PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Riad Belhanda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hedrig Pokousha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hedrig Pokousha has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Belhanda
vs
Pokousha

173 cm
23
179 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

189 cm
24
180 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Great low kicks
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Riad Belhanda!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hedrig Pokousha!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pokousha shoots in looking for a takedown. Belhanda tries to sprawl out of it but Pokousha keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the ropes. Belhanda manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Belhanda slaps away a takedown attempt from Pokousha, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Pokousha darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Pokousha is keen to just control but Belhanda is a slippery customer.
Belhanda tries to roll over but Pokousha keeps him under control.
Pokousha not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Pokousha throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Belhanda tries to roll over but Pokousha keeps him under control.
Pokousha not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Belhanda moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pokousha trying to control but Belhanda is working from the bottom.
Belhanda is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Pokousha has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pokousha pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Belhanda is keeping the position for now.
Pokousha is working Belhanda over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Pokousha is looking to work some ground and pound but Belhanda has wrist control.
Belhanda is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Belhanda lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Pokousha!
Pokousha is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha 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.

Pokousha kicks off Belhanda and gets to his feet.
Pokousha blocks a head kick by Belhanda.
A telegraphed right hand from Belhanda misses the target.

Pokousha looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
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.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Belhanda is trying to stand up here but Pokousha is controlling him well.
Belhanda avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Pokousha.
Belhanda is looking for a sweep. Pokousha is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Belhanda is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belhanda has hold of Pokousha's hands but Pokousha slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Pokousha missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Pokousha scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Belhanda trying to control but Pokousha postures up.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Pokousha connects with a nice short shot to Belhanda's temple.
Belhanda gets full guard.
Pokousha slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Pokousha postures up.
Belhanda manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Pokousha manages to get himself to full guard.
Belhanda wants to control from the top but Pokousha keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha 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.
Belhanda throws an elbow that misses. Pokousha uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Belhanda's guard. Nice move by Pokousha!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Belhanda keeping moving, preventing Pokousha from controlling successfully.
Pokousha is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Belhanda working a defensive guard here.
Belhanda tries to land a sweep but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Belhanda has momentary wrist control but Pokousha slips an elbow through the middle.
Pokousha content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hedrig Pokousha dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business.

Pokousha tries to clinch up but Belhanda circles away and keeps his distance.
Belhanda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Pokousha has closed the distance and engaged Belhanda in a clinch.
Pokousha scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Belhanda is looking to control Pokousha's arms but Pokousha gets an underhook and turns him. Now Belhanda has his back to the ropes.

Pokousha breaks from the clinch.
Pokousha misses with an uppercut.
Belhanda looks to land a left hand but Pokousha moved out of range nicely.
Pokousha with a jab.
Pokousha fails to land the takedown.

Pokousha shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Belhanda is trying to defend but Pokousha finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Pokousha trying to control the action but Belhanda is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belhanda wants to improve his position but Pokousha is controlling well.
Pokousha is thwarting Belhanda's attempts to control the position.
Belhanda moves into full guard.
Belhanda keeping moving, preventing Pokousha from controlling successfully.
Pokousha trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Pokousha won't allow Belhanda to sweep him here.
Pokousha trying to control the position from guard on top but Belhanda is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Belhanda swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Belhanda 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.
Belhanda controls Pokousha momentarily but Pokousha frees himself.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Pokousha tries to clinch but Belhanda moves out of range.
Belhanda gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Belhanda throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big right from Belhanda misses.
Pokousha is looking to clinch but Belhanda is avoiding it.
Belhanda looking to land some kicks to the body here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Pokousha sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Belhanda shoots in but Pokousha avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Pokousha tries to close the distance and clinch but Belhanda swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pokousha misses the shot to the body.
Belhanda misses with a hook. Pokousha ducked under it nicely.
Belhanda looks to score with a jab to the body but Pokousha is just out of range.

Pokousha rushes Belhanda and presses him up against the ropes.
Pokousha scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Pokousha prevents a body shot from Belhanda.

Pokousha has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Belhanda uses from the top position.
Belhanda working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha wants to sweep but no luck.
Belhanda wants to pass the guard but Pokousha is keeping the position.
Belhanda wants to stand but Pokousha is controlling his posture from full guard.
Pokousha working a defensive guard here.
Pokousha is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Hedrig Pokousha wasn't active enough on the ground.
Belhanda keeps the fight on the outside.
Pokousha moves out of range as Belhanda strikes.
Pokousha displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Belhanda.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hedrig Pokousha showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Belhanda misses with a straight right.
Pokousha tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Belhanda misses with the combination.
Belhanda scores with a kick to the midsection.
Belhanda buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Pokousha scores with a hook.
Hedrig Pokousha seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Belhanda slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Belhanda is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Pokousha's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Belhanda misses with a looping left.
Pokousha connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Pokousha avoids a punch combination nicely.
Pokousha avoids the body shot from Belhanda.

Pokousha rushes Belhanda and presses him up against the ropes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pokousha looking for a takedown.
Belhanda goes for a takedown in the clinch but Pokousha prevents it.
With the fighters clinched against the ropes, Pokousha creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Belhanda swings wildly with an uppercut but Pokousha uses good head movement to avoid it.

Pokousha lands a takedown into guard.
Belhanda has Pokousha pulled in close to control his posture.
Pokousha won't allow Belhanda to sweep him here.
Pokousha passes into half guard.
Belhanda might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Pokousha trying to control the action but Belhanda is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Belhanda gets full guard.
Pokousha controls from within his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pokousha wants to control from the top but Belhanda keeps moving.
Pokousha won't allow Belhanda to sweep him here.
Pokousha lands a couple of digs.
Pokousha cracks Belhanda with a solid left hand.
Pokousha pushing down on Belhanda's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Belhanda manages to get to full guard.
Belhanda 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belhanda keeping moving, preventing Pokousha from controlling successfully.
Pokousha working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Belhanda looking to hit a scissor sweep but Pokousha is one step ahead there.
Belhanda not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Belhanda manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pokousha is trying to escape the mount.
Belhanda misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Belhanda scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Pokousha is squirming around, avoiding Belhanda's attempts to control the action.
Belhanda looking to ground and pound but Pokousha is blocking nicely.
Pokousha is wriggling around trying to escape.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Belhanda trying to control but Pokousha is having none of it.
Belhanda with shots to the head and body - Pokousha looks very uncomfortable down there.

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 Riad Belhanda.
Well Pokousha 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Hedrig Pokousha!
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for Hedrig Pokousha!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Hedrig Pokousha!

Hedrig Pokousha wins by unanimous decision!
Hedrig Pokousha thanked the fans post fight for their support.