PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yankul Petrov (ranked 5114 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yefim Grigorievich (ranked 5169 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.

Petrov
vs
Grigorievich

186 cm
25
246 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

201 cm
25
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yankul Petrov!
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, Yefim Grigorievich!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Grigorievich has Petrov up against the cage in a clinch.

Grigorievich manages to pull guard.
Petrov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Petrov throwing strikes but missing.

Petrov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Petrov stopping the sweep attempt from Grigorievich.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrov trying to control the position from guard on top but Grigorievich is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Petrov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Grigorievich holds on and takes a little breather.
Grigorievich keeping full guard, as Petrov tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Grigorievich is looking for a sweep. Petrov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Petrov drops an elbow to the side of Grigorievich's head.
Grigorievich tries to get to full guard but Petrov has control of the leg.
Petrov content to control rather than advance.

Petrov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Petrov wants to control but Grigorievich is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Grigorievich is looking to improve his position.
Petrov is taking a breather. Grigorievich says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Petrov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Grigorievich is refusing to be controlled, as Petrov sits in half guard.
Petrov drops an elbow to the side of Grigorievich's head.
Grigorievich is refusing to be controlled, as Petrov sits in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov tries to stand and escape but Grigorievich is controlling the position.
Petrov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Grigorievich keeps working.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Grigorievich misses with a few strikes there.

Grigorievich gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Petrov to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Grigorievich manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.
Petrov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Grigorievich just stands there and leans against the cage.

Petrov has Grigorievich pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Petrov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Grigorievich tumbling to the mat - Petrov dives into Grigorievich's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Grigorievich is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Grigorievich keeping moving, preventing Petrov from controlling successfully.
Petrov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Petrov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Grigorievich has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Petrov is looking to stand up but Grigorievich won't let him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Yankul Petrov will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Petrov goes for a double leg but Grigorievich avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Grigorievich continues to drive forward.

Petrov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Grigorievich has managed to escape just enough to sneak back to his feet but Petrov is on him like a limpet, forcing Grigorievich back against the cage.
Grigorievich has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Petrov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Grigorievich blocks an uppercut.
Grigorievich is working for takedown but Petrov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Petrov wants to break free but Grigorievich has control.

Petrov has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Grigorievich clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Petrov looking for the choke but no joy.
Grigorievich really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Petrov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Petrov is persistently looking for the submission but Grigorievich is defending it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov is landing with strikes. Grigorievich can't take much more of this.
Grigorievich can't escape the position.
Petrov could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Grigorievich trying to control the action but Petrov just sinks the hooks in.

Grigorievich fending off the submission attempt from Petrov.

Petrov has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Petrov working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Grigorievich is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Petrov has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Grigorievich taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Yankul Petrov!