch there - Juravlev circles away.
A quick step to the side and Juravlev tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lealofi misses with a takedown attempt - Juravlev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
It looked like Juravlev wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

Lealofi closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Juravlev is controlling Lealofi's trapped leg to prevent Lealofi from advancing to side control.
Lealofi passes to full mount!
Lealofi controlling from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexey Juravlev dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Juravlev throws a shot to the body.
Lealofi steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Juravlev.
Lealofi let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Juravlev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lealofi can do to turn this around?
Juravlev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Lealofi.
Alexey Juravlev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lealofi fails in his attempt to clinch.
No luck for Lealofi with that takedown attempt.
Lealofi avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lealofi shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Juravlev but Juravlev pushes him off and we're back to square one.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lealofi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Juravlev sprawls well. Juravlev wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lealofi gets slowly back to his feet.
Alexey Juravlev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sailele Lealofi.
Juravlev loads up on a big right hand but Lealofi slips the punch.
Lealofi looks for a takedown but Juravlev sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Juravlev scores with a decent looking hook.
Lealofi on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Juravlev dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Juravlev swings for the body but Lealofi moves out of range.

Juravlev gets caught flat footed, as Lealofi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Juravlev manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Juravlev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Juravlev ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Lealofi is breathing heavily.
Juravlev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Juravlev lands a big right hand that sends Lealofi crashing to the mat! Juravlev stays standing though and waves Lealofi back to his feet!
Juravlev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lealofi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Lealofi forces Juravlev back against the cage and clinches.
Juravlev dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Juravlev.
Juravlev is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Juravlev gets through Lealofi's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
A right hand to the body from Juravlev.

Juravlev breaks the clinch.
Juravlev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Lealofi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Juravlev as he jumps to the side.
Lealofi with a poor takedown

and Juravlev counters with a nice right hand that sends Lealofi toppling to the canvas! Lealofi scrambles and gets back to his feet - can Juravlev finish him?!

Lealofi is rocked!
Juravlev lands a brutal uppercut that launches Lealofi off his feet! Lealofi tumbles to the floor, barely conscious - the referee jumps in to save him from a beating! Wow, what an ending!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:44 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Alexey Juravlev!
Alexey Juravlev decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
Sailele Lealofi was interviewed post fight and said 'I will come back stronger.'.