PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Knuckle Up (ranked 7221 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lel Leonidovich (ranked 5389 p4p, 0 weight class). Knuckle Up has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Up
vs
Leonidovich

173 cm
25
189 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

185 cm
18
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Knuckle Up !
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, Lel Leonidovich!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Dmitry Maklakov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Up closes the distance and pushes Leonidovich back into the cage.
Up dodges an elbow strike from Leonidovich.
Leonidovich tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Up gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Leonidovich regains guard.
Leonidovich working a defensive guard here.
Up has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Leonidovich pulls Up in close to his closed guard and prevents Up from doing any damage or advancing position.
Up with a nice head shot there.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Up trying to control the position from guard on top but Leonidovich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Leonidovich is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Up is controlling him.
Leonidovich throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Leonidovich is on top in guard.

Up keeping moving, preventing Leonidovich from controlling successfully.
Up knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Leonidovich on the ground.
Up wants to sweep here but Leonidovich controlling him for the moment.

Up is looking for a triangle but Leonidovich pushes his legs off easily.
Up can't keep his opponent in guard - Leonidovich advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonidovich wants to take a breather but Up is having none of it.
Leonidovich trying to pass the guard but Up defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Leonidovich is keen to just control but Up is a slippery customer.

Up looking for submissions off his back.

Up is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Leonidovich pulls his head out easily.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Leonidovich moves nicely into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Up gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Leonidovich looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Leonidovich looking to finish Up with some ground and pound. This is bad for Up !
Leonidovich controlling the position easily from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Leonidovich cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Up on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Up tries to get out of the position.
Leonidovich looking to control but Up is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Up flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Up wants to control but Leonidovich is having none of it.
Up might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Leonidovich pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Leonidovich has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Leonidovich working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Up is in all sorts of trouble here.
Leonidovich trying to control but Up is having none of it.
Leonidovich putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leonidovich unloading with bombs!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Leonidovich is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Up to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Up shrugs it off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lel Leonidovich dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Up closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Leonidovich's guard.
Lel Leonidovich has got the better of the ground game so far.
Up slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Up stopping the sweep attempt from Leonidovich.
Leonidovich trying to control the position.

Leonidovich looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Leonidovich trying to strike off his back.
Leonidovich 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 one minute gone in the round.

Leonidovich working for a triangle but Up defends it easily.
Up stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Leonidovich swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Leonidovich controls Up momentarily but Up frees himself.
Leonidovich has momentary wrist control but Up slips an elbow through the middle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Up wants to control from the top but Leonidovich keeps moving.
Leonidovich is trying to keep Up in close.

Up gets to his feet. Leonidovich looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Leonidovich tries to close the distance and clinch up but Up swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Up clinches up with Leonidovich and pushes him back against the cage.
Up changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Leonidovich fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Leonidovich shoots for a double leg takedown but Up sprawls well. He's pushed Leonidovich's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Leonidovich closes this distance looking for a takedown but Up circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Up fails with a takedown attempt.
Up slips a jab and a cross from Leonidovich.
Up swats away the attempt to clinch by Leonidovich.

Up closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Up lands in his opponent's guard.
Leonidovich wants to get back to his feet but Up passes into half guard.

Leonidovich wants to control but Up is keeping busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Leonidovich is trying to stand back up but Up is controlling him
The fighters are battling for position here. Leonidovich manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Leonidovich is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Up is aware though and is defending well.
Up is looking to advance position but Leonidovich has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Leonidovich has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Up 's face.
Leonidovich looking to control and managing it successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Up tries to control Leonidovich's body but Leonidovich pushes him off. Up squirms to his side and now Leonidovich has his back!
Up is really stuck here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Knuckle Up will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Leonidovich gets tackled into the cage by Up . Up maintains the clinch.

Up turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Up manages to end up in side control.
Leonidovich tries to buck Up off but Up is having none of it.
Leonidovich is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Up 's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Up stands up and beckons Leonidovich to join him on the feet.
Leonidovich has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Up shoots for a double leg takedown but Leonidovich sprawls well. He's pushed Up 's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Leonidovich doesn't manage to clinch there - Up circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Up shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Leonidovich has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Leonidovich looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Up 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Up decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Leonidovich, up you get!
Leonidovich is trying hard to land a takedown here. Up sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Leonidovich takes a swing at Up 's ribcage but misses.

Up clinches up against the cage.
Leonidovich wants to take the fight to the mat but Up manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Leonidovich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Leonidovich is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Leonidovich is looking for a takedown.
Knuckle Up has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Lel Leonidovich.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leonidovich wants a takedown.

Up 's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Leonidovich gets tackled into the cage by Up . Up maintains the clinch.
Leonidovich looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Up is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Leonidovich working hard to break the clinch.

Up jumps guard.

Up working for submissions but it's allowed Leonidovich to get to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Leonidovich wants to lay and pray for a moment but Up keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leonidovich tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Up .

Leonidovich is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Up defends it well.
Leonidovich tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Up is looking for a sweep. Leonidovich is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Up looking for submissions off his back.
Up tries to get to full guard but Leonidovich has control of the leg.
Up is not content to let Leonidovich control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Up throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

And that's the end of the fight!
Knuckle Up showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Up 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!