PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Taz Devil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Krystov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Devil
vs
Krystov

175 cm
20
160 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

179 cm
25
163 lbs
9 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Taz Devil!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Krystov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Konstantin Menshow and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Devil misses with a jab, cross combination.
Devil stuffs the takedown attempt from Krystov. Krystov gets slowly back to his feet.
Krystov scores with a crisp jab that stopped Devil in his tracks.
Krystov blocks a jab.
Krystov ducks under a wild hook from Devil.
A nice combination there by Krystov.

Devil drops Krystov with a beautiful combination! Krystov stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Devil is looking for the KO!

Krystov is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Devil gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Devil misses with a double jab

and Krystov counters with a single leg into guard. Devil didn't expect that.
Krystov works over Devil with some ground and pound from guard.

Krystov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Devil looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Devil looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Devil!
Devil working away.
Krystov sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krystov strikes from the bottom but Devil uses the opportunity to move to side control.
Krystov manages to get back to half guard.
Devil wants to pass to mount but Krystov is defending the position.
Krystov tries to get to full guard but Devil has control of the leg.
Krystov flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Krystov is staying active underneath Devil, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Krystov trying to control from the bottom.
Devil moves into full mount! Krystov won't be happy about that!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Krystov tries to reverse the position but Devil maintains control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Krystov wants to hold on but Devil pushes him away.
Krystov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Krystov is looking to improve his position but Devil isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Krystov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Krystov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krystov is looking to get to half guard.

Devil with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Krystov is trying to escape the mount.

Devil looking for a guillotine from mount but Krystov is having none of it.
Krystov regains half guard.

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.
Devil wants to get back to his feet.
Devil is trying to control. Krystov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Devil prevents Krystov from improving his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Krystov throws a sloppy strike from the bottom. He's now off balance and Devil manages to pass to side control.
Krystov 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.

A close round but Alexander Krystov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Devil's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Krystov shoots in for a takedown but Devil shows good takedown defense.
Devil tries to work over Krystov's front leg with a kick but Krystov checks it.
Good exchange - Devil coming out on top.
Devil misses with a body shot.
Devil scores with a shot to the body.
A combination from Devil does no damage.
A left and a right from Devil both land. Nice combination.
Devil keeps the fight on the outside.
Devil misses the body punch

and Krystov counters with a takedown into side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Devil wants to get back to his feet.
Devil tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.

Devil manages to get to his feet, escaping the difficult position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Krystov - just one landing.
Krystov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Krystov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Nice uppercut there from Devil.
Taz Devil is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Krystov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Devil misses with a double jab
and Krystov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Taz Devil is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Devil jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Devil misses with a body punch

and Krystov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Devil wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Krystov fails to pull guard.
Taz Devil has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexander Krystov.
Devil is looking to break free of the clinch but Krystov has double underhooks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Devil tries to break free but Krystov pushes him back against the cage.
Devil is trying to force a seperation but Krystov has the dominant position.
Devil looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Krystov has Devil pressed against the cage, preventing Devil from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Krystov fails to pull guard.
Devil is looking to break free of the clinch but Krystov has double underhooks.
Krystov keeps control of Devil as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Devil breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Krystov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Krystov shoots in for a takedown but Devil shows good takedown defense.
Devil takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Taz Devil is winning the standup battle so far.
Devil attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Taz Devil seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Devil misses with a shot to the body

and Krystov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Krystov.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Krystov trying to control the position from guard on top but Devil is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Krystov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Krystov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Devil is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Krystov lands a few punches from side control.
Krystov wants to take a breather but Devil manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Krystov.
Krystov trying to control but Devil is working from the bottom.
Devil wants to sweep here but Krystov controlling him for the moment.

That's four 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.
Krystov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Krystov trying to control but Devil is working from the bottom.
Krystov won't allow Devil to get back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Devil throws a looping overhand right but Krystov ducks down to avoid it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Krystov is defended easily by Devil.
Krystov slips a straight right by Devil.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexander Krystov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Devil avoids a punch combination nicely.
Devil will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Devil misses with a series of wild punches.
Devil throws a combination that misses

and Krystov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Devil!

Krystov looking to secure an arm triangle but Devil defends it well.
Krystov thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Devil takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Devil can't escape the position.
Krystov landing strikes from the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Devil tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Krystov looking to control but Devil is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Devil is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Devil is squirming around, avoiding Krystov's attempts to control the action.
Devil is wriggling around trying to escape.
Krystov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Krystov prevents Devil from getting the reversal.
Devil is trying to stand.

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.

Krystov looking to secure an arm triangle but Devil defends it well.
Krystov avoids the attempt from Devil to control.
Krystov punching from mount but Devil doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Poor strikes thrown by Krystov there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Krystov unloading with bombs!
Devil 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.

Krystov 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.

Krystov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krystov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Krystov is thwarting Devil's attempts to control the position.

Krystov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Devil doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Krystov.

That's four 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.
Krystov prevents Devil from standing back up.
Alexander Krystov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Devil is refusing to be controlled, as Krystov sits in half guard.
Devil is trying to stand up here but Krystov is controlling him well.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Krystov misses with a few strikes there.
Devil throws a leg kick
and Krystov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Devil fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Taz Devil has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Krystov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Devil throws out the jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Krystov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Krystov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Krystov!