PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tom Lester (ranked 23843 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslan Chebykin (ranked 5164 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruslan Chebykin has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Tom Lester's chin.

Lester
vs
Chebykin

220 cm
25
193 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

182 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Tom Lester!
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, Ruslan Chebykin!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Chebykin closes the distance and clinches.
With the fighters up against the cage, Chebykin throws an elbow but misses.

Chebykin gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Lester regains guard.
Chebykin stopping the sweep attempt from Lester.
Lester is working hard here to advance position.

Chebykin stands up from Lester's guard - Chebykin perhaps looking for a knockout.

Chebykin shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Chebykin is trying to work for a kimura but Lester is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chebykin performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Lester wants to improve his position but Chebykin is controlling well.
Chebykin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Chebykin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Lester manages to get to full guard.
Chebykin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lester utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Chebykin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Lester is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lester wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Chebykin clinches.
Lester misses with the head strike.
Lester missing with knees to the body.
Lester misses with a punch on the inside.
Lester really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Chebykin gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.

Chebykin is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Lester doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Chebykin.

Chebykin is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Lester is just riding it out for now. Chebykin eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chebykin throwing shots but Lester is blocking nicely.
Chebykin content to control rather than advance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lester is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Chebykin dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Lester swats away the attempt to clinch by Chebykin.
Lester is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Chebykin lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Chebykin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Lester, pushing him back against the cage.
Chebykin content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Lester has Chebykin pressed against the cage, preventing Chebykin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Chebykin has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lester uses from the top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chebykin is trying to keep Lester in close.
Chebykin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Lester gets to his feet. Chebykin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Lester gets tackled into the cage by Chebykin. Chebykin maintains the clinch.
Lester scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Chebykin looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Lester throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Chebykin is trying to push Lester away but Lester has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Lester crunches a lovely knee into Chebykin's ribcage.
Chebykin tries to circle away but Lester has him pinned against the cage.
Lester unloads a knee to the mid-section. Chebykin lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Lester can't find room to land a body shot as Chebykin controls the action.
Lester working Chebykin over with knees to the body.
Chebykin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lester throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Chebykin blocks it with crossed arms.

Chebykin has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Lester uses from the top position.
Chebykin keeping moving, preventing Lester from controlling successfully.
Lester throws a strike but Chebykin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chebykin stands and throws Lester's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Chebykin tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Chebykin trying to control the action but Lester is working from the bottom.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lester tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lester is not content to let Chebykin control the position.
Lester manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Lester wants to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lester throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Chebykin keeping control of the position.

Lester decides to stand up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chebykin doesn't manage to clinch there - Lester circles away.
Ruslan Chebykin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Chebykin rushes Lester and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Lester scores a nice knee to the body.
Lester lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Chebykin wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
A frustrated look appears on Lester's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Lester putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Chebykin in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Lester breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chebykin rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lester moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Lester shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Chebykin defends it nicely.
Chebykin changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Tom Lester will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Chebykin gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Chebykin tries to land a knee to the head but Lester blocks with his arms.
Tom Lester has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Chebykin successfully pulls guard.
Lester wanted to stand there but Chebykin had control of the position.

Lester avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Lester postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lester wants to get up but he can't break Chebykin's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Lester wants to control from the top but Chebykin keeps moving.
Lester works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Chebykin trying to control but Lester postures up.
Lester lands strikes from half guard.

Chebykin is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lester pulls his head out easily.

Lester decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Chebykin throws a head kick that misses.

Lester gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Chebykin to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Lester working for submissions but it's allowed Chebykin to get to half guard.
Chebykin is trying to control the action in half guard but Lester is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Lester is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chebykin trying to control the action but Lester is working from the bottom.

Chebykin stands up out of the half guard.
Chebykin wants to clinch up but Lester keeps it at a distance.
Chebykin stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Chebykin wants it to stay on the feet.

Chebykin fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lester sprawls well initially but Chebykin persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Chebykin has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chebykin thowing shots but they're missing.
Chebykin content just to control the position here.
Lester tries to improve his position but instead Chebykin has taken his back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
I really don't envy Lester right now.
Lester turns into Chebykin and is now in his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lester throws an elbow that misses. Chebykin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lester's guard. Nice move by Chebykin!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruslan Chebykin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Chebykin 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruslan Chebykin!