PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rudolf Dart (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erlan Baltabekov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Erlan Baltabekov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Dart
vs
Baltabekov

205 cm
25
255 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

176 cm
20
240 lbs
4 - 9 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rudolf Dart!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Erlan Baltabekov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Illya Tyunina and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oooooh!!! Baltabekov has knocked Dart down with a huge combo! Baltabekov steps away and waves a wobbly Dart back to his feet! This one might not go much longer!

It looks like Rudolf Dart has been cut.
Dart looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
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!

Baltabekov drives through with a takedown into guard.

Dart is rocked!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Baltabekov wants to stand but Dart has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Oh Dart is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

Dart escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Baltabekov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Dart seems to have got his legs back now.
Dart is looking to stand up but Baltabekov isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Baltabekov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Baltabekov wants to control from the top but Dart keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Baltabekov gets to his feet - Dart follows without any prompting.
Nice takedown defense from Baltabekov. No joy for Dart on that attempt.

Baltabekov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Dart was covering up waiting for the punch and Baltabekov finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Baltabekov stands up and waves to Dart to follow him.
Baltabekov has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baltabekov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Dart.

Baltabekov pushes Dart up against the ropes in a clinch.
Baltabekov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the ropes enables Dart to keep the fight standing.
Baltabekov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Dart is trying to pull guard but Baltabekov has him pressed against the ropes.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Baltabekov is looking to take this one to the mat.
Rudolf Dart has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erlan Baltabekov.
Baltabekov stalls.

Baltabekov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Dart is trying to keep an underhook but Baltabekov manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baltabekov wants to pass to mount but Dart is defending the position.
Baltabekov is trying to control the action in half guard but Dart is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Dart wants to control but Baltabekov is keeping busy.
Dart is trying to get back to full guard.
Dart wants to control the action here but instead Baltabekov manages to pass to full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baltabekov wants to control the pace but Dart is squirming around nicely.
Baltabekov landing strikes, looking to finish!
Baltabekov content just to control the position here.
Dart is looking to improve his position but Baltabekov isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Baltabekov with the ground and pound from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erlan Baltabekov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rudolf Dart's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

A jab lands there for Baltabekov.
Baltabekov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Dart paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Baltabekov misses with a few strikes there.
Dart connects with a good right hand that stumbles Baltabekov. Baltabekov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Dart tries to sprawl but Baltabekov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Baltabekov is thwarting Dart's attempts to control the position.
Baltabekov tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Dart.
Baltabekov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dart keeps working.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Dart looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Erlan Baltabekov has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baltabekov wants to stand up but Dart is controlling the position.
Dart is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Baltabekov is keen to just control but Dart is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Erlan Baltabekov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Baltabekov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Dart looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Dart trying to control the position from guard on top but Baltabekov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dart won't allow Baltabekov to get back to his feet.
Dart trying to control but Baltabekov is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baltabekov is trying to control the position but Dart postures up.
Dart wants to control from the top but Baltabekov keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rudolf Dart wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Dart tries to sprawl but Baltabekov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Baltabekov trying to pass the guard but Dart defending well.
Baltabekov working the head and body with strikes.
Dart tries to get to full guard but Baltabekov has control of the leg.
Dart is not content to let Baltabekov control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Baltabekov is looking for a kimura but Dart is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Baltabekov to get the leverage.
Baltabekov is trying to control. Dart wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Baltabekov is stalling here. Dart is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Baltabekov seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Dart has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Dart trying to control the action but Baltabekov is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baltabekov stops Dart from passing to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erlan Baltabekov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rudolf Dart's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Baltabekov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Dart counters by clinching up.
Dart gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Baltabekov.

Dart manages to pull guard.
Dart looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Dart is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Baltabekov is controlling him.
Dart keeping moving, preventing Baltabekov from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Baltabekov won't allow Dart to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baltabekov wants to control from the top but Dart keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Erlan Baltabekov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Baltabekov fails to land the takedown.
Rudolf Dart has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erlan Baltabekov.
Baltabekov dives in and grabs Dart's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dart pushes down on Baltabekov's head and hops out.
Baltabekov dives in and grabs Dart's left leg, looking for a takedown. Dart pushes down on Baltabekov's head and hops out.
Baltabekov misses with a two punch combination.
Dart stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dart wants it to stay on the feet.
Baltabekov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Dart swivels and escapes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dart tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Baltabekov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Baltabekov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Dart quickly recovers to half guard.
Baltabekov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Dart!
Baltabekov controlling the pace for now.
Dart is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dart wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Baltabekov tries to get the hooks in deep but Dart pushed the leg off.
Baltabekov slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Dart prevents Baltabekov from getting a body triangle.
Dart trying to get back to his feet but Baltabekov is in full control for now.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Baltabekov's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dart trying to control the action but Baltabekov just sinks the hooks in.
Baltabekov lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Dart tries to escape the position.
Dart is trapped and Baltabekov is scoring with shots to the head and body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erlan Baltabekov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Baltabekov 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 for Erlan Baltabekov!
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Erlan Baltabekov!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Erlan Baltabekov!

Erlan Baltabekov wins by unanimous decision!