PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Non Ultra Steve (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurban Meredov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Steve has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Non Ultra Steve has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ultra Steve
vs
Meredov

150 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 5 - 0

175 cm
21
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Decent knees
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Non Ultra Steve!
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, Kurban Meredov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Meredov scores with a takedown into Steve's guard.
Steve could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Steve is breathing heavily.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Meredov distracts Steve with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Meredov stands and throws Steve's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Steve knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Meredov on the ground.
A lull in the action here.
Meredov has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Meredov controlling from the full mount.
Steve looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meredov controls the action.
Meredov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Steve defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Steve looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Steve is taking damage to the body and head.

Steve preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Meredov.
Meredov controls the action.

Meredov has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Steve defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Meredov's arms.
Meredov is riding his opponent, not letting Steve buck him off.
Steve tries to roll but Meredov sticks to his back.
Steve controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Meredov tightening his grip on Steve, looking for the choke.
Meredov slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Steve defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Meredov's arms.

Meredov patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Meredov controlling the positon.

Meredov looking for the choke but no joy.
Steve is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Steve is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Meredov scores with strikes from the back.
Steve is covering up but some of the strikes from Meredov are getting through and doing damage.

Meredov is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
I would not like to be Steve right now.

Meredov working for the choke.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Steve is trying to break free.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurban Meredov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Meredov thuds his shin into the meat of Steve's side.

Meredov dives in and scores a takedown into Steve's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Meredov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Meredov pushes down on Steve's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Meredov has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Meredov unloading with bombs!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Meredov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Meredov lands a big shot there that rocks Steve but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Meredov controlling the position easily from mount.

Meredov jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Steve manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meredov prevents Steve from escaping the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Meredov decides to stand back up.
Meredov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Steve is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Meredov shoots in and bounces Steve off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Meredov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Meredov postures up in Steve's guard and throws a big left but Steve blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meredov connects with a couple of short punches.
Meredov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Meredov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Steve's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Meredov decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Meredov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Steve's guard.
Meredov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Meredov gets to his feet. Steve looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Meredov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Steve is trying to defend but Meredov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meredov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Meredov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Steve defends it well.
Meredov is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Steve might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Meredov wants to work for an arm triangle but Steve is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Meredov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Meredov passes to full mount!
Meredov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Meredov raining down hammerfists from mount.
Meredov controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kurban Meredov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Meredov stalks Steve and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Steve's face. Steve staggers backwards, shaken.

Meredov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Meredov decides to stand up, so the ref orders Steve to his feet.

Steve gets tackled into the cage by Meredov. Meredov maintains the clinch.
Meredov lands a knee to the head.

Steve is rocked!

It looks like Non Ultra Steve has been cut.

Meredov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Meredov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Meredov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meredov controls from within his opponent's guard.

Meredov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Meredov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Meredov advances position into side control!
Meredov just content to control the position.

Meredov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Meredov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Meredov remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steve avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Meredov.
Meredov taking a breather here.

Meredov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Steve has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kurban Meredov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Meredov controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steve looks to move to half guard but instead Meredov has passed into mount! Damn!
Meredov lands a big elbow.
Meredov connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Steve can't escape the position.
Meredov lands a big elbow.
Meredov controlling from the full mount.

Meredov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Meredov controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Meredov in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Meredov working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Steve is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Meredov has taken his back!
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!
Steve is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Meredov.
Meredov is punishing Steve with some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Meredov is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Steve has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Meredov looking for the RNC.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kurban Meredov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Meredov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 25:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 25:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kurban Meredov!