PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Maxim Dunaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Andrey Varrava (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Varrava has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Andrey Varrava has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Dunaev
vs
Varrava

195 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
23
227 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

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, Maxim Dunaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrey Varrava!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dunaev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
No luck for Dunaev with that takedown attempt.
Varrava tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Varrava misses with a wild combination.
Crunch! Dunaev slams his shin into Varrava's torso.
Varrava throws a head kick but Dunaev moves out of range.
Varrava shoots in looking for a takedown. Dunaev tries to sprawl out of it but Varrava keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dunaev manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Varrava looks gassed!
Dunaev shoots and misses

and Varrava counters with a shoot takedown. Dunaev fights it but they end up in guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxim Dunaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dunaev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Varrava defends well.
Dunaev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Varrava stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Dunaev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Varrava sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Dunaev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dunaev has his takedown stuffed

and Varrava counters by moving into the clinch.
Varrava goes for a takedown in the clinch but Dunaev prevents it.
Dunaev tries to pull guard but Varrava holds him up against the cage and eventually Dunaev drops back down to his feet.
Dunaev drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Dunaev gets control of Varrava's arms and successfully pulls guard. Dunaev will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Varrava tries to free his leg and advance position but Dunaev is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varrava postures up.
Dunaev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Varrava is one step ahead there.

Varrava drops back, looking for a kneebar! Dunaev looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Dunaev looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Dunaev!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dunaev trying to control the position but Varrava is working away.
Dunaev is really struggling to control Varrava but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dunaev has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Varrava displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Dunaev.
Dunaev shoots and misses

and Varrava counters by clinching up.
Dunaev can't break the clinch.
Dunaev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Varrava smiles and moves away.
Varrava fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varrava avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dunaev has his takedown stuffed

and Varrava moves into the clinch.
Varrava tries to score a body lock takedown but Dunaev shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Varrava keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Dunaev's efforts to push away.
Dunaev is trying to force a seperation but Varrava has the dominant position.
Dunaev taking a breather.
Varrava jumps guard but Dunaev stands there with Varrava around his waist. Varrava gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Varrava is looking to break free of the clinch but Dunaev has double underhooks.

Dunaev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Dunaev clinches with his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Varrava circles away from the clinch attempt.
Dunaev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Varrava counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Dunaev is lucky that one didn't land flush.
No joy there for Dunaev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Dunaev closes the distance but Varrava moves to the side

and Varrava counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Varrava prevents Dunaev from improving his position.
Dunaev is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Varrava's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Varrava's back!
Dunaev is looking to control Varrava but Varrava is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dunaev is hanging on to Varrava's back as he tries to escape.
A lull in the action here.
Dunaev avoiding Varrava 's attempts to control his hands.
Varrava is keeping busy.

That's two 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.
Dunaev throwing wild punches that miss their target.
Varrava has his hands over his head blocking the strikes from Dunaev.
Varrava trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Dunaev struggling to land strikes to the head as Varrava covers up.
Varrava covering up well under a series of strikes from Dunaev.
Varrava wants to escape the position.

Dunaev is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Varrava is defending well though. Dunaev let's go of the attempt for now.
Dunaev scores with strikes from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dunaev looking for the RNC.
Varrava wants to escape the position.
Varrava is keeping busy.

Dunaev looking for the choke from the back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Dunaev is controlling the position but Varrava somehow manages to roll and ends up with half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dunaev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Varrava counters with a single leg into guard. Dunaev didn't expect that.

Varrava gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Varrava swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Dunaev counters with a single leg into guard. Varrava didn't expect that.
Varrava tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dunaev wants to stand but Varrava is controlling his posture from full guard.
Dunaev trying to control the position from guard on top but Varrava is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrey Varrava showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A slapping leg kick lands for Dunaev.
Dunaev shoots and misses

and Varrava counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Varrava wants to stand up but Dunaev manages to regain full guard.
Dunaev wants to stand and escape but Varrava is having none of it.
Varrava seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Varrava throwing strikes from guard but Dunaev blocks nicely.
Varrava tries to stand but Dunaev is controlling from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varrava won't allow Dunaev to sweep him here.
Varrava stops Dunaev from standing up.
Varrava stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dunaev swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dunaev gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Varrava counters with a head kick.
Maxim Dunaev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Dunaev fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Maxim Dunaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Varrava shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Dunaev napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varrava grinds an elbow into Dunaev's temple.
Dunaev avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Varrava.
Varrava is looking to take a break and control but Dunaev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Varrava prevents Dunaev from escaping the position.
Dunaev is trying to get back to half guard.
Varrava trying to control the position but Dunaev is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varrava tries to move to mount but Dunaev blocks the move with his legs.
Dunaev managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Varrava.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Dunaev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Varrava paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dunaev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Varrava was well out of range. Poor timing from Dunaev.
Dunaev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Varrava paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Dunaev tries for a takedown but Varrava circles away easily

and Varrava counters with a single leg into guard. Dunaev didn't expect that.
Dunaev is looking to stand back up but Varrava counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Dunaev.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varrava is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Dunaev tries to roll over but Varrava keeps him under control.
Varrava passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Dunaev!
Dunaev tries to hold on but Varrava pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Andrey Varrava comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Varrava 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

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