PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Evgeniy Borashikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edine Lion (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Edine Lion will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Borashikov
vs
Lion

187 cm
21
255 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
230 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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, Evgeniy Borashikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Edine Lion!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Borashikov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Borashikov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Borashikov wants to control from the top but Lion keeps moving.
Lion is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Lion looking to hit a scissor sweep but Borashikov is one step ahead there.
Borashikov wants to control from the top but Lion keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Borashikov wants to pass the guard but Lion is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Borashikov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lion looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've been hearing good reports from Borashikov's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Lion is trying to control the position but Borashikov postures up.
Lion keeping full guard, as Borashikov tries to pass.
Lion wants to sweep here but Borashikov controlling him for the moment.
Borashikov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Borashikov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Lion has hold of Borashikov's hands but Borashikov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borashikov wants to pass to mount but Lion is defending the position.
Borashikov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Lion wants to get back to full guard.
Lion pushes Borashikov off looking to stand but Borashikov dives back in and keeps control.
Borashikov controlling the pace.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Lion is looking for a sweep. Borashikov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Borashikov is working for a submission of some sort.
Lion is refusing to be controlled, as Borashikov sits in half guard.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lion avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lion is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Borashikov tries for a takedown but Lion sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Borashikov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Lion circles away.
Borashikov tries to clinch there but Lion circles away.
Lion fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Borashikov avoids it really well and circles away.
Borashikov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Lion pinned against the cage. Lion gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evgeniy Borashikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borashikov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Lion avoids it really well and circles away.

Lion closes the distance and pushes Borashikov back into the cage.
Lion can't break the clinch.
Lion tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Borashikov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lion wants to break the clinch but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lion prevents the takedown attempt.

Borashikov successfully pulls guard.

Lion avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Borashikov is breathing heavily.
Lion looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeniy Borashikov dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Borashikov shoots in looking for a takedown but Lion manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Borashikov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Evgeniy Borashikov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lion scores with a three punch combo!

Lion gets a clinch.
Borashikov stops a takedown attempt from Lion.
Lion gets underhooks to prevent Borashikov's takedown attempt.
Borashikov is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Lion to keep the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evgeniy Borashikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lion drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Borashikov gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Borashikov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Lion is trying to keep an underhook but Borashikov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Lion is looking to escape.

Borashikov is working for a submission of some sort.
Lion looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Borashikov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lion sees it coming and defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Borashikov frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Borashikov fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Lion 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.
Lion wants to control but Borashikov is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Borashikov controlling the pace.
Lion keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Borashikov controlling the action here.

Lion makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Lion is looking to score with low kicks.
No luck for Lion with that takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Borashikov gets the takedown into side control.
Lion is pushing Borashikov's head away, looking to escape. Borashikov manages to hold on to the position though.
Lion is looking to reverse the position.
Borashikov wants to control but Lion is keeping him busy.
Lion is trying to control Borashikov's posture but Borashikov avoids it.
Borashikov gets to mount! Lion was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Lion regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borashikov controlling the pace.
Lion trying to control from the bottom.

Borashikov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lion sees it coming and defends easily.

Lion looking for submissions off his back.
Lion is breathing heavily.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lion keeping control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Edine Lion will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Borashikov is looking to clinch but Lion is avoiding it.
Lion throws out a leg kick but Borashikov moves out of range and Lion only half commits.
Nice uppercut there from Lion.

Borashikov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lion sprawls well initially but Borashikov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Borashikov is thwarting Lion's attempts to control the position.
Still in half guard, Borashikov seems content to control.
Borashikov wants to stand but Lion has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Borashikov stops Lion from getting back to his feet.
Borashikov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Lion does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Lion is trying to stand back up but Borashikov is controlling him

That's one minute gone in the round.

Borashikov wants to work for an arm triangle but Lion is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Borashikov not landing any meaningful shots this time.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Borashikov closes the distance and pushes Lion back into the cage.
Borashikov jumps guard but Lion turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Borashikov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Lion gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Borashikov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Borashikov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Lion smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evgeniy Borashikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lion tries to clinch up but Borashikov circles away and keeps his distance.

Lion fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Borashikov, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lion pulls guard successfully.
Borashikov looking to pass the guard.
Borashikov trying to control but Lion is working from the bottom.

Borashikov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Lion shoots in for a double leg but Borashikov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Borashikov tries to clinch up.
Borashikov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lion manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lion drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Borashikov defends it well.
Lion looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Borashikov is fending him off so far but Lion persists. Nope, Borashikov circles away and we're back to standing.
Lion shoots in for a takedown but Borashikov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Borashikov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lion defends it nicely.
Lion fails with the takedown.

Borashikov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Lion prevents Borashikov from moving into mount.
Lion gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Borashikov lands a big shot there that rocks Lion but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Lion is desperately trying to improve his position but Borashikov has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Borashikov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lion is squirming around, avoiding Borashikov's attempts to control the action.
Borashikov controlling the pace for now.
Borashikov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Borashikov trying to control but Lion is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evgeniy Borashikov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Borashikov 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evgeniy Borashikov!