PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Putin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michal Werdum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michal Werdum has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Vladimir Putin's chin.

Putin
vs
Werdum

175 cm
25
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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, Vladimir Putin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Michal Werdum!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Werdum rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Putin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Werdum throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Werdum fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Werdum looks to land a combination but Putin avoids it well.
Putin slips a jab and a cross from Werdum.
Werdum tests Putin's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Werdum moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Werdum scores with a jab. Putin acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Putin is rocked!
Werdum throws a right hand that Putin ducks under and follows up with a left that Putin also avoids with ease.
Werdum fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Werdum throws a series of punches but Putin moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd cheers as Werdum lands an impressive looking overhand right. Putin doesn't seem phased though.
Oh Putin is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Werdum lands the left hand.
Putin ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Putin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Putin takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Putin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Werdum.
Putin looks for a takedown but Werdum sprawls well.
Putin seems to have got his legs back now.

Werdum lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Putin sprawling to the canvas. Werdum follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Putin hang on?
This has been an exciting period of action!
Werdum controlling the action here.
Putin is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Putin is working hard here to advance position.
Putin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Putin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Werdum trying to control the position from guard on top but Putin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Putin wants to sweep here but Werdum controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Werdum takes a swing at Putin's ribcage but misses.
Putin takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Werdum misses with a wild combination.
Werdum lands a jab to the nose.
Putin moves away from the strike by Werdum.
Michal Werdum is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Werdum throws a one two combo.
Werdum looks winded!
Werdum lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Werdum.
Werdum fails to land with a series of punches.
Werdum slaps away a takedown attempt from Putin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Putin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Putin looks for a takedown but Werdum sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Putin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Werdum misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Werdum throws a right and a left that Putin avoids nicely.
No joy there for Werdum, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Werdum throws a left and a right that both miss

and Putin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Werdum's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michal Werdum dominated that round.
That's time! Putin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Putin cracks Werdum with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Nice shot by Werdum.
Werdum throws a right and a left that Putin avoids nicely.
Putin misses with a straight right.
Nice sprawl there from Werdum as Putin shoots in.
Werdum lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Werdum lands a jab followed by a vicious hook that sends Putin sprawling to the canvas. Werdum follows him down, looking for the kill. Can Putin hang on?
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!
Putin trying to control from the bottom.
Werdum has decided to stand back up but his arm is trapped. Whilst he's worrying about his arm, Putin works to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Putin looking for a sweep. Not yet Putin, not yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Putin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Werdum looking to pass the guard.
Werdum stays in close to Putin's body and controls the position.
Werdum trying to control the position from guard on top but Putin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Werdum is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Werdum must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

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.
Putin trying to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Putin fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A left and a right from Werdum both land. Nice combination.
Good standup being displayed there by Werdum as he connects with a hook.
Werdum lands with an overhand left.
Werdum feints a jab promting Putin to slip. Werdum then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Putin slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Werdum wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Werdum throws a right hand that Putin ducks under and follows up with a left that Putin also avoids with ease.
Putin is looking for a counter combo.
Werdum has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Werdum tries to bum rush Putin with a series of wild strikes but Putin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Werdum throws a right hand that Putin ducks under and follows up with a left that Putin also avoids with ease.
Michal Werdum seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Werdum takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Vladimir Putin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Werdum fails to land with a series of punches.
Putin lands with a kick to the ribs.
Werdum slaps away a takedown attempt from Putin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Putin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Werdum shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Putin eats them both and turns towards Werdum to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Putin lands a head kick. Werdum smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Werdum closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Putin closes the distance and clinches.

Werdum pulls Putin into guard.
Putin is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Putin stands up over Werdum, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michal Werdum showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Putin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Werdum throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Putin.
A slapping body kick lands there for Putin.
Werdum misses with a double jab
and Putin cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
A combination from Werdum does no damage.
Werdum scores with a one two! Putin had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Putin fails to land the takedown.
Werdum blocks a head kick by Putin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Werdum swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Werdum works over Putin's head and body with a nice combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Werdum throws a series of punches but Putin avoids them all with ease.
This has been an exciting period of action!
No luck for Putin with that takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A right-left combo lands from Werdum.

Putin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Putin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Werdum keeps working.
Putin looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Werdum tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Putin trying to control the action but Werdum is working from the bottom.
Putin creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Putin controlling the position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Werdum can do anything to dispel that myth.

Putin is trying to get an arm triangle but Werdum is defending well.
Werdum controls the position for a moment.
Werdum has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
You can see the frustration on Werdum's face as Putin controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Putin misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Putin controls the position from side control.
Werdum tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Werdum defending against the ground and pound.
Putin wants to control but Werdum is keeping him busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Putin blocks a jab.
Werdum throws a combination that misses
and Putin counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Werdum thinking.
Putin lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Putin throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Werdum was covering up waiting for the punch and Putin finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Werdum is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Putin is controlling him.
Vladimir Putin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Putin passes Werdum's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Michal Werdum.
I've got Werdum winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michal Werdum!