PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eric Ankudinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raivis Vidzis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ankudinov comes to the cage accompanied by I must break you.. Eric Ankudinov has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ankudinov
vs
Vidzis

193 cm
25
265 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
250 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Sparta Fightware

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Eric Ankudinov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Raivis Vidzis!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Vidzis.

Ankudinov forces Vidzis back against the cage and clinches.

Vidzis turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Ankudinov takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Ankudinov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Vidzis wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Vidzis wants to control but Ankudinov is keeping him busy.
Vidzis works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Vidzis tries to score with some ground and pound. Ankudinov controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Vidzis looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Ankudinov is avoiding damage well.
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!
Ankudinov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Vidzis's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ankudinov is looking to escape.
Vidzis is looking to take a break and control but Ankudinov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vidzis throwing shots but Ankudinov is blocking nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ankudinov tries to kick Vidzis off but Vidzis keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Vidzis trying to control from half guard but Ankudinov is working away.
Vidzis lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Vidzis is looking for a kimura but Ankudinov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Vidzis to get the leverage.
Vidzis tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Ankudinov.
Ankudinov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Ankudinov is trying to control the position but Vidzis postures up.
Vidzis with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vidzis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vidzis throwing strikes but missing.
Ankudinov wants to get back to his feet but Vidzis is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ankudinov wants to sweep here but Vidzis controlling him for the moment.
Vidzis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ankudinov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Vidzis trying to control but Ankudinov is working from the bottom.
Vidzis trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vidzis missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vidzis throwing strikes from guard but Ankudinov blocks nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ankudinov wants to sweep here but Vidzis controlling him for the moment.
Vidzis cracks Ankudinov with a solid left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vidzis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vidzis wants to control from the top but Ankudinov keeps moving.
Vidzis is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Ankudinov trying to control the position.
Ankudinov wants to sweep but no luck.
Ankudinov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vidzis wants to get up but he can't break Ankudinov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Vidzis looking to sit in guard and control but Ankudinov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Vidzis looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ankudinov with a nice head shot there.
Vidzis wants to stand but Ankudinov is controlling the position.
Ankudinov preventing the sweep.
Vidzis looks winded!
Ankudinov scoring with some ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ankudinov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Ankudinov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vidzis's guard.
Ankudinov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ankudinov prevents Vidzis from getting back to his feet.
Ankudinov looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ankudinov throws a series of punches but Vidzis moves out of range.
A punch combination from Ankudinov misses.
Vidzis tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ankudinov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Vidzis defends it nicely.
Vidzis tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ankudinov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Vidzis fails with a takedown attempt.
Eric Ankudinov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Ankudinov closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Vidzis's guard.

Vidzis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ankudinov defends it easily.
Ankudinov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Vidzis's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vidzis keeping moving, preventing Ankudinov from controlling successfully.
Vidzis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vidzis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ankudinov is one step ahead there.
Ankudinov looking to pass the guard.
Vidzis looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ankudinov is one step ahead there.

Vidzis looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Ankudinov passes into half guard.
Vidzis is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ankudinov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Vidzis is not content to let Ankudinov control the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Ankudinov in particular looking to stall.
Vidzis wants to get back to full guard.
Ankudinov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vidzis keeps working.
Vidzis manages to get to full guard.
Vidzis trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ankudinov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vidzis works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ankudinov wants to control from the top but Vidzis keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Eric Ankudinov.
Vidzis attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ankudinov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Vidzis.
Vidzis misses the jab.
Horrible takedown by Vidzis or perhaps it was just good defense by Ankudinov which made him look bad.
Ankudinov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Vidzis circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vidzis fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Eric Ankudinov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Raivis Vidzis.
Ankudinov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Ankudinov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Vidzis tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ankudinov is in Vidzis's guard.
Vidzis throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Vidzis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Ankudinov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ankudinov passes Vidzis's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vidzis trying to control from the bottom.
Ankudinov working the head and body with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Ankudinov dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ankudinov drives through with a takedown into Vidzis's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Ankudinov looking to sit in guard and control but Vidzis gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Ankudinov pushes Vidzis off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Ankudinov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vidzis shoots in but no luck this time.

Ankudinov moves into the clinch.
Vidzis looking for a takedown.
Ankudinov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Vidzis manages to break the clinch.

Vidzis gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ankudinov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vidzis takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vidzis looking to control.
Ankudinov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ankudinov won't allow Vidzis to get back to his feet.
Ankudinov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vidzis can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ankudinov distracts Vidzis with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ankudinov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

Vidzis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Vidzis has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ankudinov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Vidzis's head.

Vidzis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ankudinov defends well.
Ankudinov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Ankudinov pushes down on Vidzis's leg and manages to get into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ankudinov lands with a punch from half guard.
Ankudinov trying to control the action but Vidzis is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ankudinov wants to pass to mount but Vidzis is defending the position.
Vidzis wants to improve his position but Ankudinov is controlling well.
Vidzis trying to control from the bottom.
Ankudinov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ankudinov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vidzis keeps working.
Ankudinov is stalling here. Vidzis is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Ankudinov seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Vidzis has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Ankudinov can't do much from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I wouldn't like to be where Ankudinov is right now.
Vidzis working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Ankudinov wants to control but Vidzis postures up.
Ankudinov is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Vidzis off and has taken his back!
What can Vidzis do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ankudinov looking to soften up his opponent with punches.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ankudinov is not going to allow Vidzis to sit and survive in this position.
Ankudinov is looking to finish with some ground and pound!

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Ankudinov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ankudinov 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Ankudinov!