PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Max Votinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adil Ek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Max Votinov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Votinov
vs
Ek

177 cm
18
199 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
26
205 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Max Votinov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Adil Ek!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Votinov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ek sprawls well initially but Votinov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Votinov is working for a kimura but Ek is defending it quite comfortably.

Votinov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Votinov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ek's head.
Ek is concentrating on defense, preventing Votinov from advancing position.
Ek makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ek.
Ek is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Votinov throwing strikes from guard but Ek blocks nicely.

Votinov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ek dives on top into guard.

Ek drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ek jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Votinov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ek has passed into half guard!
Ek not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ek slows the pace down in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Votinov could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Votinov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Votinov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Ek on the ground.
Votinov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Ek not doing much here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Adil Ek.
Votinov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ek counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Votinov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ek gets the underhooks and prevents it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ek pulls guard.
Ek pulls Votinov in close to his closed guard and prevents Votinov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Ek trying to keep a closed guard but Votinov is proving a slippery customer.

Ek escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Votinov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ek lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Votinov!
Votinov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Ek tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ek manages to capitalize on a mistake by Votinov to take his back!

Votinov fending off the submission attempt from Ek.
Ek punches the canvas rather than the man.
Votinov is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ek tightening his grip on Votinov, looking for the choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adil Ek dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Votinov misses with a right hand
and Ek counters with a series of strikes. Votinov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Votinov jabs at Ek's body.
Votinov throws a poor cross that misses
and Ek counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Ek slips a jab and a cross from Votinov.
Votinov misses the jab.
Ek shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Votinov but Votinov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Votinov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ek counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Max Votinov has been cut.

Ek rushes Votinov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Ek stops a takedown attempt from Votinov.
Ek looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ek working hard to break the clinch.

Ek breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Ek closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Votinov goes for a takedown attempt but Ek pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ek fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Max Votinov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ek closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Votinov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Max Votinov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Votinov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Ek.
Votinov looking for a takedown.
Votinov looking for a takedown.

Ek breaks from the clinch.
Ek closes this distance looking for a takedown but Votinov circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Ek.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Ek with that takedown attempt.
Ek misses with a takedown attempt - Votinov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Ek looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Votinov connects with the punch.
Votinov fails with the takedown.
Ek tries for a takedown but Votinov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Ek shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Votinov sprawls well. Votinov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ek gets slowly back to his feet.

Ek rushes Votinov and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ek pushes Votinov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Ek wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Ek jumps guard.
Votinov trying to move into half guard but instead Ek has managed to sweep!
Ek throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Votinov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ek passes Votinov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ek is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Votinov!
Ek raining down shots from the mount!
Ek controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ek thowing shots but they're missing.
Ek unloads with some shots from mount but Votinov bucks and avoids them well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Votinov avoids a series of strikes thrown by Ek.
Votinov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Votinov tries to get out of the position.

Ek gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Adil Ek showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Max Votinov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ek shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Votinov but Votinov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Votinov misses with the combination.
Votinov tries for a takedown but Ek sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Ek shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Ek throwing strikes here but Votinov is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Ek is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Votinov has managed to escape the submission attempt.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
No luck for Ek with that takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ek fails with a takedown attempt.
Max Votinov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Adil Ek.
Votinov dodges the punch combination from Ek.
Votinov throws a sloppy body shot
and Ek counters with a three punch combo that has Votinov backing up. Votinov nods at Ek to acknowledge the strikes.
Ek shoots in for a double leg but Votinov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Ek throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Votinov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ek takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ek misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Ek has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Votinov fails with the takedown.
Ek shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Votinov defends it nicely.
Votinov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Ek circles away.
Ek changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Votinov tries to avoid it but Ek manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Votinov to the ground. Votinov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Votinov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Ek tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Votinov is in Ek's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Votinov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ek is keeping the position for now.
Ek throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Ek had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Votinov defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Votinov 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.
Ek looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Votinov working some strikes from top position.
Ek manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Votinov manages to get himself to full guard.
Ek is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ek slips nicely into half guard.
Max Votinov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Ek connects with a nice short shot to Votinov's temple.
Ek performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Adil Ek comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ek 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Adil Ek!