PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tank Tankersley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bugurt Bugurtov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tank Tankersley has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Tankersley
vs
Bugurtov

200 cm
24
260 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
21
280 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tank Tankersley!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bugurt Bugurtov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Dmitry Maklakov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tankersley throws a combination that misses

and Bugurtov counters with a shoot takedown. Tankersley fights it but they end up in 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.
Bugurtov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tankersley works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Bugurtov won't allow Tankersley to sweep him here.
Bugurtov throwing strikes from guard but Tankersley blocks nicely.
Bugurtov stays in close to Tankersley's body and controls the position.
Tankersley working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Bugurtov.
Tankersley utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tankersley keeping moving, preventing Bugurtov from controlling successfully.
Bugurtov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tankersley's head.
Bugurtov told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Tankersley knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Bugurtov on the ground.
Tankersley wants to stand up but Bugurtov is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bugurtov distracts Tankersley with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tankersley wants to stand up but Bugurtov is controlling him.
Bugurtov working some strikes from top position.
Bugurtov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bugurtov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bugurtov won't allow Tankersley to get back to his feet.
Bugurtov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
That kick from Bugurtov tenderised Tankersley's leg. Tankersley is trying to keep his angry face on.
Tankersley misses with a wild body shot.
Bugurtov throws a counter combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bugurtov scores with a nice body kick.
Tankersley throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Bugurtov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bugurtov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bugurtov thows a huge punch but Tankersley dodges it nicely.
Tankersley has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Bugurtov prevents Tankersley from improving his position.

Bugurtov 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.
Bugurtov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bugurtov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Tankersley on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Bugurtov is trying to control. Tankersley wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tankersley won't allow Bugurtov to pass to mount.
Bugurtov stops Tankersley from getting back to his feet.
Bugurtov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Tankersley wants to get back to full guard.
Bugurtov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bugurtov throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Tankersley to regain full guard.
Bugurtov stays in close to Tankersley's body and controls the position.
Bugurtov preventing the sweep.
Tankersley wants to get back to his feet but Bugurtov passes into half guard.
Bugurtov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Bugurtov lands a nice short elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bugurt Bugurtov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bugurtov works the jab nicely.
Left hook, right uppercut from Bugurtov.

It looks like Tank Tankersley has been cut.
Tankersley takes one on the button.
Bugurtov's jab looks to have found its range, popping Tankersley under the eye.
Bugurtov scores with a leg kick.
Tank Tankersley is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tankersley stuffs the takedown.
Tankersley tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Bugurtov moves out of range of the body kick from Tankersley.
Bugurtov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Bugurtov lands the left hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bugurtov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Bugurt Bugurtov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Bugurtov looks to land a combination. Tankersley sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

Tankersley tries to sprawl but Bugurtov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Bugurtov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ground and pound from Bugurtov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Bugurtov there.
Bugurtov trying to control from half guard but Tankersley is working away.
Tankersley on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tankersley tries to get out of the position.
Bugurtov throwing shots but Tankersley is blocking nicely.
Tankersley wants to stand back up but Bugurtov manages to pass into side control.
Tankersley is trying to improve his position.
Bugurt Bugurtov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tankersley on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Bugurtov is staying tight to Tankersley's torso, preventing him from escaping.

Bugurtov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Tankersley is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bugurtov grinds an elbow into Tankersley's temple.
Bugurtov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Tankersley down.
Bugurtov lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Bugurtov trying to control the action but Tankersley is working from the bottom.
Bugurtov lands a nice forearm strike.
Bugurtov cracks Tankersley with a big elbow. Oh, he's hurt! Bugurtov immediately mounts and start dropping bombs! Tankersley is done! The referee jumps in and saves him from any more punishment - a quick and decisive finish by Bugurtov!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Bugurt Bugurtov!
In his post fight interview, Bugurt Bugurtov started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.