PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Georgy Degratov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mike Ambrouse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Degratov
vs
Ambrouse

179 cm
22
191 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Georgy Degratov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mike Ambrouse!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ambrouse shoots in for a takedown but Degratov shows good takedown defense.
Ambrouse tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Degratov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Degratov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ambrouse is defended easily by Degratov.
Degratov lands a jab to the head.

It looks like Mike Ambrouse has been cut.
Degratov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Degratov fails to land with a series of punches.
Ambrouse checks a leg kick.
Degratov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Ambrouse.
Georgy Degratov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Ambrouse.
Ambrouse shoots in for a double leg but Degratov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Degratov dips to his left and cracks Ambrouse with an uppercut!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A decent looking cross lands there for Degratov.
Ambrouse tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ambrouse slips a jab and a cross from Degratov.
Degratov misses with an uppercut
and Ambrouse makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Degratov looks to throw the jab but Ambrouse is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ambrouse fails with a takedown attempt.
Georgy Degratov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Degratov misses with a combination
and Ambrouse counters with a nice body kick.
Degratov scores with the left hand. Ambrouse knows he should have avoided that one.
Ambrouse moves out of range as Degratov strikes.
Degratov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Nice straight punches there by Degratov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Degratov.

That has opened up Mike Ambrouse's cut even more.
A combination from Degratov does no damage.
Degratov stuffs the takedown attempt from Ambrouse. Ambrouse gets slowly back to his feet.
Ambrouse looks gassed!
Degratov looks to land a right hand but Ambrouse moved out of range.
A nice combination there by Degratov.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ambrouse ducks under a wild hook from Degratov.
Degratov lands with a good body shot.
Ambrouse shoots for a double leg takedown but Degratov sprawls well. He's pushed Ambrouse's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Degratov swinging wildly here.
Degratov throws a series of punches but Ambrouse moves out of range.
Degratov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Degratov.
Degratov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Degratov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ambrouse.
Degratov throws a hook to the side of Ambrouse's head but Ambrouse sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A jab from Degratov misses.
Ambrouse closes the distance and clinches up with Degratov, looking for a takedown. Ambrouse pushes Degratov against the cage but Degratov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ambrouse staying out of range there.
Degratov misses with a straight right.
Degratov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ambrouse showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Degratov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Degratov leaves Ambrouse with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Ambrouse shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Degratov sprawls well. Degratov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ambrouse gets slowly back to his feet.
Degratov stalks Ambrouse and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ambrouse's face. Ambrouse staggers backwards, shaken.
Ambrouse tries to move into range but Degratov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Degratov fails to land with a series of punches.
Degratov swings widly with a right hand
and Ambrouse counters with a series of strikes. Degratov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Degratov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Degratov moves out of range as Ambrouse throws a body kick.
Degratov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Degratov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Degratov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Degratov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ambrouse counters with a straight right hand.
Degratov throws a combination that misses
and Ambrouse counters with a big head kick but Degratov shrugs it off.
Ambrouse throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Degratov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice body punch from Degratov.
Ambrouse is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Degratov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice defenses there by Ambrouse.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ambrouse closes this distance looking for a takedown but Degratov circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georgy Degratov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mike Ambrouse's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Degratov misses with a series of wild punches.
Degratov throws a left and a right that both miss
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
A combination from Degratov does no damage.
Degratov looks to land a combination but Ambrouse avoids it well.
A punch combination from Degratov misses.

Ambrouse gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Ambrouse breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ambrouse shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Degratov pinned against the cage. Degratov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ambrouse tries to clinch but Degratov moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ambrouse tries to close the distance and clinch but Degratov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ambrouse fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ambrouse tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Degratov. Those never looked like landing.
Georgy Degratov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Degratov connects with a crisp jab.
Ambrouse is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ambrouse uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Degratov.
Ambrouse fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ambrouse shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Degratov pinned against the cage. Degratov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Georgy Degratov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Ambrouse.
A combination from Degratov does no damage.
Degratov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Ambrouse tries to clinch up.
Degratov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ambrouse moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Georgy Degratov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Degratov misses with a left hand
and Ambrouse counters with a two punch combo.
Ambrouse lands with a thumping leg kick.
Degratov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Ambrouse's head.
Ambrouse is trying desperately to land a takedown but Degratov is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Ambrouse.
Ambrouse shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Degratov pinned against the cage. Degratov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Georgy Degratov is winning the standup battle so far.
Degratov takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Degratov misses with a two punch combination.
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!
Ambrouse showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Degratov.
Ambrouse fails with a takedown attempt.
A punch combination from Degratov misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ambrouse misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ambrouse gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Degratov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ambrouse moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Nice straight punches there by Degratov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Degratov.
Degratov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ambrouse moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ambrouse shoots in looking for a takedown but Degratov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ambrouse's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Degratov throws a wild body kick that Ambrouse sees coming a mile off.
Ambrouse avoids the head kick by Degratov.
Ambrouse avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Ambrouse misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Degratov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ambrouse circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Degratov misses with a wild combination.
Ambrouse fails with a takedown attempt.
Degratov moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Degratov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ambrouse.
Left hook, right uppercut from Degratov.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ambrouse is looking to clinch.
Degratov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Donk. Ambrouse catches Degratov right on the button with a cross.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georgy Degratov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mike Ambrouse's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Degratov missing with a left hand there. Ambrouse was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Degratov throws an off balance right hand

and Ambrouse counters by clinching up.
Ambrouse has Degratov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Degratov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Degratov has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Degratov is trying to break free.
Degratov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ambrouse fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Degratov has Ambrouse pressed against the cage, preventing Ambrouse from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Degratov can't break the clinch.
Degratov can't break the clinch.
Degratov gets underhooks to prevent Ambrouse's takedown attempt.
Georgy Degratov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mike Ambrouse.
Ambrouse takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ambrouse prevents Degratov from breaking the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A bit of stalling here from Ambrouse.
Degratov wants to break free but Ambrouse has control.
Ambrouse jumps guard but Degratov stands there with Ambrouse around his waist. Ambrouse gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ambrouse drops down looking for an ankle pick but Degratov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Degratov swinging wildly here.
Degratov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ambrouse.
Ambrouse bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Degratov looks to land a body kick but Ambrouse moved away.
Degratov throws a series of punches but Ambrouse avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ambrouse looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Degratov misses with an uppercut.
Degratov throws a half hearted mid kick.
Degratov throws a series of punches but Ambrouse moves out of range.
Degratov misses with a wild combination.

Ambrouse has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ambrouse tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Degratov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Ambrouse looking for a takedown.
Degratov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Degratov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ambrouse has him pressed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ambrouse keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Degratov's efforts to push away.
Degratov wants to break free but Ambrouse has control.
Ambrouse jumps guard but Degratov stands there with Ambrouse around his waist. Ambrouse gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Degratov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Degratov is trying to break free.
Ambrouse can't get the takedown.
Ambrouse prevents Degratov from breaking the clinch.
Ambrouse is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ambrouse is persisting with his attempts to control the action in the clinch, rather than do any real damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Degratov tries to break the clinch but Ambrouse is controlling the position.
A frustrated look appears on Degratov's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Degratov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Degratov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Ambrouse fails in his attempt to clinch.
Degratov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Degratov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Ambrouse rushes Degratov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Degratov is trying to break the clinch but Ambrouse is controlling him.
Ambrouse is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Degratov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Mike Ambrouse has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Georgy Degratov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ambrouse is trying to drag Degratov to the mat but Degratov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Georgy Degratov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Degratov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Georgy Degratov!