PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Yevgeni Raduchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rodrick Skiter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Raduchenko
vs
Skiter

178 cm
24
187 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

188 cm
30
197 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Good gas tank

SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI
SPARTA FIGHTWARE-GTI

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yevgeni Raduchenko!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Rodrick Skiter!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksandr Martynov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Skiter slaps away a takedown attempt from Raduchenko, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Raduchenko shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Skiter manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Raduchenko is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Raduchenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Raduchenko postures up in Skiter's guard and throws a big left but Skiter blocks it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Raduchenko prevents Skiter from getting back to his feet.
Skiter wants to sweep here but Raduchenko controlling him for the moment.
Raduchenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Skiter works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Raduchenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Raduchenko trying to control but Skiter is working from the bottom.
Raduchenko advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raduchenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Skiter really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Raduchenko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Raduchenko is working for a kimura but Skiter is defending it quite comfortably.

Raduchenko is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Skiter doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Raduchenko.
Skiter tries to roll over but Raduchenko keeps him under control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Skiter tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Raduchenko manages to move to mount!
Raduchenko punching from mount but Skiter doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raduchenko with the ground and pound from mount.
Raduchenko 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.
Skiter tries to lock up and control but Raduchenko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
A nice elbow there by Raduchenko.
Raduchenko in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raduchenko lands a big shot there that rocks Skiter but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Raduchenko jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Skiter manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Skiter is looking for a sweep.

Raduchenko is trying to get an arm triangle but Skiter is defending well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Skiter is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raduchenko throws a strike aimed at the side of Skiter's head but Skiter avoids it well.
Skiter can't do much from the bottom here.
Skiter prevents Raduchenko from moving into mount.
Raduchenko controlling from side mount.
Skiter tries to improve position but can't.
Skiter gets back to half guard.

Skiter is defending against the submission attempts here by Raduchenko.
Raduchenko winds up and cracks Skiter with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raduchenko trying to pass the guard but Skiter defending well.
Raduchenko is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Raduchenko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Skiter does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Raduchenko trying to control the pace.
Raduchenko lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skiter is staying active underneath Raduchenko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yevgeni Raduchenko dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Raduchenko gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Raduchenko tries a body shot but Skiter blocks it.
Raduchenko misses with a body punch.

Raduchenko drags the fight down to the ground.
Raduchenko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Skiter is one step ahead there.

Raduchenko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Skiter can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Raduchenko throws his legs up looking for a submission but Skiter uses it to pass to side control.
Yevgeni Raduchenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Skiter has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skiter misses with a jab, cross combination.
Raduchenko takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Raduchenko is defended easily by Skiter.
Skiter just misses with a punch to the body.
Skiter fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Skiter throws a right and a left that Raduchenko avoids nicely.
Yevgeni Raduchenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Skiter tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Raduchenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Skiter.
Skiter misses with a looping right.
Skiter looks to throw the jab but Raduchenko is out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raduchenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Raduchenko is defended easily by Skiter.

Raduchenko looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Raduchenko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Skiter does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raduchenko working Skiter over with strikes.
Raduchenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Skiter is trying to control but can't.

Raduchenko looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Skiter is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raduchenko is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Skiter!
Raduchenko lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Skiter hang on?
Raduchenko working the ground and pound effectively.

Raduchenko is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Skiter has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Skiter!
Skiter is looking to stand up but Raduchenko won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raduchenko 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 Raduchenko is on top in guard.

Raduchenko 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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Skiter looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Raduchenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Raduchenko throwing strikes from guard but Skiter blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yevgeni Raduchenko dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Raduchenko looks to land a left hand but Skiter moved out of range nicely.
Raduchenko throws the kick towards the body but Skiter avoids it.
Skiter looks to land a combination but Raduchenko avoids it well.
Raduchenko throws a jab but it's blocked by Skiter.
Raduchenko cracks Skiter with a right hand to the side of the head.
Rodrick Skiter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Skiter misses with a looping right.
Raduchenko punishes Skiter's body with a nice straight punch.
Skiter avoids the body shot from Raduchenko.
Raduchenko fails with a takedown attempt.

Raduchenko drives through with a takedown into Skiter's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Skiter holds on and takes a little breather.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skiter keeping moving, preventing Raduchenko from controlling successfully.
Skiter trying to control the position.
Skiter working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Raduchenko.
Raduchenko won't allow Skiter to get back to his feet.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Raduchenko stands up over Skiter, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Raduchenko chips away with some ground and pound.
Raduchenko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Raduchenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Skiter has wrist control.
Raduchenko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Skiter's head.
Raduchenko advances position into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raduchenko postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Raduchenko advances to full mount.
Raduchenko postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Skiter looks a forlorn figure.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Skiter sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Raduchenko prevents Skiter from standing back up.
Raduchenko trying to mount his opponent but Skiter defends it.
Raduchenko wants to control but Skiter is keeping him busy.
Skiter manages to get to full guard.
Raduchenko throwing strikes from guard but Skiter blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raduchenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Skiter swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Raduchenko throws a big right hand that misses.
Raduchenko passes into half guard.
Raduchenko perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Raduchenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Raduchenko is working for a kimura but Skiter is defending it quite comfortably.
Raduchenko is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skiter wants to get back to his feet.

Raduchenko wants to work for an arm triangle but Skiter is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Skiter has hold of Raduchenko's hands but Raduchenko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Raduchenko prevents Skiter from standing back up.
Raduchenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Skiter keeps working.
Raduchenko content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Skiter works his way to full guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yevgeni Raduchenko clearly takes that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Skiter scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Skiter ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Skiter looks to land a left hand but Raduchenko moved out of range nicely.
Raduchenko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Skiter manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Nice sprawl there from Skiter as Raduchenko shoots in.
Raduchenko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Skiter circles away.
Skiter misses with a right hand
and Raduchenko counters with a stiff right hand.
Skiter stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Skiter wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yevgeni Raduchenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Raduchenko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Skiter.
Skiter throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Skiter throws a sloppy body shot
and Raduchenko connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Raduchenko shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Skiter pinned against the cage. Skiter gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skiter lands with a right hand.
Raduchenko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Raduchenko is looking to clinch.
A jab from Skiter misses.
Raduchenko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Skiter sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Raduchenko looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Skiter looking for a sweep. Not yet Skiter, not yet.
Raduchenko throws a strike but Skiter rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Skiter sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Raduchenko's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skiter tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Raduchenko.
Skiter trying to control the action but Raduchenko is working from the bottom.
Skiter trying to pass the guard but Raduchenko defending well.

Raduchenko looking for submissions off his back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Skiter perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Skiter wants to stand but Raduchenko has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Raduchenko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Skiter seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Raduchenko looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raduchenko gets back to full guard.
Skiter trying to control but Raduchenko is working from the bottom.

Raduchenko looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Skiter has picked Raduchenko up and slammed him! Raduchenko can't keep hold of the triangle and Skiter manages to pass to side control!
Skiter remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Raduchenko tries to improve position but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rodrick Skiter dominated that fourth round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Raduchenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Raduchenko throws the kick towards the body but Skiter avoids it.
Raduchenko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Skiter.
Raduchenko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Skiter tries to avoid it but Raduchenko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Skiter to the ground. Skiter escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Skiter cracks Raduchenko with a right hand to the side of the head.
The fighters circling - Skiter throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Skiter keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Skiter digs a good body shot into Raduchenko's ribs.
Raduchenko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Skiter.
Raduchenko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Skiter but Skiter pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yevgeni Raduchenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Skiter. Those never looked like landing.
Raduchenko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Skiter misses the shot to the body.
Skiter misses with a hook.
Raduchenko takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Skiter with a jab.
Raduchenko fails with an attempt to clinch.

Raduchenko closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Raduchenko stands up and beckons Skiter to his feet.
Raduchenko scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rodrick Skiter has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skiter avoids the body shot from Raduchenko.
Skiter just misses with a punch to the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A combination from Skiter does no damage.
Raduchenko throws a body punch but Skiter moves out of range.

Raduchenko closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Skiter's guard.
Skiter wants to stand up but Raduchenko is controlling him.
Raduchenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Skiter is keeping the position for now.
Raduchenko won't allow Skiter to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raduchenko is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Raduchenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Skiter has wrist control.
Skiter looking for a sweep. Not yet Skiter, not yet.
Raduchenko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Raduchenko lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Raduchenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Skiter is keeping the position for now.
Yevgeni Raduchenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Raduchenko wants to control from the top but Skiter keeps moving.
Raduchenko controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Raduchenko won't allow Skiter to get back to his feet.
Raduchenko passes Skiter's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Raduchenko keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Skiter actively working from the bottom here.

Skiter looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Raduchenko takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Raduchenko tries to pass the half guard into mount. Skiter knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yevgeni Raduchenko.
I think Raduchenko 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 49:46
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 49:46
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yevgeni Raduchenko!
Yevgeni Raduchenko retains his middleweight title!
A relieved looking Yevgeni Raduchenko thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.