PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ilya Artyuchkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Steel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Artyuchkin
vs
Steel

200 cm
22
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
230 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Intelligent

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilya Artyuchkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Steel!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steel tries to clinch but Artyuchkin moves out of range.
Steel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Artyuchkin.
A combination from Steel does no damage.
Steel slaps away a takedown attempt from Artyuchkin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Artyuchkin avoids a punch combination nicely.
Artyuchkin dodges the punch combination from Steel.
Steel misses with a two punch combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steel misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Steel throws a nice looking combination but Artyuchkin bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Steel throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Steel throws a series of punches but Artyuchkin moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Artyuchkin.
Steel looks gassed!

Artyuchkin tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Artyuchkin has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Artyuchkin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Steel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Artyuchkin looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Artyuchkin is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Steel knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Artyuchkin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Artyuchkin thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Steel gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steel is trying to maintain the position but Artyuchkin is very close to passing his half guard.

Artyuchkin is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Steel has managed to free his arm - good work.
Artyuchkin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. Steel manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Artyuchkin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Artyuchkin won't allow Steel to get back to his feet.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Artyuchkin keeping moving, preventing Steel from controlling successfully.
Steel is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Steel looking to sit in guard and control but Artyuchkin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steel trying to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilya Artyuchkin dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Steel throws a right and a left that Artyuchkin avoids nicely.
Steel tries to clinch up but Artyuchkin circles away and keeps his distance.

Artyuchkin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Artyuchkin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Steel defends it well.

Artyuchkin is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Artyuchkin looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steel is trying to maintain the position but Artyuchkin is very close to passing his half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Artyuchkin works his way into full mount!

Artyuchkin goes for an armbar but Steel turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Steel.
Steel looking to sit in guard and control but Artyuchkin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Artyuchkin pushing down on Steel's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steel is looking to control Artyuchkin's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Steel avoid being mounted?

Artyuchkin seems to be looking for submissions.

Artyuchkin is looking for a kimura here.

Artyuchkin is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Steel sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Artyuchkin is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Steel has managed to free his arm - good work.
Artyuchkin trying to pass the guard but Steel defending well.

Steel is defending against the submission attempts here by Artyuchkin.

Artyuchkin is trying to work for a kimura but Steel is defending well.

That's four 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.

Artyuchkin is working for a kimura but Steel is defending it quite comfortably.

Artyuchkin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Steel looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Artyuchkin!
Steel can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Artyuchkin is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilya Artyuchkin dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Steel gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Artyuchkin counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Artyuchkin 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.
Steel wants to stand but Artyuchkin is controlling the position.
Artyuchkin passes Steel's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Artyuchkin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Steel is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Artyuchkin is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

Artyuchkin swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Steel is now in Artyuchkin's guard. A big mistake from Artyuchkin there, giving up the dominant position!
Steel trying to control but Artyuchkin is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Artyuchkin pushes Steel off and gets back to his feet.
Artyuchkin dives in and grabs Steel's left leg, looking for a takedown. Steel pushes down on Artyuchkin's head and hops out.
Ivan Steel seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Steel throws a combination that misses

and Artyuchkin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Artyuchkin is working for an americana but Steel has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Artyuchkin was thinking about the submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Artyuchkin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Steel manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Artyuchkin has Steel in his guard.
Steel is looking to work some ground and pound but Artyuchkin has wrist control.
Steel trying to control but Artyuchkin is working from the bottom.
Steel looking to sit in guard and control but Artyuchkin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four 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.
Steel looking for a sweep. Not yet Steel, not yet.

Artyuchkin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Steel wants to stand up but Artyuchkin is controlling him.

Artyuchkin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Steel manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Artyuchkin has Steel in his guard.
Artyuchkin keeping moving, preventing Steel from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ilya Artyuchkin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Artyuchkin, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilya Artyuchkin!