PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sasha Ku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sashok Relatoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sasha Ku has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Ku
vs
Relatoff

183 cm
22
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

200 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light 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, Sasha Ku!
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, Sashok Relatoff!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Ivan Kurochkin and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ku shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Relatoff sprawls well. Relatoff wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ku gets slowly back to his feet.
Ku looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Ku closes the distance and clinches up with Relatoff, looking for a takedown. Ku pushes Relatoff against the cage but Relatoff circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ku fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sasha Ku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ku is defended easily by Relatoff.
Nice takedown defense from Relatoff. No joy for Ku on that attempt.

Relatoff looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Relatoff throwing strikes but missing.
Relatoff stands up over Ku, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Relatoff controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Relatoff missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Relatoff stays in close to Ku's body and controls the position.
I looks like Relatoff might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Ku trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Relatoff controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Relatoff forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Relatoff controlling the action here.
Relatoff has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Let's hope that Relatoff has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Sashok Relatoff.
Ku with a poor takedown

and Relatoff counters with a single leg into guard. Ku didn't expect that.
Relatoff controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ku looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Relatoff puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Still in half guard, Relatoff seems content to control.
Ku is trying to maintain the position but Relatoff is very close to passing his half guard.
Relatoff prevents Ku from improving his position.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four 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.

Ku looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ku has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Relatoff is working away from the top position though.

Ku looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ku is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sashok Relatoff dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ku fails with the takedown

and Relatoff counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Ku is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Relatoff controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Relatoff slips nicely into half guard.
Relatoff controlling the action here.
Ku tries to get to full guard but Relatoff has control of the leg.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ku looking for submissions off his back.
Ku is trying to get back to full guard.
Ku is working hard here to advance position.
Ku trying to hold on to Relatoff's head to control him but Relatoff postures up.

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.
Relatoff trying to control the pace.
Ku wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Ku throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Relatoff counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ku is trying to stand up here but Relatoff is controlling him well.
Still in half guard, Relatoff seems content to control.
Ku tries to roll over but Relatoff keeps him under control.
Ku might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Ku looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

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

Ku looking for submissions off his back.
Ku trying to control but Relatoff postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Ku is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Relatoff pulls his head out easily.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ku doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Relatoff counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Ku makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ku.

Relatoff avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Ku working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Relatoff has passed into half guard!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sashok Relatoff showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ku gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Relatoff counters with a single leg into guard. Ku didn't expect that.

Ku looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Relatoff passes into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ku is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Relatoff is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ku looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ku is looking to control Relatoff's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ku avoid being mounted?

Ku actively working from the bottom here.
Ku is looking to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Relatoff seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Ku actively working from the bottom here.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Ku actively working from the bottom here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Relatoff in particular looking to stall.
Ku wants to get back to full guard.
Relatoff takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Ku trying to hold on to Relatoff's head to control him but Relatoff postures up.

Ku looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Relatoff is thwarting Ku's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Still in half guard, Relatoff seems content to control.
Ku tries to roll over but Relatoff keeps him under control.
Relatoff is trying to control. Ku wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ku with a poor takedown

and Relatoff counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ku!
Sashok Relatoff has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ku is wriggling around trying to escape.
Sasha Ku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sashok Relatoff is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Relatoff content just to control the position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sashok Relatoff comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Relatoff 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sashok Relatoff!