PBP Commentary

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

Pugh
vs
Podarov

152 cm
18
278 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

183 cm
25
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Luke Pugh!
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, Alex Podarov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Podarov feints and as Pugh raises his hands in defense, Podarov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Podarov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pugh is keeping the position for now.
Pugh could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Podarov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Podarov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Pugh escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Podarov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Podarov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pugh is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Podarov is controlling him.
Podarov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Podarov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Pugh to the mat! Pugh manages to get full guard.
Podarov throwing strikes but missing.
Podarov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Pugh not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Podarov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Podarov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Pugh's guard.
Pugh wants to get back to his feet but Podarov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Podarov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Podarov stops Pugh from standing up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Podarov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Podarov showed some decent athleticism there.
Podarov moves nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Podarov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Podarov remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Pugh tries to escape but Podarov is in control.
Pugh struggling a bit here.
Podarov working the head with strikes.

That's four 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.
Pugh tries to buck Podarov off but Podarov is having none of it.
A control attempt from Pugh but he's now mounted!
Pugh really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Podarov working the ground and pound effectively.
Pugh sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Podarov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Podarov is trying to work for a kimura but Pugh is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Podarov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Pugh tries to clinch but Podarov moves out of range.
Pugh looks for a takedown but Podarov sprawls well.
Pugh closes the distance but Podarov moves to the side
and Podarov counters with a right hand to the body.
Podarov throws a push kick but Pugh slaps the foot to one side.

Podarov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pugh manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Podarov is working Pugh over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Podarov forces his way into half guard.
Podarov stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pugh is trying to stand back up but Podarov is controlling him
Podarov works his way into full mount!
Pugh's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Pugh throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Podarov controlling the position easily from mount.
Podarov raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Podarov controlling the position easily from mount.
Podarov landing strikes from the mount.
Podarov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Podarov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Pugh defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Podarov.
Podarov putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Podarov content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Podarov tries to stand up but he's trapped just for the moment.
Pugh might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Pugh tries to hold on but Podarov postures up.
Podarov cracks Pugh with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Podarov looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Podarov connects with a bit shot that sees Pugh covering up! More strikes from Podarov and the referee jumps in to stop the fight! Podarov is our winner by TKO!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alex Podarov!