PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ping Lin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Burak Mihalev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burak Mihalev is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Lin
vs
Mihalev

210 cm
25
270 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

195 cm
23
256 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

Cold Blooded Kemists ↑ 5x160Q
Heisenberg

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ping Lin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Burak Mihalev!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Igor Prikhodko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lin doesn't manage to clinch there - Mihalev circles away.
Lin wants to clinch.
Lin looks to land a combination. Mihalev sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Burak Mihalev has been cut.
Lin tries to clinch but Mihalev is having none of it.
Lin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Mihalev on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Lin lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
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!

Mihalev shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Mihalev was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Mihalev trying to control the position but Lin is working away.
Lin pushes Mihalev away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Mihalev gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mihalev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lin is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mihalev on the ground.
Lin is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Mihalev wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lin, who protects the arm well.
Lin's coaches at have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.
Lin stops Mihalev from passing to mount.
Mihalev fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev staying calm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mihalev working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Mihalev working the ground and pound but Lin is defending the strikes.
Mihalev landing strikes.
Mihalev trying to control the action but Lin is working from the bottom.

Mihalev tries for a kimura but Lin is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Mihalev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Mihalev in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
The ground and pound from Mihalev seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
An elbow from Mihalev crashes against the mat.
Mihalev sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Lin is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Lin is breathing heavily.
Lin defending against the ground and pound.
Lin is trying to buck Mihalev off.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev misses with the ground and pound.
Mihalev wants to control but Lin is keeping him busy.
Mihalev is chipping away with strikes.
Mihalev throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Mihalev postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Mihalev is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lin has escaped the position, nice work there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mihalev sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Lin is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burak Mihalev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Burak Mihalev's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mihalev gets a takedown into half guard.
Mihalev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lin's head.
Mihalev not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mihalev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Mihalev is looking to take a break and control but Lin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mihalev is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Mihalev moves nicely into side control.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Mihalev. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mihalev throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Lin is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Mihalev has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Check out the look on Mihalev's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Burak Mihalev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mihalev is looking to take a break and control but Lin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lin is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev throws a strike aimed at the side of Lin's head but Lin avoids it well.
Mihalev working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Mihalev cracks Lin with a big elbow.
Mihalev throws a strike aimed at the side of Lin's head but Lin avoids it well.
Mihalev passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Lin!
Mihalev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Lin is looking to escape.
Mihalev controlling from the full mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mihalev scores with a couple of good head shots there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Mihalev pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

Mihalev is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Lin has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Lin is in a horrible position here. Mihalev smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Mihalev with good strikes from the mount here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mihalev lands a big shot there that rocks Lin but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Mihalev swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Lin is now in Mihalev's guard. A big mistake from Mihalev there, giving up the dominant position!
Lin stopping the sweep attempt from Mihalev.
Mihalev is pulling down on Lin's head. It's preventing any offense from Lin, at least for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Burak Mihalev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Burak Mihalev's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Lin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mihalev backs up against the cage.
Burak Mihalev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mihalev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lin.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Lin misses with a punch on the inside.
Mihalev blocks an uppercut.
Lin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Lin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lin lands a hook that snaps the head of Mihalev backwards.
Lin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Lin misses with some punches.
Mihalev is looking to take this one to the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lin struggles to land a body shot inside as Mihalev controls his hands.
Mihalev tries to score a body lock takedown but Lin shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Lin gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Mihalev.
Ping Lin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Burak Mihalev.
Mihalev wants a takedown.
Lin is leaning against Mihalev and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Mihalev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Mihalev can't get the takedown.
Lin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A short body shot lands from Lin as the two fighters clinch.
Lin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mihalevs head.
Lin lands with a right to the head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lin lands with a short shot to the head.
Ping Lin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Lin lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Lin is stalling here.
Lin misses with a hook to the ribs.
Lin digs a right hand underneath Mihalev's ribcage. Mihalev let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Lin prevents the takedown attempt.
Lin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Mihalev backwards.
Lin stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Lin lands with a right to the head.
Lin gets through Mihalev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Lin lands a hook that snaps the head of Mihalev backwards.
Burak Mihalev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Mihalev is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lin scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mihalev is still on wobbly legs! Can Lin finish him?
Lin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Lin swings wildly with an uppercut but Mihalev uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ping Lin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lin throws a head punch that misses.
A body shot lands from Lin.
Mihalev seems to have recovered his senses.
Nice body punch from Lin.
Lin just leaning against Mihalev, taking a breather.
Lin lands a body shot.
Lin lands a shoulder strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lin stalling the fight.
Lin lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mihalev wants a takedown.
Lin has Mihalev pressed against the cage.
Lin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mihalevs head.
Lin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Mihalev backwards.
Lin lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Mihalev has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Lin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Lin lands with a light punch inside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lin scores with a shot to the side of Mihalev's head.
Lin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Mihalev blocks a body shot from Lin.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ping Lin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mihalev has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Burak Mihalev!
During a confident post fight interview, Burak Mihalev thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.