PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Dmitriy Brajnik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valery Vanchugov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dmitriy Brajnik has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Brajnik
vs
Vanchugov

171 cm
23
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Dmitriy Brajnik!
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, Valery Vanchugov!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vanchugov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Brajnik has closed the distance and engaged Vanchugov in a clinch.
Vanchugov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Brajnik is keeping busy.

Brajnik has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Vanchugov clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Brajnik could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Brajnik's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Brajnik not allowing Vanchugov to control his hands.
Brajnik tries to keep control of the position but Vanchugov is staying busy.
Brajnik is trying to stick to Vanchugov's back but Vanchugov is turning into Brajnik. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Brajnik's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Vanchugov.
Brajnik tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Brajnik working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vanchugov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vanchugov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Brajnik not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brajnik managing to control the position.
Brajnik tries to strike from the bottom.
Vanchugov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Brajnik working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vanchugov.
Vanchugov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Vanchugov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Brajnik swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vanchugov trying to control the position from guard on top but Brajnik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Vanchugov stands up and waves to Brajnik to follow him.
Vanchugov fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Brajnik looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Vanchugov!
Brajnik is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Vanchugov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Vanchugov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Vanchugov has decided that throwing punches whilst being mounted is the best he can manage just now.
Vanchugov is working to get back to half guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Brajnik avoids the attempt from Vanchugov to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brajnik working Vanchugov over with strikes here.
Brajnik looking to finish Vanchugov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Vanchugov!
Vanchugov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Brajnik raining down hammerfists from mount.
Brajnik is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Brajnik controlling the pace for now.
Vanchugov tries to control Brajnik's body but Brajnik pushes him off. Vanchugov squirms to his side and now Brajnik has his back!
Vanchugov has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Brajnik.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanchugov is trying to break free.
Vanchugov looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
Vanchugov prevents Brajnik from getting a body triangle.

Vanchugov defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Brajnik's arms.
Brajnik is breathing heavily.
Vanchugov has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Vanchugov breaks Brajnik's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Vanchugov wants to control from the top but Brajnik keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitriy Brajnik dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Brajnik doesn't manage to clinch there - Vanchugov circles away.

Brajnik moves into the clinch.
Vanchugov jumps guard but Brajnik stands there with Vanchugov around his waist. Vanchugov gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Brajnik has Vanchugov pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Brajnik pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Vanchugov tumbling to the mat - Brajnik dives into Vanchugov's guard.
Brajnik stopping the sweep attempt from Vanchugov.
Brajnik pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vanchugov is keeping the position for now.
Vanchugov looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brajnik thows a big elbow that misses.
Brajnik keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Vanchugov's head.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Vanchugov holds on and takes a little breather.
Brajnik in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vanchugov working a defensive guard here.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Valery Vanchugov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Vanchugov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Brajnik counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vanchugov wants to control but Brajnik is keeping busy.
Vanchugov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Vanchugov.
Vanchugov working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brajnik trying to control but Vanchugov is working from the bottom.
Vanchugov looking to control but Brajnik passes into half guard.
Still in half guard, Brajnik seems content to control.
Vanchugov wants to get back to full guard.
Brajnik thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vanchugov is looking to escape.
Vanchugov is trying to get back to full guard.
Vanchugov works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanchugov is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Brajnik is controlling him.
Brajnik scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Brajnik avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Brajnik might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Brajnik with a nice head shot there.
Brajnik is stalling in the full guard.
Dmitriy Brajnik overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vanchugov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Brajnik preventing the sweep.

That's four 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.
Vanchugov controlling the position.
Brajnik with a nice head shot there.
Vanchugov looking to control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Vanchugov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Brajnik in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The referee warns Brajnik that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Vanchugov controlling from the full mount.
A nice elbow there by Vanchugov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitriy Brajnik dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Vanchugov throws a right and a left that Brajnik avoids nicely.

Brajnik closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Vanchugov controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Brajnik thows a huge punch but Vanchugov dodges it nicely.
Brajnik throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Brajnik trying to control from Vanchugov's half guard. Vanchugov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Brajnik trying to control but Vanchugov is working from the bottom.
Vanchugov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Brajnik trying to control the position from guard on top but Vanchugov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanchugov controlling Brajnik's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dmitriy Brajnik wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Vanchugov with a poor takedown

and Brajnik counters with a nice double leg into side control. Vanchugov won't be happy with that.
Brajnik postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Vanchugov wants to control but Brajnik postures up.
Vanchugov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Vanchugov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brajnik is keen to just control but Vanchugov is a slippery customer.
Vanchugov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Brajnik trying to control from half guard but Vanchugov is working away.
Vanchugov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vanchugov controls Brajnik momentarily but Brajnik frees himself.
Vanchugov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Brajnik is one step ahead there.
Vanchugov is looking to sweep but instead, Brajnik has passed into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Brajnik stands up out of the half guard.
Vanchugov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Brajnik counters by clinching up.

Brajnik jumps into guard, dragging Vanchugov to the mat.
Vanchugov lands a couple of digs.
Vanchugov wants to control from the top but Brajnik keeps moving.
Vanchugov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Vanchugov passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanchugov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Brajnik keeps working.

Vanchugov stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Vanchugov tries to clinch but Brajnik is having none of it.
Vanchugov jabs at Brajnik's body.
Vanchugov tries to clinch but fails miserably

so Brajnik counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Valery Vanchugov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vanchugov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dmitriy Brajnik showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Brajnik, 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dmitriy Brajnik!