PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Buket Levkoev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harold Henderson (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.

Levkoev
vs
Henderson

195 cm
21
250 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
19
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good knees
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Attliction

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Buket Levkoev!
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, Harold Henderson!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Dmitry Maklakov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Levkoev scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
You can see the frustration on Henderson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Levkoev controls the position.
Henderson is trying to improve his position.
Henderson sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Levkoev trying to mount his opponent but Henderson defends it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Levkoev moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Henderson.
Henderson is trying to control Levkoev's posture but Levkoev avoids it.
Henderson tries to bench press Levkoev off him but Levkoev keeps the position.
Levkoev controls the position from side control.
Henderson is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

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.
Henderson can't do much from the bottom here.
Henderson prevents Levkoev from moving into mount.
Henderson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Henderson regains half guard.
Henderson wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is trying to control but can't.

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

and Levkoev counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Levkoev.
Levkoev is breathing heavily.
Levkoev content to stall in guard here.
Levkoev trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.
Levkoev stopping the sweep attempt from Henderson.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson trying to control the position.
Henderson is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Levkoev is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Levkoev closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Levkoev lands in his opponent's guard.
Levkoev postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buket Levkoev dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Levkoev tries to close the distance and clinch but Henderson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Levkoev drives through with a takedown into guard.
Henderson seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Henderson looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Levkoev won't allow Henderson to get back to his feet.
Henderson striking off his back but it's not causing Levkoev any problems.
Henderson pulls Levkoev in close to prevent any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Levkoev won't allow Henderson to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Henderson doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Henderson tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Henderson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Henderson looking to control and managing it successfully.
Levkoev gets back to half guard.
Levkoev controlling the position for now.
Henderson tries to pass the half guard into mount. Levkoev knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Henderson is just content to waste time from the top position. Levkoev takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Henderson is looking to work some ground and pound but Levkoev has wrist control.
Henderson stops Levkoev from standing up.
Levkoev being controlled here, momentarily.
Levkoev managing to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Henderson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Levkoev is proving hard to escape from.
Henderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Levkoev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Henderson tries to free his leg and advance position but Levkoev is retaining full guard.
Henderson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Levkoev's guard.
Levkoev wants to control but Henderson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Levkoev tries to get to full guard but Henderson has control of the leg.

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.
Henderson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Levkoev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Henderson with the ground and pound but Levkoev uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Henderson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Henderson trying to control but Levkoev is working from the bottom.
Henderson looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Levkoev tries to clinch up but Henderson circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Buket Levkoev dominated that second round.
That's time! Levkoev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. And we move into the final round!

Henderson shoots in for a double leg but Levkoev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Levkoev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Henderson misses with a takedown attempt

and Levkoev decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Henderson's guard.
Buket Levkoev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Levkoev controls from within his opponent's guard.
Henderson looking for a sweep. Not yet Henderson, not yet.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Levkoev from controlling successfully.
Levkoev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Henderson is keeping the position for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Levkoev from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Levkoev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Levkoev looking to pass the guard.
Levkoev is stalling in the full guard.

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.
Levkoev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Henderson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Levkoev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Henderson looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Levkoev puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Henderson misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Levkoev frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Levkoev stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Levkoev throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.

It looks like Harold Henderson has been cut.
Henderson pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Levkoev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Henderson paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Levkoev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Levkoev works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Henderson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Levkoev is working away from the top position though.
Henderson wants to get back to full guard.
Levkoev is looking to stand up but he'll have to free his leg first. Instead, Henderson manages to get to full guard.
Levkoev trying to control but Henderson is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Henderson wants to stand but Levkoev is controlling the position.
Henderson keeping full guard, as Levkoev tries to pass.
Henderson keeping moving, preventing Levkoev from controlling successfully.
Levkoev postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Levkoev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Henderson 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.
Harold Henderson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Levkoev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Buket Levkoev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Levkoev 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Buket Levkoev!