PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sasha Lebedev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Max Beltran (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Beltran is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Big Poppa. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Lebedev
vs
Beltran

180 cm
23
180 lbs
4 - 1 - 1

183 cm
22
174 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

2KMMA Ultimate Nutrition 152 Quality
Diamond Design Clothing

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 4 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sasha Lebedev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Max Beltran!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Sergei Dronov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lebedev looks for a takedown but Beltran sprawls well.

Lebedev shoots in and bounces Beltran off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Lebedev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lebedev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Beltran trying to control the position.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Beltran is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Lebedev avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Beltran working for submissions but it's allowed Lebedev to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beltran is trying to control but can't.
Beltran tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Lebedev manages to move to mount!
Beltran flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Beltran is squirming around, avoiding Lebedev's attempts to control the action.
Lebedev seems to be looking to move to his opponent's back but Beltran is holding on tight.
Beltran is trying desperately to improve position.
Lebedev lands a nice shot to the head.
Lebedev trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Beltran tries to get back to half guard but can't.
A nice elbow there by Lebedev.
Beltran is wriggling around trying to escape.
Beltran wants to control but Lebedev is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Beltran is trying to escape the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Lebedev stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Beltran scores with the left hand. Lebedev knows he should have avoided that one.
Beltran keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lebedev takes one to the side of the head.
Lebedev takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Lebedev is breathing heavily.
A nice combination there by Beltran.
Lebedev tries to work over Beltran's front leg with a kick but Beltran checks it.
Lebedev gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Lebedev tries to move into range but Beltran moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Beltran cracks Lebedev with a good jab.

Beltran shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lebedev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Beltran landing some decent shots from guard.
Beltran content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Beltran is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Beltran controls from within his opponent's guard.
Beltran makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Beltran postures up.
Beltran trying to control the position from guard on top but Lebedev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Beltran tries to free his leg and advance position but Lebedev is retaining full guard.
Beltran stands up over Lebedev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Beltran with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Beltran drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lebedev dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Beltran has his foot on Lebedev's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lebedev works his way back into a safe position though.
Lebedev pushes down on Beltran's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Lebedev prevents Beltran from standing back up.
Beltran missing with punches from the bottom.
Beltran wants to get back to full guard but Lebedev has passed into side control.
Beltran is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Lebedev wants to take Beltran's back here but Beltran is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Beltran wants to hold on but Lebedev pushes him away.
Lebedev with good strikes from the mount here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Beltran rushes Lebedev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Beltran tries for a takedown. No joy.
Beltran misses with a hook from the clinch.
Lebedev blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Beltran jumps guard but Lebedev stands there with Beltran around his waist. Beltran gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Beltran is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Beltran swings wildly with an uppercut but Lebedev uses good head movement to avoid it.

Beltran breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Lebedev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Beltran looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Lebedev!
Lebedev tries to lock up and control but Beltran gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lebedev wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Lebedev covers up after that shot from Beltran.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lebedev is trying to break free.
Lebedev is taking damage to the body and head.
Beltran punishes Lebedev with strikes from the back mount.
Beltran scores with punches to the body.
Lebedev is trapped and Beltran is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Beltran scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Beltran is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Oooh a big shot gets through from Beltran. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Beltran looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

Lebedev defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Lebedev can't escape the position.
Beltran is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Beltran gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Beltran gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Beltran apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Lebedev moves out of range as Beltran strikes.
Beltran jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Beltran shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Beltran jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Lebedev manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Lebedev gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Lebedev is trying to stand up here but Beltran is controlling him well.
Max Beltran has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lebedev moves into full guard.
Beltran sitting in guard here, content to control.
Beltran stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lebedev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Beltran wants to control from the top but Lebedev keeps moving.
Beltran pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lebedev is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beltran trying to control the position from guard on top but Lebedev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Beltran postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Lebedev is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Beltran, into his guard.
Beltran is trying to control the position but Lebedev postures up.
Beltran is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Lebedev passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Beltran tries to buck Lebedev off but Lebedev is having none of it.
Beltran has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Beltran is not content to let Lebedev control the position.

That's four 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.

Lebedev is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Beltran is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lebedev working away.
Beltran tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Beltran stops Lebedev from passing to mount.
Beltran tries to bench press Lebedev off him but Lebedev keeps the position.
Beltran gets back to half guard.
Beltran works his way to full guard. Good work.

Beltran throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lebedev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Beltran swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Max Beltran showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Beltran with a poor takedown

and Lebedev counters with a single leg into guard. Beltran didn't expect that.
Lebedev slips nicely into half guard.
Beltran manages to get to full guard.

Beltran looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Beltran keeping moving, preventing Lebedev from controlling successfully.
Lebedev tries to free his leg and advance position but Beltran is retaining full guard.

Beltran working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lebedev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lebedev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Lebedev passes into half guard.
Lebedev controlling the action here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Beltran looking for submissions off his back.
Beltran scores with a few weak punches.

Beltran looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Beltran wants to get back to full guard.
Beltran trying to control but Lebedev postures up.

Lebedev 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.
Beltran misses with some strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Beltran tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Lebedev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Beltran cracks Lebedev with a right hand to the side of the head.
Beltran clinches but Lebedev breaks the clinch

so Lebedev counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Beltran trying to control the position.
Beltran keeping full guard, as Lebedev tries to pass.
Beltran throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Beltran had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Lebedev is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Beltran Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Lebedev's back instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beltran thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Beltran is trying to stick to Lebedev's back but Lebedev is turning into Beltran. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Beltran's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Lebedev.
Beltran is trying to keep Lebedev in close.
Beltran utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Beltran has his hands on Lebedev's head, controlling the position.
Lebedev tries to free his leg and advance position but Beltran is retaining full guard.
Lebedev postures up.
Beltran punching from the bottom.
Max Beltran is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Beltran avoids the head kick by Lebedev.
Beltran tries to land a leg kick but Lebedev saw it coming and moves away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Lebedev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Max Beltran seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Beltran connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Beltran stuns Lebedev with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Beltran connects with a crisp jab.
Beltran lands a really nice looking cross but Lebedev seems unphased.
Lebedev uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Beltran.
Beltran throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Lebedev with a lazy takedown attempt

and Beltran counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Beltran advances position into side control!
Beltran lands a nice forearm strike.
Sasha Lebedev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Beltran creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Beltran scores with punches from side control.

Beltran wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lebedev, who protects the arm well.
Beltran blocks the strikes from Lebedev.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Max Beltran.
Well Beltran 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 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Max Beltran!