PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Augustus Cleveland (ranked 6748 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonid Garin (ranked 5072 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Cleveland
vs
Garin

153 cm
18
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Augustus Cleveland!
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, Leonid Garin!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Illya Tyunina and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Garin darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Cleveland is pressing down on Garin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Cleveland is pulling down on Garin's head to control his posture.

Garin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Cleveland has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Garin has managed to get both his arms back between Cleveland's legs - danger averted.

Cleveland looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Garin passes into half guard.
Cleveland is looking for a sweep. Garin is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Cleveland is defending against the submission attempts here by Garin.
Cleveland wants to improve his position but Garin is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cleveland looking for submissions off his back.
Garin stops Cleveland from getting back to his feet.
Cleveland scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Garin manages to mount him!
Cleveland is trying to stand.
Cleveland is desperately trying to improve his position but Garin has a good base and remains in mount.
Cleveland bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Garin striking off his back but it's not causing Cleveland any problems.
Cleveland preventing the sweep.
Cleveland might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Garin has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Cleveland drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Garin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Cleveland has Garin in his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cleveland looking for subs off his back but Garin has passed one foot through into half guard.
Cleveland works his way to full guard. Good work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cleveland 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.

Cleveland is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Garin defends well.
Cleveland is breathing heavily.

Cleveland escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Garin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cleveland throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Cleveland looking to control.
Garin trying to control the position from guard on top but Cleveland is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Garin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Garin gets to his feet. Cleveland looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Garin has Cleveland up against the cage in a clinch.

Garin breaks the clinch.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Garin.

Cleveland explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Garin scores with a takedown into Cleveland's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Garin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Garin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Cleveland is looking for a triangle here but Garin uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Cleveland tries to buck Garin off but Garin is having none of it.

Garin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Cleveland has escaped the position, nice work there.
Cleveland is trying to improve his position.
Garin trying to control the position but Cleveland is working away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Leonid Garin will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Garin gets the takedown into side control.

Cleveland bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Leonid Garin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Garin lunges at Cleveland with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Cleveland's hand.

Garin looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Cleveland!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cleveland manages to work his way to half guard, despite Garin's best efforts.
Cleveland moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Cleveland looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Cleveland working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Garin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Garin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garin wants to control from the top but Cleveland keeps moving.

Cleveland pushes Garin off and gets back to his feet.

Garin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Cleveland napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Garin postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Cleveland is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Garin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Cleveland looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garin keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

Cleveland is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Garin pulls his head out easily.
Garin stops Cleveland from getting back to his feet.

Garin decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Garin shoots in and gets a takedown into Cleveland's guard.
Cleveland wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Garin manages to pass to side control.
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!

Cleveland really is a fat lump.

Garin wants to work for an arm triangle but Cleveland is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Garin wants to take a breather but Cleveland is having none of it.
Cleveland slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

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

Cleveland is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Garin defends well.
Garin controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Garin stopping the sweep attempt from Cleveland.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Garin throwing strikes from guard but Cleveland blocks nicely.

Cleveland is looking for a triangle but Garin pushes his legs off easily.
Garin slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Garin landing strikes.
Cleveland is not content to let Garin control the position.
Cleveland gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Garin scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Garin works his way into full mount!
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 Augustus Cleveland will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Garin lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Garin is looking to clinch but Cleveland is avoiding it.
Cleveland avoids the head kick by Garin.

Cleveland gets caught flat footed, as Garin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Cleveland has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Garin has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cleveland tries to circle away but Garin has him pinned against the cage.
Cleveland is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Cleveland manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garin wants to control from the top but Cleveland keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Garin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Garin stopping the sweep attempt from Cleveland.
Garin forces his way into half guard.
Cleveland trying to control from the bottom.
Garin is looking to advance position but Cleveland won't allow it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Cleveland manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Garin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cleveland swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Cleveland throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Garin decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Cleveland, up you get!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Garin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Cleveland throws a head kick that misses.

Garin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Still in half guard, Garin seems content to control.
Cleveland is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Cleveland wants to control but Garin passes into side.

Garin is trying to get an arm triangle but Cleveland is defending well.
Garin wants to control but Cleveland is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Garin's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Cleveland looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Cleveland manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Garin fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.

Cleveland gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Garin to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Cleveland wants to hit a switch here but Garin passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Cleveland there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland tries to reverse the position but Garin maintains control.
Garin avoids the attempt from Cleveland to control.
Cleveland is desperately trying to improve his position but Garin has a good base and remains in mount.
Cleveland looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Cleveland tries to escape but Garin has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Garin controls the action.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Leonid Garin.
Well Garin 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leonid Garin!