PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pravui Skin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Minakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Minakov has chosen Terror-Keep Your Mouth Shut as his entrance music. Andrey Minakov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Skin
vs
Minakov

185 cm
18
230 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

205 cm
22
235 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pravui Skin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Minakov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Igor Prikhodko and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Skin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Skin looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Minakov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Minakov distracts Skin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Skin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Minakov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Skin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Minakov throwing strikes but missing.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Minakov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Minakov trying to control but Skin is working from the bottom.
Minakov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Minakov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Minakov cracks Skin with a solid left hand.
Minakov throwing strikes from guard but Skin blocks nicely.
Minakov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Minakov.
Minakov postures up in Skin's guard and throws a big left but Skin blocks it.
Skin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Skin could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Minakov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Minakov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Skin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Minakov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Pravui Skin has been cut.
Skin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Minakov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Skin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Minakov drops Skin with a beautiful combination! Skin stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Minakov is looking for the KO!
Minakov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Minakov tries to clinch but Skin moves out of range.
A chopping leg kick lands by Minakov.

Minakov gets a clinch.

Minakov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Minakov misses with a few strikes there.
Skin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Minakov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Minakov throws a big right hand that misses.
Minakov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Skin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Minakov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Minakov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Minakov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Minakov gets to his feet - Skin follows without any prompting.

Minakov gets the takedown into side control.
Minakov in side control, throwing shots but Skin defends.
Minakov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Minakov landing strikes.

Minakov decides to stand back up. Minakov steps back and let's Skin get back to his feet.
Minakov scores with the left hand. Skin knows he should have avoided that one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Minakov pivots, looking for a leg kick but Skin is out of range and Minakov settles back down.
Andrey Minakov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Minakov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Skin fails with the takedown
and Minakov counters with a left and a right that stings Skin.
Minakov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Skin moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Minakov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Minakov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Minakov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Skin blocking the ground and pound.
Poor strikes thrown by Minakov there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Minakov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pravui Skin's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fight stays on the outside here - Minakov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Skin looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Minakov is fending him off so far but Skin persists. Nope, Minakov circles away and we're back to standing.
Skin keeps the fight on the outside.
Minakov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Minakov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Minakov wants to clinch.
A jab lands there for Minakov.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Minakov looks to land a combination. Skin sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Skin takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Minakov scores with a nice body kick.

Minakov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Skin's guard.
Minakov trying to control the position from guard on top but Skin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Minakov has gone for a leg lock! Skin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Minakov's guard.
Skin is stalling in the full guard.
Skin seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Minakov for as long as he can get away with.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skin looking to sit in guard and control but Minakov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Minakov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Minakov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Skin keeping moving, preventing Minakov from controlling successfully.
Minakov throwing strikes but missing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Skin is working an open guard so Minakov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Minakov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Skin takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Skin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Skin shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Minakov pinned against the cage. Minakov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Skin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Minakov counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pravui Skin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skin struggling a bit here.

Minakov stands up and we're back to a striking position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Minakov misses with a two punch combination.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Skin. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.
Skin has his takedown stuffed

and Minakov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Skin's guard.
Minakov postures up in Skin's guard and throws a big left but Skin blocks it.
Minakov being controlled here momentarily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Minakov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Pravui Skin's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Minakov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Skin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Minakov's guard.
Minakov keeping moving, preventing Skin from controlling successfully.
Skin stops Minakov from standing up.
Skin's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Minakov wants to stand up but Skin is controlling him.
Skin stopping the sweep attempt from Minakov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skin trying to control but Minakov is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Minakov stalks Skin and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Skin's face. Skin staggers backwards, shaken.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Minakov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
A thudding body kick lands there by Minakov!
Andrey Minakov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Minakov looks to land a combination but Skin avoids it well.
Minakov scores with a push kick.
Minakov connects with a looping right hand.
Minakov misses with a low kick.
Skin shoots in for a takedown but Minakov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Skin misses with a takedown attempt

and Minakov counters with a shoot takedown. Skin fights it but they end up in guard.
Minakov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Skin works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Minakov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Skin is looking for a triangle but Minakov pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Skin is trying to keep Minakov in close.
Minakov thows a big elbow that misses.
Minakov trying to control the position from guard on top but Skin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Skin shoots and misses
and Minakov counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pravui Skin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Minakov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Skin shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Minakov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.

Skin drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Minakov dives on top into guard.
Minakov trying to control the position from guard on top but Skin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Minakov gets to his feet - Skin follows without any prompting.
Pravui Skin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Andrey Minakov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Minakov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Andrey Minakov.
Well Minakov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 25:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 25:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Andrey Minakov!