PBP Commentary

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

Halikov
vs
Welsh

174 cm
19
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
186 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vadim Halikov!
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, Michael Welsh!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Fedor Mirinova and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Welsh throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Halikov shoots in but Welsh avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Welsh jabs at Halikov's body.
Welsh looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Halikov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Halikov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Welsh is just riding it out for now. Halikov eventually gives up the hold.

Halikov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Welsh wants to get back to full guard.
Welsh gets back to full guard.
Welsh 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.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Welsh is on top in guard.
Halikov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halikov wants to sweep here but Welsh controlling him for the moment.
Welsh throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Welsh throws a strike but Halikov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Halikov won't allow Welsh to get back to his feet.
Welsh punching to the body, from the bottom.
Welsh looking for a sweep. Not yet Welsh, not yet.
Welsh keeping full guard, as Halikov tries to pass.
Halikov stopping the sweep attempt from Welsh.

Welsh working for submissions but it's allowed Halikov to get to half guard.

Halikov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Halikov is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Halikov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Welsh defends it well.
Welsh regains full guard. Nicely done.

Welsh is looking to sinch up a triangle. Halikov throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Welsh's body to avoid the submission. Welsh has instead reached around Halikov's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Welsh arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Michael Welsh!