PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anatolii Kharlampiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and josh fich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kharlampiev comes into the arena with Sambo Frustration blaring out of the sound system. Anatolii Kharlampiev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kharlampiev
vs
fich

170 cm
24
175 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

178 cm
21
170 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anatolii Kharlampiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, josh fich!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kharlampiev lands with a nice body kick.
fich moves out of range as Kharlampiev throws a body kick.
fich fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kharlampiev avoids it really well and circles away.

Kharlampiev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
fich is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kharlampiev trying to control but fich is having none of it.

Kharlampiev goes for an armbar but he's not got it… fich turns into him and now he's in Kharlampiev's guard.
fich must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kharlampiev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
fich throws and elbow that misses. Kharlampiev uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in fich's guard. Nice move by Kharlampiev!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kharlampiev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kharlampiev trying to control but fich is working from the bottom.

Kharlampiev thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kharlampiev throws a big right hand that misses.
Kharlampiev throwing strikes but missing.

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.
Kharlampiev trying to control the position from guard on top but fich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kharlampiev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kharlampiev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Kharlampiev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kharlampiev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
fich is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kharlampiev is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kharlampiev decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
fich shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kharlampiev counters with a nice double leg into side control. fich won't be happy with that.
fich can't do much from the bottom here.

Kharlampiev goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, fich rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kharlampiev's guard! Nice work there by fich!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kharlampiev is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kharlampiev wants to pass the guard but fich is keeping the position.
fich wants to sweep here but Kharlampiev controlling him for the moment.
Kharlampiev throws and elbow that misses. fich uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kharlampiev's guard. Nice move by fich!
fich is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

fich shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
fich really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kharlampiev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kharlampiev has momentary wrist control but fich slips an elbow through the middle.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as fich accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
fich lands a couple of decent looking shots.
fich missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
fich missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
fich with a flurry of punches that miss.
fich missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kharlampiev looking to hit a scissor sweep but fich is one step ahead there.
Kharlampiev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
fich thows a big elbow that misses.
fich lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kharlampiev pulls fich in close to prevent any damage.
Kharlampiev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
fich scoring with some ground and pound.
Anatolii Kharlampiev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
fich won't allow Kharlampiev to sweep him here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kharlampiev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from fich.
fich stands and throws Kharlampiev's legs to the side, diving into side control.
fich scores with punches from side control.
Kharlampiev takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
fich lands a few punches from side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
fich lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kharlampiev on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kharlampiev tries to get out of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
fich landing strikes.
Kharlampiev is working to avoid the ground and pound but fich connects with a decent elbow.
fich cracks Kharlampiev with a big elbow.
fich scores with a couple of short elbows.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kharlampiev is trying to improve his position.
fich looks up at the clock and then as Kharlampiev takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, fich smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
fich working the head with strikes.
Kharlampiev takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
fich working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
fich scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kharlampiev on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
fich scores with punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kharlampiev is working to avoid the ground and pound but fich connects with a decent elbow.
fich connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kharlampiev some visible discomfort.
Kharlampiev takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
fich working the ground and pound from side control.
fich scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kharlampiev to see if he's OK.
fich scoring with punches from side control.
fich working the ground and pound from side control.
fich cracks Kharlampiev with a big elbow.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kharlampiev taking punishment in the form of punches.
fich grinds an elbow into Kharlampiev's temple.
fich in side control lands a decent elbow.
fich cracks Kharlampiev with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kharlampiev takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
fich lands a nice forearm strike.
fich lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kharlampiev down.
fich working the ground and pound from side control.
Kharlampiev taking a bit of punishment here - fich scoring with strikes.
fich lands a decent elbow from side control.
fich scoring with punches from side control.
fich looks up at the clock and then as Kharlampiev takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, fich smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
fich is chipping away with strikes.
fich grinds an elbow into Kharlampiev's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

josh fich showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

fich fails with the takedown

and Kharlampiev counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for fich!
Poor strikes thrown by Kharlampiev there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
fich keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kharlampiev with the ground and pound from mount.

Kharlampiev looking for a guillotine from mount but fich is having none of it.
Kharlampiev thowing shots but they're missing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kharlampiev throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Kharlampiev looking to control but fich is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
fich wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kharlampiev.
Poor strikes thrown by Kharlampiev there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

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.
fich can't escape the position.
Kharlampiev throwing strikes here but fich is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Kharlampiev prevents fich from getting the reversal.
Kharlampiev wants to control the pace but fich is squirming around nicely.
Kharlampiev misses with a head shot.
fich avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kharlampiev.
Kharlampiev unloads with some shots from mount but fich bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
fich blocking the ground and pound.
Kharlampiev wants to control the pace but fich is squirming around nicely.
Kharlampiev throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Kharlampiev wants to control the pace but fich is squirming around nicely.
fich is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
fich is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Kharlampiev punching from mount but fich doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kharlampiev avoids the attempt from fich to control.
Kharlampiev unloads with some shots from mount but fich bucks and avoids them well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kharlampiev swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and fich is now in Kharlampiev's guard. A big mistake from Kharlampiev there, giving up the dominant position!

And that's the end of the fight!
Anatolii Kharlampiev showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kharlampiev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 28:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!