PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anton Kardanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tim Tungsten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kardanov comes to the cage accompanied by Riders on the storm. Tim Tungsten told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kardanov
vs
Tungsten

172 cm
19
144 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

163 cm
26
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Anton Kardanov!
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, Tim Tungsten!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tungsten misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kardanov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kardanov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Tungsten manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kardanov looks for a takedown but Tungsten sprawls well.

Kardanov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Tungsten quickly recovers to half guard.
Kardanov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kardanov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tungsten is looking for a sweep. Kardanov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kardanov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tungsten trying to hold on to Kardanov's head to control him but Kardanov postures up.
Kardanov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Kardanov is working for a kimura but Tungsten is defending it quite comfortably.
Kardanov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kardanov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Tungsten blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kardanov.

Kardanov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tungsten is looking to improve his position.
Tungsten is trying to stand.

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.
Tungsten is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Tungsten can do anything to dispel that myth.
Tungsten avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kardanov.
Kardanov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tungsten is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Kardanov is trying to control the action in half guard but Tungsten is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kardanov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Tungsten with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kardanov misses with a head shot. Tungsten uses the momentum to regain guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kardanov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kardanov works over Tungsten with some ground and pound from guard.
Kardanov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tungsten is adopting a defensive guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kardanov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tungsten looking for a sweep. Not yet Tungsten, not yet.
Kardanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Tungsten is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kardanov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kardanov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tungsten is keeping the position for now.
Tungsten keeping moving, preventing Kardanov from controlling successfully.
Kardanov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kardanov throws a big right hand that misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kardanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Tungsten is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kardanov throws and elbow that misses. Tungsten uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kardanov's guard. Nice move by Tungsten!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anton Kardanov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kardanov with a poor takedown
and Tungsten counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tungsten fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kardanov manages to avoid it.
Tungsten misses with a few strikes there.
Tungsten misses the body punch

and Kardanov counters with a single leg into guard. Tungsten didn't expect that.
Kardanov pushing down on Tungsten's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kardanov thows a huge punch but Tungsten dodges it nicely.
Kardanov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kardanov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tungsten has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kardanov is working away from the top position though.
Tungsten keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tungsten is looking to improve his position.
Tungsten keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tungsten regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Kardanov.
Kardanov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Tungsten pulls Kardanov in to control the position.

Tungsten pushes Kardanov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

Kardanov moves into the clinch successfully.
Tungsten wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Tungsten escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kardanov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Tim Tungsten is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kardanov tries to close the distance and clinch but Tungsten swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kardanov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kardanov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Kardanov rushes Tungsten and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kardanov wants the takedown. Tungsten is fighting it off but Kardanov persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Tungsten's guard against the cage.
Kardanov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tungsten works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kardanov tries to free his leg and advance position but Tungsten is retaining full guard.

Tungsten is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kardanov is aware though and is defending well.
Tungsten is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kardanov throwing strikes from guard but Tungsten blocks nicely.
Kardanov postures up in Tungsten's guard and throws a big left but Tungsten blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tungsten utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Kardanov drops back, looking for a kneebar! Tungsten looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Tungsten looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Tungsten!
Kardanov can't do much from the bottom here.
Kardanov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Tungsten works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Tungsten is putting a hurting on Kardanov here, landing some big shots from side control.
The strikes coming from Tungsten are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Tungsten working the ground and pound from side control.
Kardanov gets back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tungsten seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kardanov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kardanov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kardanov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Tungsten chips away with some ground and pound.
Tungsten engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Tungsten won't allow Kardanov to sweep him here.
Kardanov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tungsten in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Anton Kardanov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Kardanov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A combination from Tungsten does no damage.

Kardanov forces Tungsten back against the cage and clinches.
Tungsten wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Tungsten is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kardanov is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Tungsten to the mat. Tungsten regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Kardanov with a flurry of punches that miss.

Tungsten is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kardanov defends well.
Tungsten is trying to keep Kardanov in close.
Kardanov tries to free his leg and advance position but Tungsten is retaining full guard.
Kardanov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kardanov thows a big elbow that misses.
Anton Kardanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kardanov trying to move into half guard but instead Tungsten has managed to sweep!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tungsten controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kardanov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tungsten manages to get himself to full guard.
Kardanov pushes down on Tungsten's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kardanov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Tungsten blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kardanov.
Tungsten keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tungsten is trying to get back to full guard.
Kardanov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kardanov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Tungsten has managed to free his arm - good work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kardanov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kardanov thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Tungsten to regain full guard.
Kardanov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tungsten works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kardanov trying to control but Tungsten is working from the bottom.
Kardanov chips away with some ground and pound.
Tim Tungsten has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kardanovis looking to pass into half guard but Tungsten pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Tungsten is in guard.
Kardanov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tungsten is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tungsten trying to control but Kardanov is working from the bottom.
Kardanov is trying to keep Tungsten in close.
Kardanov wants to sweep here but Tungsten controlling him for the moment.
Kardanov trying to keep a closed guard but Tungsten is proving a slippery customer.
Kardanov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Tungsten is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

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.
Kardanov tries to control but Tungsten wriggling away.
Kardanov thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kardanov blocks Tungsten's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anton Kardanov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kardanov, 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anton Kardanov!