PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Islam Makhacevov (ranked 6939 p4p, 0 weight class) and Usain Thunder (ranked 6143 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Makhacevov
vs
Thunder

178 cm
18
186 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

168 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Islam Makhacevov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Usain Thunder!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makhacevov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Islam Makhacevov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Thunder misses with a few strikes there.
Makhacevov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Thunder gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Makhacevov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Makhacevov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Makhacevov throwing strikes but missing.

Thunder working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Makhacevov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Makhacevov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Thunder trying to keep a closed guard but Makhacevov is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Makhacevov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Thunder has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Makhacevov has managed to get both his arms back between Thunder's legs - danger averted.

Thunder looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Makhacevov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

Thunder is looking for a triangle here but Makhacevov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Makhacevov lands an elbow.
Makhacevov wants to control for a moment but Thunder uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thunder keeping hold of Makhacevov's head, controlling as best he can.
Makhacevov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Makhacevov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Makhacevov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Thunder on the ground.
Makhacevov is keen to just control but Thunder is a slippery customer.
Thunder is trying to stand up here but Makhacevov is controlling him well.
Makhacevov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makhacevov is trying to control the action in half guard but Thunder is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Makhacevov controlling the pace.
Makhacevov prevents Thunder from improving his position.
Thunder is staying active underneath Makhacevov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thunder wants to control but Makhacevov is keeping busy.

Thunder is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Makhacevov pulls his head out easily.
Makhacevov is trying to control. Thunder wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Makhacevov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Makhacevov stalling away here and it's allowed Thunder to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Makhacevov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thunder keeping moving, preventing Makhacevov from controlling successfully.
Thunder has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Thunder shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Makhacevov pinned against the cage. Makhacevov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Makhacevov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Thunder as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Islam Makhacevov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thunder shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Makhacevov but Makhacevov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Thunder looks winded!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Makhacevov scores with a takedown into Thunder's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Usain Thunder will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Makhacevov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Thunder is staying active underneath Makhacevov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nice strikes from Makhacevov there.
Makhacevov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thunder keeps working.
Thunder wants to control but Makhacevov is keeping busy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Makhacevov prevents Thunder from improving his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thunder is trying to maintain the position but Makhacevov is very close to passing his half guard.
Thunder wants to get back to full guard.
Makhacevov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Islam Makhacevov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Thunder is staying active underneath Makhacevov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Thunder tries to kick Makhacevov off but Makhacevov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Thunder throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Thunder leaves Makhacevov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Makhacevov blocks a head kick by Thunder.

Makhacevov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Makhacevov in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Thunder taking a bit of punishment here - Makhacevov scoring with strikes.
Makhacevov wants to control but Thunder is keeping him busy.
Thunder should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Makhacevov landing strikes.
Thunder tries to bench press Makhacevov off him but Makhacevov keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thunder is trying to get back to his feet.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Thunder has eaten all the pies!
Thunder is not content to let Makhacevov control the position.
Makhacevov scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Thunder to see if he's OK.
What's Thunder going to do here then? He's in a bit of a pickle.
Makhacevov in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Makhacevov creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Thunder tries to buck Makhacevov off but Makhacevov is having none of it.
Makhacevov is looking to take a break and control but Thunder is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Makhacevov lands an elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Islam Makhacevov dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Makhacevov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Thunder drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Makhacevov defends it well.
Nice sprawl there from Thunder as Makhacevov shoots in.
Thunder dives in and grabs Makhacevov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Makhacevov pushes down on Thunder's head and hops out.

Makhacevov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Makhacevov trying to control but Thunder is working from the bottom.
Thunder being controlled here, momentarily.
Makhacevov trying to control the position from guard on top but Thunder is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Thunder is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Makhacevov wants to control from the top but Thunder keeps moving.
Thunder looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thunder keeping moving, preventing Makhacevov from controlling successfully.
Thunder bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Makhacevov's guard.

Makhacevov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Makhacevov tries to get out of the position.
Thunder wanted to stand there but Makhacevov had control of the position.
Thunder preventing the sweep.
Makhacevov is trying to control the position but Thunder postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Makhacevov wants to improve his position but instead Thunder has moved into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Thunder perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Thunder works his way into full mount!
The referee warns Makhacevov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Thunder is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Makhacevov is surviving well by controlling Thunder's body position as best he can.
Thunder looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Thunder in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makhacevov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Thunder trying to control but Makhacevov is having none of it.
Thunder sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Makhacevov is in all sorts of trouble here.

Thunder swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Usain Thunder!