PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Timur Rubin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cyril Makarenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Rubin
vs
Makarenko

190 cm
32
256 lbs
31 - 12 - 1

194 cm
32
246 lbs
31 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hellbent
Sully's Bar & Grill

Sully's Bar & Grill
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Timur Rubin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 31 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Cyril Makarenko!
The judges for this bout are Chris Edwards, James Atkins and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rubin throws a series of punches but Makarenko moves out of range.
Makarenko looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rubin digs a good hook to Makarenko's body.
Makarenko scores with a kick to the midsection.
Makarenko throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Rubin motions for Makarenko to come forward. Rubin throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Rubin lands with an uppercut that bounces Makarenko off the cage and back into range.
Makarenko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rubin.
Makarenko throws out a counter right but Rubin avoids it with no problem.
Nice shot by Rubin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makarenko takes a shot to the body in his stride.
A slow jab from Rubin misses its intended target.

Rubin bobbing and weaving well here. And he's unloaded with a massive right hand that drops Makarenko! He dives into his guard looking to finish!

Makarenko is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubin wants to control from the top but Makarenko keeps moving.
Rubin wants to pass the guard but Makarenko is keeping the position.
Rubin trying to control the position from guard on top but Makarenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Makarenko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Makarenko kicks Rubin off and gets to his feet.

Rubin cracks Makarenko with an uppercut from hell and Makarenko crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Rubin's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Makarenko controls Rubin momentarily but Rubin frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Makarenko lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Rubin keeping moving, preventing Makarenko from controlling successfully.
Rubin has Makarenko pulled in close to control his posture.
Makarenko stopping the sweep attempt from Rubin.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Rubin is on top in guard.

Rubin throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubin scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rubin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Makarenko is keeping the position for now.

Makarenko wriggles free and stands up.
Rubin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Makarenko takes the fight into the clinch.
Rubin blocking some punches.
Makarenko blocks an uppercut.
Rubin lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubin blocks an elbow strike from Makarenko.
Makarenko tries to work over Rubin's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Makarenko blocks an uppercut.
Makarenko lands a nice uppercut.
Rubin scores with a shoulder strike.
Rubin stalling in the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rubin blocks an uppercut.
Rubin is working for takedown but Makarenko is calmly controlling the position for now.
Rubin gets through Makarenko's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Makarenko misses with the head strike.
Rubin throws a head punch that misses.
Rubin working aggressively here.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Rubin creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Rubin tries to throw a body punch but Makarenko avoids it by throwing Rubin back against the cage.
Rubin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Makarenko backwards.
Makarenko lands a damaging elbow.
A short right from Makarenko on the inside.
Makarenko tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rubin's elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Makarenko tries to work over Rubin's front leg with a kick but Rubin checks it.
Makarenko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Makarenko throws a lazy head kick

and Rubin counters with a single leg into guard. Makarenko didn't expect that.
Rubin wants to control from the top but Makarenko keeps moving.
Rubin postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rubin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Rubin with a nice head shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rubin wants to control from the top but Makarenko keeps moving.
Timur Rubin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Rubin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Makarenko working a defensive guard here.
Makarenko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rubin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Rubin's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Rubin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rubin seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Makarenko for as long as he can get away with.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Makarenko takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Makarenko throws a looping overhand right but Rubin ducks down to avoid it.
A swing and a miss from Rubin.
Makarenko moves forwards but Rubin connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Cyril Makarenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Rubin darts in looking for a takedown but Makarenko gets double underhooks and turns Rubin into the cage.
Makarenko throws a front kick that sends Rubin stumbling back into the cage.
Rubin checks a leg kick.
Makarenko throws a nice outside leg kick.
Makarenko throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makarenko stuns Rubin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Makarenko fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rubin has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Timur Rubin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Makarenko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Makarenko misses with a two punch combination.
Rubin changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Rubin looks to score with a jab to the body but Makarenko is just out of range.
Rubin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Makarenko finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Rubin gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rubin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Makarenko can do to turn this around?
Makarenko scores with a leg kick.
Makarenko lands with an uppercut that bounces Rubin off the cage and back into range.
Rubin looks to score with a jab to the body but Makarenko is just out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubin misses with a lunging right hand
and Makarenko counters with a body kick that stops Rubin in his tracks momentarily.
Makarenko fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rubin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Makarenko looks to score with a jab to the body but Rubin is just out of range.
The fighters circle momentarily. Makarenko darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Rubin lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Makarenko has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Makarenko and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Makarenko looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Timur Rubin is winning the standup battle so far.
Rubin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Makarenko.
Makarenko looks for the body kick but Rubin saw that one coming.
Rubin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Makarenko.
Despite the aggression on Makarenko's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A shot to the liver by Rubin. Beautiful body shot.
Rubin misses with a lunging right hand
letting Makarenko counter with a right hand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyril Makarenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rubin just misses with a punch to the body.
Makarenko throws out a powerful jab.
Makarenko throws a shot from downtown. Rubin moves away and avoids it.
Makarenko slips under a jab from Rubin.
Rubin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Makarenko moves away.
A jab lands there for Rubin.
Rubin looks to score with a jab to the body but Makarenko is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makarenko moves out of range of the strikes.
Makarenko turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Makarenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makarenko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Rubin scores with a leg kick.
Makarenko tries to clinch but Rubin moves out of range.
Rubin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Makarenko tries to clinch there but Rubin circles away.
Rubin avoids the head kick by Makarenko.
Rubin lands a nice looking body shot.
Rubin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Makarenko throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Rubin stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Makarenko moves out of range of the body kick from Rubin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubin takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
A nice leg kick lands there from Makarenko.
Makarenko lands a front kick.
Rubin throws out a loose jab but Makarenko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rubin shoots and misses
and Makarenko counters with a right hand to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rubin takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A decent looking cross lands there for Makarenko.
Rubin throws a shot from downtown. Makarenko moves away and avoids it.
Makarenko throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Rubin.
Good leg kick by Rubin there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makarenko slips a jab and a cross from Rubin.
Makarenko throws a push kick but Rubin slaps the foot to one side.
Makarenko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rubin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rubin half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Rubin swings widly with a right hand
letting Makarenko counter with a right hand.
Makarenko fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Rubin checks it well.
Rubin drops down looking for a counter takedown but Makarenko sprawls and moves away.
Rubin walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Makarenko scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Rubin throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Rubin throws a jab when Makarenko was well out of range.
Makarenko appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rubin misses with an uppercut.
Makarenko appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Makarenko tries to clinch but Rubin moves out of range.
Makarenko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rubin throws out the jab.
Makarenko appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Makarenko throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Nice shot by Makarenko.
Rubin looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Rubin moves to clinch but Makarenko breaks away
and Makarenko counters with a solid body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Makarenko looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Makarenko fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rubin on the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyril Makarenko really dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Rubin fails with the takedown.
Makarenko misses with a kick to the body

and Rubin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Rubin.
Rubin wants to control from the top but Makarenko keeps moving.
Rubin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Makarenko wants to sweep here but Rubin controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makarenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Makarenko has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Rubin off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makarenko throws a nice head kick!
Rubin avoids a kick to the body.
Rubin throws a lazy right hand but Makarenko sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Makarenko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Makarenko fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Rubin throws a nice looking combination but Makarenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Makarenko dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Makarenko is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Rubin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Despite the aggression on Makarenko's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Rubin takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Rubin lunges at Makarenko with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Makarenko's hand.
Rubin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Makarenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Rubin.
Rubin slips under a jab.
Makarenko defending well as Rubin loads up on a big left hand.
Rubin scores with a crisp jab that stopped Makarenko in his tracks.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Makarenko lands a nice hook to Rubin's body. Rubin takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Rubin throws a right hand that misses
and Makarenko makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubin loads up on a big right hand but Makarenko slips the punch.
Makarenko pushes Rubin away with a front kick.
Makarenko fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Makarenko lands a nice shot to the body.
Makarenko lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rubin takes a step back to recover.
Makarenko throws a quick inside leg kick.
Makarenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Makarenko fails in his attempt to clinch.
Makarenko throws a wild body kick that Rubin sees coming a mile off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makarenko cracks the inside of Rubin's front leg.
Makarenko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Some bone on bone action there as Makarenko checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Makarenko misses with a kick to the body.
Rubin is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Makarenko dodges the punch combination from Rubin.
Makarenko is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Rubin with a body shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Makarenko slips under a jab from Rubin.
Makarenko misses with a straight left.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cyril Makarenko dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Makarenko moves into range and connects with a jab.
Makarenko keeps Rubin at a distance using the push kick.
Makarenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Rubin is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Rubin blocks a head kick by Makarenko.
Rubin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Rubin tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Makarenko connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makarenko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Rubin throws out the jab.
Rubin scores with a nice right hand.
Makarenko fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makarenko misses with a kick to the body

and Rubin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Makarenko's guard.
Makarenko is still in real trouble! Can Rubin finish him?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rubin working some strikes from top position.
Makarenko wants to stand up but Rubin is controlling him.
Makarenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Makarenko wants to sweep here but Rubin controlling him for the moment.
Makarenko seems to have recovered his senses.
Rubin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rubin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Timur Rubin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rubin trying to control the position from guard on top but Makarenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rubin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rubin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Makarenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Rubin.
Makarenko moves out of range as Rubin strikes.
Rubin closes the distance but Makarenko moves to the side
enabling Makarenko to counter with a crisp jab.
Makarenko throws a leg kick but Rubin moved away.
Rubin misses with a lunging right hand
and Makarenko counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makarenko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rubin slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Makarenko tries to clinch but Rubin moves out of range.
Rubin changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
A thudding body kick lands there by Makarenko!
Rubin missing with a left hand there. Makarenko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Makarenko feints a counter leg kick.
Makarenko lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Rubin's legs have taken a beating and he's really slowing down as a result.
Makarenko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Rubin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
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.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Rubin.
Rubin gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Makarenko.
Makarenko uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Rubin.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Makarenko! But no joy.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rubin. Makarenko does a little dance to reset his feet.
Cyril Makarenko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Makarenko gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Rubin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Makarenko is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Makarenko connects with an inside leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A swing and a miss from Rubin.
Makarenko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Cyril Makarenko.
I think Makarenko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Chris Edwards scores the fight 46:49
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 47:49
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Cyril Makarenko!
Cyril Makarenko is the new heavyweight champion!
An out of breath Cyril Makarenko thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.