PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Khamzat Chimaev (ranked 4391 p4p, 5620 weight class) and Yuri Boyka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Yuri Boyka has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Khamzat Chimaev's chin.

Chimaev
vs
Boyka

190 cm
25
170
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
21
167
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Khamzat Chimaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Boyka!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boyka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
It looked like Chimaev was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.
Boyka fails with the takedown

and Chimaev counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Chimaev has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Boyka uses from the top position.
Chimaev seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Boyka working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boyka stops Chimaev from standing up.
Boyka tries to free his leg and advance position but Chimaev is retaining full guard.
Boyka postures up in Chimaev's guard and throws a big left but Chimaev blocks it.

Chimaev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Boyka can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boyka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Chimaev controlling the position.
Boyka trying to control the position from guard on top but Chimaev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Boyka tries to sprawl but Chimaev drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Boyka is looking to control Chimaev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Boyka avoid being mounted?
Chimaev content to control rather than advance.
Boyka wants to control but Chimaev is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev stops Boyka from getting back to his feet.
Boyka makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Boyka.

Boyka has his foot on Chimaev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Chimaev works his way back into a safe position though.
Chimaev is looking to stand up but Boyka won't let him.
Boyka striking off his back but it's not causing Chimaev any problems.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev stays in close to Boyka's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Boyka shoots in but no luck this time.
Boyka looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Chimaev is fending him off so far but Boyka persists. Nope, Chimaev circles away and we're back to standing.
Khamzat Chimaev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Boyka.
Boyka tries to work over Chimaev's front leg with a kick but Chimaev checks it.
Chimaev drops down looking for a counter takedown but Boyka sprawls and moves away.

Chimaev closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Boyka looks winded!
Chimaev landing strikes.
Chimaev takes a little break here. Boyka wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chimaev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Chimaev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
You can see the frustration on Boyka's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Boyka is not content to let Chimaev control the position.
Chimaev staying calm.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khamzat Chimaev dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Chimaev gets a clinch.

Chimaev breaks the clinch.
Chimaev moves out of range as Boyka throws a body kick.
Boyka goes for a double leg but Chimaev avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Chimaev continues to drive forward.
Boyka shoots for a takedown but Chimaev saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Boyka moves out of range of the body kick.

Chimaev drives through with a takedown into Boyka's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chimaev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Boyka looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Boyka has momentary wrist control but Chimaev slips an elbow through the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chimaev wants to stand but Boyka is controlling his posture from full guard.
Chimaev slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Chimaev is in close to Boyka's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Chimaev really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Chimaev would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Chimaev working some strikes from top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Chimaev looking to pass the guard.
Chimaev engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Chimaev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Boyka can do to turn this around?
Chimaev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Boyka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Chimaev stays in close to Boyka's body and controls the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Chimaev closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Chimaev lands in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyka seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Chimaev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Chimaev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Boyka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Chimaev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Chimaev stopping the sweep attempt from Boyka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Chimaev trying to stand up but can't free himself from Boyka's guard.
Boyka lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Boyka looking to sit in guard and control but Chimaev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Boyka is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Chimaev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Chimaev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Khamzat Chimaev dominated that second round.
That's time! Chimaev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Chimaev misses with a body shot.
Boyka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Boyka looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Boyka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Chimaev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Chimaev slips under a jab.
Chimaev swats away the attempt to clinch by Boyka.
Boyka throws a right hand that Chimaev ducks under and follows up with a left that Chimaev also avoids with ease.
Chimaev is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Boyka.

Chimaev shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Boyka manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chimaev is looking to advance position but Boyka has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Khamzat Chimaev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chimaev wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Boyka.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chimaev wants to control but Boyka is having none of it.
Boyka thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Chimaev 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.
Nice strikes from Boyka there.
Boyka trying to control the action but Chimaev is working from the bottom.
Boyka wants to pass the guard but Chimaev is defending well.
Chimaev wants to improve his position but Boyka is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev is working hard here to advance position.
Chimaev on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Chimaev tries to get out of the position.

Chimaev looking for submissions off his back.
Chimaev wants to get back to full guard.
Boyka trying to control from Chimaev's half guard. Chimaev has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Chimaev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boyka preventing the sweep.
Boyka tries to stand but Chimaev is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Boyka shoots in for a double leg but Chimaev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Chimaev closes the distance and pushes Boyka back into the cage.
Boyka jumps guard but Chimaev stands there with Boyka around his waist. Boyka gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Boyka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Boyka wants a takedown but no success here.
Khamzat Chimaev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Boyka.

Chimaev ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Chimaev no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Boyka is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chimaev wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Boyka accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Boyka won't allow Chimaev to sweep him here.
Boyka trying to control the position from guard on top but Chimaev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Boyka pushes down on Chimaev's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chimaev wants to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Khamzat Chimaev.
Well Chimaev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Khamzat Chimaev!