PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Grant Harklie (ranked 4542 p4p, 4049 weight class) and Caylib Verdansk (ranked 461 p4p, 0 weight class). Verdansk has chosen Men in black as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Harklie
vs
Verdansk

177 cm
18
275
1 - 0 - 0

195 cm
20
169
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite 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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Grant Harklie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Caylib Verdansk!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Fedor Mirinova and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Verdansk plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Harklie shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Harklie is thwarting Verdansk's attempts to control the position.
Verdansk is looking to improve his position.
Verdansk is trying to stand.

Harklie is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Verdansk is just riding it out for now. Harklie eventually gives up the hold.
Verdansk trying to control but Harklie postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harklie is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Harklie really is a fat lump.
Verdansk is in trouble now - Harklie has advanced to mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harklie fails to move to back control.
Verdansk tries to buck Harklie off but he can't manage it.

Harklie jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Verdansk manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Verdansk is trying to get back to half guard.

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

Harklie is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Verdansk knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Harklie wants to take a breather but Verdansk manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Harklie.
Verdansk is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Harklie tries to free his leg and advance position but Verdansk is retaining full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Verdansk controls Harklie momentarily but Harklie frees himself.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Verdansk manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.
Harklie is trying to drag Verdansk to the mat but Verdansk just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Verdansk prevents a takedown attempt there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Verdansk gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Harklie.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Grant Harklie. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Verdansk is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Verdansk breaks from the clinch.

Harklie scores with a takedown into Verdansk's guard.
Harklie pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Verdansk is keeping the position for now.
Verdansk can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Harklie controls the pace.
Harklie won't allow Verdansk to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Harklie is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Harklie is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Verdansk is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Verdansk has escaped and now he's on top!

Harklie working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Verdansk doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Verdansk manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Harklie might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Harklie is looking for a triangle but Verdansk pushes his legs off easily.
Harklie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Harklie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Verdansk trying to stand up but can't free himself from Harklie's guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Grant Harklie will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Harklie tries to close the distance and clinch but Verdansk swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Verdansk scores with a one two! Harklie had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.

Harklie shoots in and gets a takedown into Verdansk's guard.
Harklie wants to control from the top but Verdansk keeps moving.

Harklie avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Verdansk working a defensive guard but Harklie manages to pass into side control anyway.
Verdansk is trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Harklie tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Harklie swings around for an armbar but Verdansk sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Harklie's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Harklie is adopting a defensive guard.
Grant Harklie overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Verdansk stands up from Harklie's guard - Verdansk perhaps looking for a knockout.

Harklie scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Harklie throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Verdansk trying to remain calm as Harklie controls from the top position.
Harklie has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Verdansk!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Verdansk is bucking up trying to escape but Harklie cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Harklie controlling the pace for now.

Harklie with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Harklie looking to secure an arm triangle but Verdansk defends it well.
Verdansk prevents Harklie from taking his back.
Verdansk is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Harklie working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Verdansk turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Harklie off and cradles Verdansk's limp body as Harklie celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Grant Harklie!
Grant Harklie thanked the fans post fight for their support.
In defeat, Caylib Verdansk stepped up to the mic, saying 'It was a tough fight but unfortunately one of us had to lose and I allowed it to be me. Next time I won't let this happen again and congratulations to my opponent but my next opponent won't be so lucky. '.