PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Garik Harlamov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and El Loco (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). El Loco will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Harlamov
vs
Loco

206 cm
40
275 lbs
39 - 18 - 1

205 cm
40
275 lbs
32 - 22 - 1

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Sun-Tzu

Gentlemens Laundry - 10 %
Sun-Tzu

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 39 - 18 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Garik Harlamov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 22 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, El Loco!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Harlamov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Loco sprawls well. Loco wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Harlamov gets slowly back to his feet.

Loco clinches with his opponent.
Loco lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Loco prevents the takedown attempt.

Loco's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Loco gets a takedown into half guard.
Loco is looking to advance position but Harlamov won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Harlamov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Well, if Loco 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.

Harlamov with the active half guard here but Loco passes nicely into side control.
Harlamov is looking to regain half guard here but Loco keeps moving and retains side control.
Loco tries to stand but Harlamov is controlling his head.
Loco is looking to take a break and control but Harlamov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Loco moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

That's two 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.
Loco is looking to take a break and control but Harlamov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Loco working away.
Harlamov gets back to half guard.

Harlamov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harlamov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Loco pulls his head out easily.
Harlamov wants to control but Loco is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Harlamov actively working from the bottom here.

Harlamov actively working from the bottom here.
Loco wants to stand up but Harlamov is controlling the position.
Loco is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Harlamov looking for submissions off his back.

Harlamov looking for subs from the bottom but Loco mounts him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harlamov regains half guard.
Loco looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Harlamov tries to get to full guard but Loco has control of the leg.

Harlamov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Harlamov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harlamov manages to get to full guard.
Loco trying to control the position from guard on top but Harlamov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

El Loco dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Harlamov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Harlamov showed some decent athleticism there.

Loco is defending against the submission attempts here by Harlamov.
Loco regains full guard. Nicely done.
Loco wants to stand but Harlamov is controlling the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Loco is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Loco controlling the action here for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Loco breaks from the clinch.
Loco gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Harlamov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Loco won't be happy with that.
Harlamov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Loco struggling a bit here.

Harlamov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
You can see the frustration on Loco's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harlamov cracks Loco with a big elbow.
Harlamov in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Harlamov lands a nice forearm strike.
Loco gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Harlamov with the ground and pound but Loco uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Loco is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Harlamov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Loco has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Harlamov has managed to get both his arms back between Loco's legs - danger averted.
Harlamov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Loco's head.
We've been hearing that Harlamov has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Loco is looking for a triangle but Harlamov pushes his legs off easily.
Loco is trying to control the position from the bottom.
El Loco has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Harlamov is looking to work some ground and pound but Loco has wrist control.
Harlamov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Harlamov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Loco tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Harlamov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Loco controls Harlamov momentarily but Harlamov frees himself.
Harlamov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Loco's head.
Harlamov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Harlamov is working Loco over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Harlamov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Harlamov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Loco's head.
Harlamov connects with a couple of short punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harlamov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Harlamov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Loco looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Harlamov trying to control but Loco is working from the bottom.
Harlamov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Harlamov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Loco looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Loco keeping full guard, as Harlamov tries to pass.

Loco escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Harlamov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Loco throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Garik Harlamov dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Loco lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Harlamov at a distance.
Harlamov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Loco circles away.
El Loco seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Loco doesn't manage to clinch there - Harlamov circles away.
Harlamov feinted with a counter takedown.
No luck for Loco with that takedown attempt.
Loco leaves Harlamov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Harlamov is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Loco shoots for a takedown but Harlamov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Harlamov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Loco tries to avoid it but Harlamov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Loco to the ground. Loco escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garik Harlamov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Harlamov gets a takedown into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Loco keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Harlamov looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Harlamov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Loco with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Loco wants to control but Harlamov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Harlamov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Harlamov is thwarting Loco's attempts to control the position.
Harlamov lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Harlamov is working for a submission of some sort.
Loco wants to control but Harlamov is keeping busy.
Harlamov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Loco is positioning himself well to prevent Harlamov advancing to mount.
Loco looks like he's trying to stand up.
Ground and pound from Harlamov.
Harlamov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harlamov is working for a kimura but Loco is defending it quite comfortably.
Loco on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Harlamov wants to work for an arm triangle but Loco is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Harlamov is stalling here. Loco is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Harlamov seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Loco has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Harlamov tries to bench press Loco off him but Loco keeps the position.
Harlamov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Loco trying to control from Harlamov's half guard. Harlamov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

Harlamov is working an open guard so Loco takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harlamov darts in looking for a takedown but Loco gets double underhooks and turns Harlamov into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Loco throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Harlamov was covering up waiting for the punch and Loco finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Loco got a little sloppy there for a moment and Harlamov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Loco has managed to get both his arms back between Harlamov's legs - danger averted.
Harlamov is trying to keep Loco in close.
Harlamov keeping moving, preventing Loco from controlling successfully.

Harlamov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Harlamov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Garik Harlamov did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Loco fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Harlamov, pushing him back against the cage.
Loco wants to take the fight to the mat but Harlamov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Loco stops a takedown attempt from Harlamov.
Harlamov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Loco is defending well.

Loco pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Loco shoots in and drives through. Harlamov sprawls well.

Harlamov feints and as Loco raises his hands in defense, Harlamov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Loco pushes Harlamov off and scrambles back to his feet.
Harlamov shoots in for a takedown but Loco shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Garik Harlamov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Loco clinches with his opponent.
Harlamov managing to block the knees to the body from Loco.

Loco breaks the clinch.
Loco stuffs the takedown attempt from Harlamov. Harlamov gets slowly back to his feet.
No luck for Loco with that takedown attempt.
Loco fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Loco fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Loco fails in his attempt to clinch.
Loco moves to clinch but Harlamov breaks away

and Harlamov counters with a shoot takedown. Loco fights it but they end up in guard.
Loco not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Harlamov looking to sit in guard and control but Loco gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Loco tries to stand but Harlamov is controlling from the bottom.
Harlamov can't keep his opponent in guard - Loco advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Loco decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Loco.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Loco decides to stand back up.
A big right from Loco misses.
Harlamov drops down looking for a counter takedown but Loco sprawls and moves away.

Harlamov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Loco kicks Harlamov off and gets back to his feet.
Loco wants to clinch.
Loco has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Harlamov is landing a low percentage of strikes.

Harlamov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Harlamov is looking for a kimura here.
Harlamov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Loco trying to hold on to Harlamov's head to control him but Harlamov postures up.
Harlamov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

El Loco dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - 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.

Loco closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Loco seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Harlamov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Harlamov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Loco.

Loco wants to work for an arm triangle but Harlamov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Harlamov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Loco is working away from the top position though.

Harlamov looking for submissions off his back.
Harlamov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Loco is working away from the top position though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harlamov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Loco pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Loco is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Harlamov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Loco.
Loco throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Harlamov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Harlamov actively working from the bottom here.
Loco is keen to just control but Harlamov is a slippery customer.

Loco decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's two 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.

Loco shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Harlamov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Loco pulls his head out easily.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
It looks like Loco is going to stand back up.

Harlamov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Harlamov trying to control but Loco postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Loco is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Harlamov sees it coming and defends easily.

Loco moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Harlamov.
Loco wants to lay and pray for a moment but Harlamov keeps working.
Harlamov tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Loco easily slips into full mount!
Harlamov tries to hold on but Loco pushes him away.
Harlamov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Loco tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Harlamov wants to hold on but Loco pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Loco tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Loco unloads with some shots from mount but Harlamov bucks and avoids them well.
Harlamov is trying desperately to improve position.

Harlamov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Loco.
Harlamov tries to hold on but Loco pushes him away.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Harlamov is desperately trying to improve his position but Loco has a good base and remains in mount.
Loco avoids the attempt from Harlamov to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
El Loco comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Loco 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 47:48
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 47:48
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... El Loco!
El Loco is the new super heavyweight champion!
El Loco managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Gentlemens Laundry - 10 %, into his post fight interview.