PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Murad Ahmadaliev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitry Varakin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ahmadaliev
vs
Varakin

173 cm
21
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
23
155 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Prefers standup

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Murad Ahmadaliev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitry Varakin!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahmadaliev throws a combination. Varakin tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Ahmadaliev throws a body punch but Varakin moves out of range.
Ahmadaliev fails to land with a series of punches.
Ahmadaliev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Varakin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Still in half guard, Varakin seems content to control.
Varakin with the ground and pound but Ahmadaliev uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Varakin throws a big right hand that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Varakin throwing strikes from guard but Ahmadaliev blocks nicely.
Ahmadaliev can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Varakin controls the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varakin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ahmadaliev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Varakin trying to control the position from guard on top but Ahmadaliev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Varakin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ahmadaliev keeping full guard, as Varakin tries to pass.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ahmadaliev throws a leg kick

and Varakin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Varakin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Varakin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Varakin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ahmadaliev is refusing to be controlled, as Varakin sits in half guard.
Ahmadaliev looks like he's trying to stand up.

Varakin stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Ahmadaliev to get to his feet.
Murad Ahmadaliev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahmadaliev pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Varakin back to the cage. Ahmadaliev follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Varakin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Varakin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Varakin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Varakin controlling the action here.

Varakin is working for a submission of some sort.
We've been informed that Varakin has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varakin passes the guard and advances to mount!
Varakin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Varakin jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Ahmadaliev is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Ahmadaliev and Varakin has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Varakin trying to control the position but Ahmadaliev is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dmitry Varakin will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Varakin avoids a kick to the body.

Varakin closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Varakin is just content to waste time from the top position. Ahmadaliev takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Varakin throws a big right hand that misses.

Varakin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Ahmadaliev manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Varakin has Ahmadaliev in his guard.

Ahmadaliev wanted to stand there but Varakin had control of the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Varakin wants to stand and escape but Ahmadaliev is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Varakin is working an open guard so Ahmadaliev takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Varakin moves out of range of the body kick from Ahmadaliev.
Ahmadaliev falls off balance throwing a combination

and Varakin moves into the clinch.
Ahmadaliev is trying to break the clinch but Varakin is controlling him.

Varakin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Varakin slips a jab and a cross from Ahmadaliev.
Varakin has his takedown stuffed
and Ahmadaliev counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Varakin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ahmadaliev throws out the jab.

Ahmadaliev gets caught napping as Varakin dives in and scores a takedown. Ahmadaliev manages to retain guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Varakin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Varakin controls from within his opponent's guard.
Varakin distracts Ahmadaliev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Varakin stands up from Ahmadaliev's guard - Varakin perhaps looking for a knockout.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ahmadaliev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Varakin shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Varakin showed some decent athleticism there.
Ahmadaliev tries to kick Varakin off in order to stand up. Varakin Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varakin wants to control but Ahmadaliev is keeping him busy.
Ahmadaliev is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Varakin is controlling him well.
Varakin in side control lands a decent elbow.
Varakin is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ahmadaliev will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

Varakin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varakin trying to control the position but Ahmadaliev is working away.
Varakin working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

Varakin is trying to get an arm triangle but Ahmadaliev is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Varakin goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Ahmadaliev has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Varakin but great work by Ahmadaliev.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Murad Ahmadaliev will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

No luck for Varakin with that takedown attempt.
No joy there for Ahmadaliev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Varakin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Ahmadaliev defends it well.
Ahmadaliev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
No joy there for Ahmadaliev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Varakin misses with a takedown attempt - Ahmadaliev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Murad Ahmadaliev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ahmadaliev misses with a leg kick

and Varakin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Varakin.
Varakin lands a couple of elbows.
Ahmadaliev is looking to stand up but Varakin isn't so interested in that idea.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahmadaliev keeping moving, preventing Varakin from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ahmadaliev wants to get back to his feet but Varakin is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varakin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Varakin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ahmadaliev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Dmitry Varakin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Varakin lands a couple of elbows.
Varakin wants to control from the top but Ahmadaliev keeps moving.
Varakin pushing down on Ahmadaliev's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Varakin is trying to control the action in half guard but Ahmadaliev is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Varakin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Varakin is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Varakin working the head and body with strikes.
Varakin moves nicely into side control.

Varakin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
A lull in the action here as Varakin stalls from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varakin has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Ahmadaliev!
Varakin lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Varakin breaks from Ahmadaliev's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Varakin controlling the position easily from mount.

Varakin is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Ahmadaliev has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Varakin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahmadaliev is bucking up trying to escape but Varakin cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Ahmadaliev is squirming around, avoiding Varakin's attempts to control the action.
Varakin punishing his opponent with strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Varakin lands a heavy elbow.
Varakin cracks Ahmadaliev with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The referee warns Ahmadaliev that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Ahmadaliev is rocked!

And that's the end of the fight!
Dmitry Varakin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Varakin 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Dmitry Varakin!