PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Krylov (ranked 522 p4p, 836 weight class) and Boris Matusov (ranked 78 p4p, 117 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Krylov
vs
Matusov

180 cm
28
175
11 - 7 - 0

190 cm
30
175
26 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Good kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
Altitude Clothing

Voodoo Nutrition

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 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ivan Krylov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Boris Matusov!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Richard Clark and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Matusov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Matusov showed some decent athleticism there.
Matusov tries to pass to full mount but Krylov defends it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Krylov manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Matusov passes Krylov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Krylov wants to get back to full guard.
Krylov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Krylov.
Krylov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Matusov wants to pass the guard but Krylov is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Krylov looking for a sweep. Not yet Krylov, not yet.
Matusov wants to pass the guard but Krylov is keeping the position.
Krylov wants to sweep here but Matusov controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krylov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Matusov controls the pace.
Matusov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Krylov is keeping the position for now.
Krylov looking for a sweep. Not yet Krylov, not yet.
Matusov wants to control from the top but Krylov keeps moving.

Matusov drops back looking for a leg! Krylov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Krylov manages to kick Matusov off! Matusov jumps back into Krylov's guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Matusov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Krylov looking for a sweep. Not yet Krylov, not yet.
Krylov is trying to control the position but Matusov postures up.
Matusov trying to control the position from guard on top but Krylov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Matusov keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.

Krylov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Matusov looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Matusov gets back to half guard.
Matusov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Krylov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Krylov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Matusov is trying to control the position but Krylov postures up.
Matusov 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.

Krylov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Matusov tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Matusov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Krylov has passed into half guard!
Krylov working Matusov over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matusov wants to get back to full guard.
Krylov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Matusov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Krylov lands with a punch from half guard.
Matusov wants to get back to full guard.
Matusov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Krylov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Krylov is looking to take a break and control but Matusov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Krylov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Matusov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Krylov wants to pass to mount but Matusov is defending the position.
Krylov is nestled in close to Matusov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Krylov is pressing down on Matusov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Matusov is holding on for now.
Matusov tries to get to full guard but Krylov has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matusov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Krylov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Matusov wants to sweep here but Krylov controlling him for the moment.
Krylov wants to control from the top but Matusov keeps moving.
Krylov passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Matusov is looking to improve his position.
Krylov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Matusov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Krylov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Matusov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Matusov gets back to full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Krylov dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Krylov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Krylov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Krylov uses his free foot to push down on Matusov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Matusov.
Krylov looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Krylov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Matusov?
Matusov sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Krylov drops an elbow to the side of Matusov's head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Krylov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Krylov slips a nice elbow through Matusov's hands, connecting with Matusov's forehead.
Matusov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Matusov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Matusov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Krylov manages to get himself to full guard.

Krylov keeping moving, preventing Matusov from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krylov keeping full guard, as Matusov tries to pass.
Matusov preventing the sweep.
Matusov tries to free his leg and advance position but Krylov is retaining full guard.
Matusov is still trying to improve position.
Matusov trying to control the position from guard on top but Krylov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Matusov content to stall in guard here.
Krylov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Matusov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Krylov keeping full guard, as Matusov tries to pass.

That's two 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.
Krylov wants to sweep here but Matusov controlling him for the moment.
Krylov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Matusov can do to turn this around?
Krylov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Matusov manages to get himself to full guard.

Matusov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Krylov looking to pass the guard.

Matusov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Matusov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Krylov's guard.

Matusov wants to pass the guard but Krylov is keeping the position.
Krylov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Matusov is one step ahead there.
Matusov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Krylov's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Matusov prevents Krylov from improving his position.
Matusov tries to pass to full mount but Krylov defends it.
Krylov is trying to get back to full guard.
Matusov works his way into side control.
Krylov is looking to reverse the position.
Matusov looks up at the clock and then as Krylov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Matusov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Matusov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Krylov, who protects the arm well.
Matusov is looking to take a break and control but Krylov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Matusov wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Krylov, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matusov trying to control the action but Krylov is working from the bottom.
Krylov prevents Matusov from improving position.

Matusov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Krylov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Krylov tries to buck Matusov off but Matusov is having none of it.
Matusov throws a strike aimed at the side of Krylov's head but Krylov avoids it well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Krylov is looking for a sweep.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Ivan Krylov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Krylov scores with a takedown into Matusov's guard.
Krylov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Krylov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Krylov trying to control but Matusov is working from the bottom.

Matusov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Krylov wants to control from the top but Matusov keeps moving.
Krylov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ivan Krylov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Matusov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Matusov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Krylov defends it easily.
Krylov stands up over Matusov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Krylov trying to control but Matusov is working from the bottom.

Matusov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Krylov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Matusov wants to sweep here but Krylov controlling him for the moment.

Matusov working for a triangle but Krylov defends it easily.
Krylov stands and throws Matusov's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Matusov is looking for a sweep.
Krylov connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Matusov some visible discomfort.
Matusov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Krylov is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Krylov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Matusov is trying to get back to full guard.
Boris Matusov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Matusov looking for submissions off his back.
Matusov moves into full guard.
Matusov wants to sweep but no luck.

Matusov working for a triangle but Krylov defends it easily.

Krylov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Krylov looking to pass the guard.

Matusov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krylov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Matusov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Krylov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Krylov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Matusov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Krylov manages to get himself to full guard.

Matusov won't allow Krylov to sweep him here.
Krylov is working hard here to advance position.
Matusov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Krylov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Matusov stopping the sweep attempt from Krylov.
Krylov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Matusov's guard.

Matusov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Krylov defends it easily.
Krylov sitting in guard here, content to control.

Matusov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Krylov with a nice head shot there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Krylov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Matusov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Krylov defends it easily.
Ivan Krylov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Krylov works over Matusov with some ground and pound from 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 Ivan Krylov.
Well Krylov 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Krylov!
Ivan Krylov decided to hype himself up post fight. It was going well but he went on about it a bit too long and the crowd turned on him a little.