PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Valentin Vaganov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Djambulat Evkurov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vaganov comes to the cage accompanied by Грот - Рубежи. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Vaganov
vs
Evkurov

187 cm
25
206 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

173 cm
25
203 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight 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, Valentin Vaganov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Djambulat Evkurov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vaganov throws a head kick that misses.
Vaganov darts in trying to clinch
and Evkurov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Vaganov tries to clinch but Evkurov moves out of range.
Vaganov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Vaganov lands a big head kick that sends Evkurov tumbling to the mat! Vaganov takes a step backwards and waves Evkurov back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Evkurov is rocked!

It looks like Djambulat Evkurov has been cut.
Vaganov throws a sloppy head kick and Evkurov moves out of range easily.
Evkurov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Vaganov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Evkurov.
Valentin Vaganov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Evkurov shoots in but Vaganov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Valentin Vaganov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Djambulat Evkurov.
Vaganov tries a head kick but it misses.
Evkurov tries for a takedown but Vaganov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Evkurov blocks a head kick by Vaganov.
Evkurov avoids the head kick by Vaganov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Evkurov avoids the head kick by Vaganov.
Vaganov tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Evkurov counters with a single leg into guard. Vaganov didn't expect that.
Vaganov keeping moving, preventing Evkurov from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vaganov wants to stand but Evkurov is controlling the position.
Evkurov trying to control but Vaganov is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Evkurov looking to sit in guard and control but Vaganov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Evkurov looking for a guillotine here but Vaganov defends easily.

Evkurov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vaganov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Evkurov has his foot on Vaganov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vaganov works his way back into a safe position though.
Vaganov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Evkurov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Evkurov looks gassed!

Evkurov looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Vaganov stands and steps away. Evkurov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Vaganov darts in trying to clinch

and Evkurov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evkurov is looking to advance position but Vaganov won't allow it.
Vaganov is trying to stand back up but Evkurov is controlling him
Evkurov looks to land a strike but Vaganov avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Evkurov trying to control the position from guard on top but Vaganov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Evkurov is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Valentin Vaganov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Djambulat Evkurov's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Vaganov lands a big head kick that sends Evkurov tumbling to the mat! Vaganov takes a step backwards and waves Evkurov back to his feet - he wants the finish!
Evkurov is still on wobbly legs! Can Vaganov finish him?
Evkurov fails with a takedown attempt.
Evkurov seems to have recovered his senses.
Vaganov throws a series of punches but Evkurov moves out of range.
Vaganov tries to clinch but Evkurov moves out of range.
Vaganov looks to clinch

and Evkurov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Vaganov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Evkurov on the ground.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vaganov wants to get back to his feet.
Evkurov is keen to just control but Vaganov is a slippery customer.
Evkurov is breathing heavily.
Evkurov is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Vaganov reverses the position - he's now on top in Evkurov's guard.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaganov wants to stand up but Evkurov has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Evkurov actively working from the bottom here.
Vaganov tries to stand and escape but Evkurov is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Vaganov decides to return to a standing position.

Vaganov lands a big head kick that sends Evkurov tumbling to the mat! Vaganov takes a step backwards and waves Evkurov back to his feet - he wants the finish!

That has opened up Djambulat Evkurov's cut even more.
Evkurov avoids the head kick by Vaganov.
A head kick misses from Vaganov.
Vaganov is looking to clinch.

Vaganov lands a big head kick that sends Evkurov tumbling to the mat! Vaganov takes a step backwards and waves Evkurov back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Evkurov is rocked!
Vaganov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Evkurov is still on wobbly legs! Can Vaganov finish him?
Evkurov blocks a head kick by Vaganov.
Evkurov seems to have recovered his senses.
Vaganov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Vaganov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Evkurov avoids the head kick by Vaganov.
A head kick misses from Vaganov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Evkurov blocks a head kick by Vaganov.
Evkurov connects with the punch.
Vaganov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Valentin Vaganov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vaganov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Evkurov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Vaganov's guard now.
Evkurov trying to control the position from guard on top but Vaganov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Djambulat Evkurov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Evkurov 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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Evkurov has gone for a leg lock! Vaganov slips out almost immediately though and dives into Evkurov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Evkurov has a closed guard, preventing Vaganov from standing up.

Vaganov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Vaganov wanted to stand there but Evkurov had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Look low, kick high! Vaganov uses the oldest trick in the book to send Evkurov tumbling to the canvas, in a truly brutal knockout! Vaganov is absolutely delighted - when Evkurov wakes up, I doubt he'll be quite so happy!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Valentin Vaganov!