PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sirius Dacke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Svyatoslav Vakarchuk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Dacke
vs
Vakarchuk

185 cm
27
230 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
28
250 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Solid Muay Thai
Good gas tank

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 Las Vegas, Sirius Dacke!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Svyatoslav Vakarchuk!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice cross by Dacke.
Vakarchuk displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Dacke throws out the jab.
Vakarchuk goes for a double leg but Dacke avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Dacke continues to drive forward.
Dacke was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Vakarchuk tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dacke sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Vakarchuk somewhat.
Vakarchuk has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

It looks like Svyatoslav Vakarchuk has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A slow jab from Dacke misses its intended target.
Vakarchuk with the counter takedown but Dacke avoids it easily.
Vakarchuk rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Dacke counters with a straight right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dacke ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Vakarchuk moves away.
A jab from Dacke misses.
Vakarchuk looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dacke is fending him off so far but Vakarchuk persists. Nope, Dacke circles away and we're back to standing.
Sirius Dacke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Svyatoslav Vakarchuk.
Vakarchuk moves out of range of the strikes.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Vakarchuk! But no joy.
Dacke throws a right and a left that both miss.
Dacke misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dacke swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Dacke cracks Vakarchuk with a good jab.
A slow jab from Dacke misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vakarchuk throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dacke's waist but Dacke gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Vakarchuk off to one side.
Vakarchuk changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Dacke tries to avoid it but Vakarchuk manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Dacke to the ground. Dacke escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dacke misses with a few strikes there.

Vakarchuk throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Dacke tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Vakarchuk is in Dacke's guard.
Vakarchuk looking to sit in guard and control but Dacke gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Our spies down at at Russian Top Team Elite Gym inform us that Vakarchuk has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vakarchuk has Dacke pulled in close to control his posture.
Dacke trying to move into half guard but instead Vakarchuk has managed to sweep!

Vakarchuk is looking to work some ground and pound but Dacke has wrist control.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vakarchuk's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Vakarchuk postures up in Dacke's guard and throws a big left but Dacke blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vakarchuk throws a big elbow that misses.
Dacke is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vakarchuk has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vakarchuk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vakarchuk trying to control the position from guard on top but Dacke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dacke working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vakarchuk.
Dacke utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vakarchuk looking to pass the guard.
Vakarchuk trying to control the position from guard on top but Dacke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vakarchuk controls from within his opponent's guard.
Vakarchuk trying to control the position from guard on top but Dacke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vakarchuk works over Dacke with some ground and pound from guard.
Vakarchuk stops Dacke from standing up.
Vakarchuk wants to control from the top but Dacke keeps moving.
Vakarchuk wants to pass the guard but Dacke is keeping the position.
Vakarchuk trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vakarchuk is in close to Dacke's body, working some short punches and elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Vakarchuk accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Vakarchuk with a nice head shot there.
Vakarchuk postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sirius Dacke dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Svyatoslav Vakarchuk's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Dacke scores with a decent looking hook.
Sirius Dacke is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vakarchuk closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dacke circles away.
As Vakarchuk looks to move away, Dacke throws a big counter combo but Vakarchuk just gets out of the way.
Dacke swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vakarchuk takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Vakarchuk moves out of range of the strikes.
Dacke scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dacke misses the shot to the body.
Dacke throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Vakarchuk drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Dacke defends it well.
Vakarchuk slips a jab and a cross from Dacke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Dacke.
Vakarchuk moves out of range of the strikes.
Vakarchuk misses with a takedown
enabling Dacke to counter with a crisp jab.
Vakarchuk shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Dacke as he jumps to the side.
Sirius Dacke has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Svyatoslav Vakarchuk.
Dacke misses with a right hand

and Vakarchuk counters with a takedown into side control.
Dacke holding on.
Vakarchuk cracks Dacke with a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vakarchuk tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Vakarchuk lands a decent elbow from side control.
Dacke pushes Vakarchuk away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Vakarchuk gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vakarchuk controlling from side mount.
Dacke on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Vakarchuk trying to control the position but Dacke is working away.
Dacke is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Vakarchuk sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Dacke is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Dacke is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Vakarchuk has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Vakarchuk throws a strike aimed at the side of Dacke's head but Dacke avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vakarchuk lands some shots froms side control.
Vakarchuk grinds an elbow into Dacke's temple.
Vakarchuk working the head and body with strikes.
Vakarchuk throwing shots but missing, from side control.
The ground and pound from Vakarchuk seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Dacke pushes Vakarchuk away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Vakarchuk gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Vakarchuk wants to control but Dacke is keeping him busy.
Vakarchuk working the ground and pound.
Dacke wants to control but Vakarchuk postures up.
Vakarchuk landing strikes.
The strikes coming from Vakarchuk are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Vakarchuk tries to score with some ground and pound. Dacke controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vakarchuk scoring with punches and elbows.

Dacke is rocked!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vakarchuk wants to control but Dacke is keeping him busy.
Vakarchuk working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Vakarchuk throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Svyatoslav Vakarchuk has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vakarchuk lands a nice forearm strike.
Oh Dacke is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dacke is looking for a sweep.

Vakarchuk tries for a kimura but Dacke is defending well.
Dacke is looking to reverse the position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Vakarchuk swings around for an armbar but Dacke sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Vakarchuk's guard.
Dacke seems to have got his legs back now.
Dacke wants to control from the top but Vakarchuk keeps moving.
Vakarchuk is trying to control the position but Dacke postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Svyatoslav Vakarchuk showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Svyatoslav Vakarchuk's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

No luck for Vakarchuk with that takedown attempt.
Dacke looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Vakarchuk is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Dacke with a body shot.
Vakarchuk moves out of range of the strikes.
Dacke throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Sirius Dacke is winning the standup battle so far.
Dacke fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dacke tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Vakarchuk was well out of range. Poor timing from Dacke.
Dacke misses with an uppercut

and Vakarchuk counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Vakarchuk missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vakarchuk throws a strike but Dacke avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Vakarchuk scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Vakarchuk looking to sit in guard and control but Dacke gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Vakarchuk controlling the position.

Vakarchuk working for a triangle but Dacke defends it easily.
Vakarchuk has a closed guard, preventing Dacke from standing up.
Vakarchuk working a defensive guard but Dacke manages to pass into side control anyway.
Vakarchuk tries to buck Dacke off but Dacke is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vakarchuk is trying to control Dacke's posture but Dacke avoids it.
Dacke is looking to take a break and control but Vakarchuk is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Dacke wants to stand but Vakarchuk is controlling his arm.
Vakarchuk tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Dacke tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Vakarchuk tries to improve position but can't.
Vakarchuk manages to get back to half guard.
Vakarchuk is looking to improve his position.

Vakarchuk looking for subs from the bottom but Dacke mounts him!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dacke looking to control and managing it successfully.
Vakarchuk is looking to improve his position but Dacke isn't that keen on the idea.
Vakarchuk tries to control the position but Dacke now has his back.
Dacke is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Dacke trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Vakarchuk is trying to break free.
Vakarchuk looking very determined here, making life difficult for Dacke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vakarchuk tries to break free.
Dacke not allowing Vakarchuk to control his hands.
Vakarchuk looking very determined here, making life difficult for Dacke.
Vakarchuk trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Dacke tries to get the hooks in deep but Vakarchuk pushed the leg off.
Vakarchuk is really stuck here.
Dacke controls the position.
Dacke trying to control momentarily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Vakarchuk can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sirius Dacke showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dacke has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sirius Dacke!