PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yevgeni Ratchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wagner Nortimoros (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wagner Nortimoros will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Ratchenko
vs
Nortimoros

178 cm
18
187 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

185 cm
25
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yevgeni Ratchenko!
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, Wagner Nortimoros!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ratchenko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Nortimoros swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Ratchenko feints and as Nortimoros raises his hands in defense, Ratchenko changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Nortimoros working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Ratchenko has passed into half guard!

Nortimoros actively working from the bottom here.
Ratchenko wants to stand up but Nortimoros is controlling the position.
Ratchenko passes the guard and advances to mount!
Nortimoros keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Poor strikes thrown by Ratchenko there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Nortimoros is looking to improve his position but Ratchenko isn't that keen on the idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ratchenko lands a big elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ratchenko controlling his opponent.
Ratchenko sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Nortimoros wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Ratchenko.
Nortimoros is wriggling around trying to escape.
Nortimoros wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Ratchenko.
Nortimoros tries to hold on but Ratchenko postures up.
Nortimoros taking shots to the head.
Ratchenko trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nortimoros really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ratchenko sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Ratchenko get's back to his feet.

Ratchenko changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Nortimoros looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Ratchenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nortimoros keeps working.
Nortimoros tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Ratchenko presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Nortimoros really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Ratchenko tries to control but Nortimoros wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ratchenko prevents Nortimoros from getting the reversal.
Ratchenko unloads with some shots from mount but Nortimoros bucks and avoids them well.
Ratchenko controlling from mount.
Nortimoros is working to get back to half guard.

Ratchenko working for a submission but Nortimoros is keeping him at bay.
Nortimoros gets back to half guard.
Ratchenko is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Nortimoros looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Ratchenko slows the pace down in half guard.
Nortimoros trying to control but Ratchenko postures up.
Ratchenko seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Nortimoros looking for submissions off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yevgeni Ratchenko dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Nortimoros will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

Ratchenko has managed to clinch.
Nortimoros letting Ratchenko take a breather here.
Ratchenko tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ratchenko prevents Nortimoros from breaking the clinch.
Ratchenko tries to score a body lock takedown but Nortimoros shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
A frustrated look appears on Nortimoros's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Nortimoros is trying to force a seperation but Ratchenko has the dominant position.

Ratchenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nortimoros lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ratchenko circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nortimoros moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

It looks like Yevgeni Ratchenko has been cut.
Nortimoros fails to land with a series of punches.
Yevgeni Ratchenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ratchenko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Nortimoros.
Nortimoros is breathing heavily.

Ratchenko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nortimoros's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nortimoros avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Ratchenko stands up from Nortimoros's guard - Ratchenko perhaps looking for a knockout.
Nortimoros misses with a few strikes there.

Ratchenko forces Nortimoros back against the cage and clinches.
Nortimoros has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Nortimoros has had enough of the clinch but Ratchenko keeps him there for the moment.
Ratchenko is struggling to control the position.

Ratchenko tightens his grip and picks Nortimoros up, before dumping him to the ground. Nortimoros manages to land in guard.
Ratchenko is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Nortimoros escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ratchenko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Nortimoros is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nortimoros looking to control but Ratchenko passes into half guard.
Nortimoros wants to control but Ratchenko is keeping busy.
Ratchenko performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Nortimoros wants to get back to full guard.

Ratchenko stands up from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nortimoros throws a series of punches but Ratchenko avoids them all with ease.

Ratchenko clinches up against the cage.
Ratchenko tries to pull guard but Nortimoros holds him up against the cage and eventually Ratchenko drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yevgeni Ratchenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ratchenko swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Ratchenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Nortimoros swinging wildly here.

Ratchenko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nortimoros's guard.

Nortimoros throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Nortimoros looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ratchenko stands and throws Nortimoros's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nortimoros is not content to let Ratchenko control the position.
Nortimoros is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Ratchenko's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Ratchenko is looking to take a break and control but Nortimoros is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ratchenko wants to stand but Nortimoros has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nortimoros looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yevgeni Ratchenko dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Yevgeni Ratchenko's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Nortimoros tries to bum rush Ratchenko with a series of wild strikes but Ratchenko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Ratchenko fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Nortimoros, pushing him back against the cage.
Nortimoros wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Ratchenko drags the fight down to the ground.
Nortimoros passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Ratchenko manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Nortimoros is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ratchenko doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Nortimoros.
Ratchenko trying to control from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ratchenko is trying to stand up here but Nortimoros is controlling him well.

Nortimoros is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Ratchenko looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Nortimoros seems to be working for a kimura but Ratchenko defends the submission attempt.
Ratchenko wants to control but Nortimoros is keeping busy.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Some wild striking there from Nortimoros.
Wagner Nortimoros seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Ratchenko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nortimoros's guard.

Nortimoros has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Ratchenko is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Nortimoros.
Ratchenko creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Nortimoros sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Ratchenko stands up.

Ratchenko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Nortimoros's guard.

Nortimoros had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ratchenko defends it easily.
Ratchenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ratchenko tries to stand but Nortimoros is controlling from the bottom.

Nortimoros looking for a guillotine here but Ratchenko defends easily.

Ratchenko got a little sloppy there for a moment and Nortimoros has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ratchenko has managed to get both his arms back between Nortimoros's legs - danger averted.
Nortimoros manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ratchenko manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nortimoros postures up.

Nortimoros 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.

Nortimoros drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ratchenko looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ratchenko looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ratchenko!
Nortimoros sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Nortimoros is trying to maintain the position but Ratchenko is very close to passing his half guard.

Nortimoros is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Ratchenko pulls his head out easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yevgeni Ratchenko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ratchenko, 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yevgeni Ratchenko!