PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrey Varrava (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Vodkakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vladimir Vodkakov will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Varrava
vs
Vodkakov

190 cm
23
227 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

206 cm
23
270 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

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, Andrey Varrava!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Vodkakov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vodkakov tries to clinch there but Varrava circles away.
Vodkakov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Varrava misses with a head kick.
Varrava throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Vodkakov's waist but Vodkakov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Varrava off to one side.

Varrava drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Vodkakov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Vodkakov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Varrava throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Varrava distracts Vodkakov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Varrava throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Vodkakov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Varrava is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vodkakov pulls Varrava in close to his closed guard and prevents Varrava from doing any damage or advancing position.
Varrava sitting in guard here, content to control.
Vodkakov controls Varrava momentarily but Varrava frees himself.

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.
Varrava trying to control but Vodkakov is working from the bottom.
Varrava not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Andrey Varrava.
Varrava lands a nice leg kick that just misses Vodkakov's sensitive parts.
Vodkakov looks gassed!
Varrava swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Varrava closes the distance but Vodkakov moves to the side
and Vodkakov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Varrava moves into the clinch.
Varrava taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Vodkakov managing to block the knees to the body from Varrava.
Vodkakov wants to get back to striking at distance but Varrava won't allow it.

Varrava manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Varrava bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Vodkakov's guard.

Varrava gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Varrava throws a hook but Vodkakov avoids it easily.

Varrava darts in and clinches Vodkakov up against the cage.

Varrava jumps guard and drags Vodkakov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Varrava has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Vodkakov off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.

Vodkakov has Varrava up against the cage in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varrava keeps control of Vodkakov as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Varrava tightens his grip and picks Vodkakov up, before dumping him to the ground. Vodkakov manages to land in guard.
Varrava content to stall in guard here.

Varrava thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Varrava drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Varrava jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Varrava dominated that round.
That's time! Varrava's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Varrava lands a head kick. Vodkakov smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Varrava on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Varrava fails with an attempt to clinch.
Varrava shoots and misses

and Vodkakov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Vodkakov.
Vodkakov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Varrava tries to pull guard but Vodkakov holds him up against the cage and eventually Varrava drops back down to his feet.
Vodkakov tries for a takedown but Varrava manages to get underhooks.
Varrava slowing the pace effectively.
Varrava stops a takedown attempt from Vodkakov.

Varrava manages to break the clinch.
Vodkakov is breathing heavily.

Vodkakov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Varrava is stalling in the full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Varrava gets to his feet. Vodkakov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Varrava shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Vodkakov moves into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrey Varrava. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Varrava is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Vodkakov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Varrava's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Varrava pulls guard effortlessly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varrava thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Varrava lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Vodkakov!

Varrava is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!

Varrava closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Varrava lands in his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Varrava landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varrava stays in close to Vodkakov's body and controls the position.
Varrava pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vodkakov is keeping the position for now.

Varrava gets to his feet. Vodkakov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Varrava instigates a clinch.

Varrava manages to break the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vodkakov misses with a few strikes there.
Varrava is looking to clinch.
Varrava tries to clinch but Vodkakov is having none of it.

Varrava pushes Vodkakov up against the cage in a clinch.

Varrava gets a trip takedown into half guard.

Varrava stands up and beckons Vodkakov to join him on the feet.
Varrava throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Varrava looks for a takedown but Vodkakov sprawls well.
Vodkakov has his takedown stuffed

and Varrava holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Varrava dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Vodkakov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Varrava lands a body shot.
Varrava shoots and misses

and Vodkakov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Varrava won't be happy with that.
Varrava is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Andrey Varrava overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Varrava is not content to let Vodkakov control the position.
Varrava wants to control but Vodkakov postures up.
Vodkakov throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Varrava throws Vodkakov to one side and escapes!
Vodkakov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Varrava circles away quickly and effectively.
Varrava lands with a thumping leg kick.

Varrava darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Well, if Varrava is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Vodkakov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varrava performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Vodkakov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Varrava here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Vodkakov is looking to escape.
Varrava sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Varrava lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vodkakov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Varrava with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Andrey Varrava.

Varrava closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Vodkakov to the mat! Vodkakov manages to get full guard.
Varrava trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Varrava scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Vladimir Vodkakov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Vodkakov is rocked!

Varrava drops back looking for a submission - "I'm sorry sir, but I'm gunna break your leg" says Varrava as he cranks on the unfortunate limb! Vodkakov screams and taps out before any major damage is done! Don't mess with Varrava! Nice submission victory there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kneebar). Andrey Varrava!