PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Carl Ernst (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alik Mikhailov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alik Mikhailov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Ernst
vs
Mikhailov

150 cm
19
138 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

183 cm
18
144 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Carl Ernst!
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, Alik Mikhailov!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Valeri Chadov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mikhailov throws a leg kick but Ernst sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Ernst shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Ernst looking for a guillotine from mount but Mikhailov is having none of it.
The referee warns Mikhailov that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Mikhailov is rocked!

It looks like Alik Mikhailov has been cut.
Mikhailov regains half guard.
Mikhailov trying to control but Ernst postures up.
Ernst slips a nice elbow through Mikhailov's hands, connecting with Mikhailov's forehead.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Ernst is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Mikhailov has managed to free his arm - good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ernst is looking for a kimura but Mikhailov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ernst to get the leverage.

Ernst wants to work for an arm triangle but Mikhailov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ernst landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ernst prevents Mikhailov from improving his position.

Ernst is looking for a kimura but Mikhailov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Ernst to get the leverage.
Ernst is breathing heavily.
Ernst looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Mikhailov is looking to improve his position.
Mikhailov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mikhailov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ernst.
Mikhailov is looking to control Ernst's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mikhailov avoid being mounted?

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Mikhailov tries to clinch there but Ernst circles away.

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.
Mikhailov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mikhailov doesn't manage to clinch there - Ernst circles away.
Mikhailov fails with the takedown

and Ernst counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mikhailov is looking to control Ernst's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Mikhailov avoid being mounted?
Ernst not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ernst is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Mikhailov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mikhailov trying to control but Ernst postures up.
Ernst thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mikhailov's head.
Mikhailov is trying to stand up here but Ernst is controlling him well.
Ernst is looking to take a break and control but Mikhailov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ernst doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Mikhailov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ernst thinking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ernst avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Mikhailov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Mikhailov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ernst counters with a takedown into side control.

Ernst is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Mikhailov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Mikhailov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Ernst dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alik Mikhailov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Mikhailov wants to clinch but Ernst slips to the side

and Ernst counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mikhailov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ernst not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ernst lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Ernst is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Ernst thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Mikhailov is looking for a sweep. Ernst is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Ernst prevents Mikhailov from standing back up.
Ernst thows a huge punch but Mikhailov dodges it nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mikhailov misses with a takedown

and Ernst counters with a single leg into guard. Mikhailov didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikhailov wants to stand but Ernst is controlling the position.
Ernst has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ernst preventing the sweep.
Mikhailov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ernst scoring with some ground and pound.
Ernst lands a couple of elbows.
Carl Ernst overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ernst working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Mikhailov's head.
Ernst throws a strike but Mikhailov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ernst working for a triangle but Mikhailov defends it easily.

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.
Ernst looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Ernst is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Mikhailov defends well.
Mikhailov wants to pass the guard but Ernst is keeping the position.

Ernst throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Mikhailov escapes and throws Ernst's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Ernst tries to strike but it doesn't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mikhailov landing strikes.
Ernst is not content to let Mikhailov control the position.
Ernst sneaks back into half guard.
Ernst trying to control but Mikhailov postures up.
Ernst is staying active underneath Mikhailov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Ernst looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ernst might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Ernst misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mikhailov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ernst shoots in and drives through. Mikhailov sprawls well.
Mikhailov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Mikhailov tries for a takedown but Ernst circles away easily

and Ernst counters with a single leg into guard. Mikhailov didn't expect that.
Ernst is looking to work some ground and pound but Mikhailov has wrist control.
Ernst looking to pass the guard.
Ernst trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Carl Ernst dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Alik Mikhailov's cut.
That's time! Ernst's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Mikhailov sizes up Ernst with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
The crowd cheers as Mikhailov lands an impressive looking overhand right. Ernst doesn't seem phased though.

Ernst decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Ernst is trying to control. Mikhailov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Ernst looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Mikhailov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mikhailov is pressing down on Ernst's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

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

Ernst is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Ernst working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mikhailov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ernst throws a strike but Mikhailov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ernst looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Mikhailov tries to stand but Ernst is controlling from the bottom.

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.
Mikhailov is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mikhailov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ernst counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Ernst is working for a kimura but Mikhailov is defending it quite comfortably.
Carl Ernst is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ernst is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Mikhailov wants to improve his position but Ernst is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ernst lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Mikhailov is trying to control but can't.
Ernst performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ernst trying to control from half guard but Mikhailov is working away.
Ernst trying to control the pace.
Ernst throwing shots but Mikhailov is blocking nicely.
Mikhailov wants to get back to full guard.
Ernst slows the pace down in half guard.
Alik Mikhailov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mikhailov tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Carl Ernst showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ernst, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Carl Ernst!