PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Pichushkin (ranked 593 p4p, 87 weight class) and Don Stewart (ranked 350 p4p, 50 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Don Stewart enters the cage!

Pichushkin
vs
Stewart

185 cm
32
195 lbs
19 - 9 - 1

183 cm
33
187 lbs
26 - 10 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Groove Gear
Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

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 19 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Pichushkin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Don Stewart!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Robert Twigg and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stewart missing with a left hand there. Pichushkin was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Pichushkin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Stewart's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Pichushkin connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Stewart scrambles back to his feet.
Pichushkin misses with a body punch

and Stewart counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Pichushkin!
Stewart scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Pichushkin to see if he's OK.
Pichushkin gets back to half guard.
Stewart lands with a punch from half guard.
Pichushkin trying to control from the bottom.
Stewart has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pichushkin has hold of Stewart's hands but Stewart slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Stewart prevents Pichushkin from improving his position.
Stewart throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Stewart trying to control from half guard but Pichushkin is working away.
Pichushkin is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Pichushkin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Pichushkin trying to control here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Pichushkin looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Pichushkin tries to roll over but Stewart keeps him under control.
Stewart lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Pichushkin tries to roll over but Stewart keeps him under control.
Pichushkin is working hard here to advance position.
Stewart wants to pass to mount but Pichushkin is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Pichushkin wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Stewart missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stewart winds up and cracks Pichushkin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Stewart is looking to advance position but Pichushkin won't allow it.
Stewart scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Stewart winds up and cracks Pichushkin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Pichushkin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Stewart scores with a couple of nice shots.

Pichushkin looking for submissions off his back.
Pichushkin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stewart is working away from the top position though.

Stewart seems to be working for a kimura but Pichushkin defends the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Pichushkin's head.
Stewart lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Pichushkin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Pichushkin controls Stewart momentarily but Stewart frees himself.
Stewart wants to control from the top but Pichushkin keeps moving.

Pichushkin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Stewart preventing the sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stewart missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Stewart passes into half guard.
Stewart is looking to pass Pichushkin's guard but actually Pichushkin recovers to full guard.
Pichushkin manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Stewart manages to get himself to full guard.

Pichushkin won't allow Stewart to sweep him here.
Pichushkin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stewart wants to sweep here but Pichushkin controlling him for the moment.
Stewart lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Don Stewart dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Pichushkin misses with a straight right.
Stewart throws a lazy right hand but Pichushkin sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Pichushkin misses with a lunging right hand
and Stewart counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Pichushkin connects with a body shot.
Pichushkin misses with a wild body shot.
Pichushkin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pichushkin looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Pichushkin misses with a body shot.
Pichushkin keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stewart fails with an attempt to clinch.
Pichushkin was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Pichushkin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Pichushkin throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Stewart's waist but Stewart gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pichushkin off to one side.
A nice side step and Stewart releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Stewart lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Pichushkin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stewart.
Alexander Pichushkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stewart dips to his left and cracks Pichushkin with an uppercut!
A big right from Pichushkin misses.
Stewart only half commits to the counter leg kick.
A big left from Pichushkin misses.
Pichushkin shoots in and drives through. Stewart sprawls well.
Pichushkin with a lazy takedown attempt
and Stewart connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Pichushkin. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pichushkin scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A big right from Pichushkin misses.
Stewart looks to throw the jab but Pichushkin is out of range.
Stewart misses with a body shot.
Pichushkin throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stewart sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Stewart tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Pichushkin is able to avoid easily.
Stewart lands a body shot.
Pichushkin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.

It looks like Alexander Pichushkin has been cut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pichushkin misses with a lunging right hand
and Stewart cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Stewart takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Pichushkin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
The fighters circling - Stewart throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Pichushkin slips under a jab.
Pichushkin connects with a leg kick. Stewart looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Stewart takes one to the chin there.
Stewart looks to land a left hand but Pichushkin moved out of range nicely.
Stewart tries to clinch but Pichushkin moves out of range.
Pichushkin lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Pichushkin throws a body punch but Stewart moves out of range.
Pichushkin looks to land a left hand but Stewart moved out of range nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pichushkin takes a swing at Stewart's ribcage but misses.
Pichushkin bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Pichushkin misses with a wild body shot.
Stewart is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Stewart has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stewart throws a jab when Pichushkin was well out of range.
Pichushkin is looking to counter punch.
Pichushkin scores with a jab to the body.
Pichushkin misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Stewart.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Stewart! But no joy.
Pichushkin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Stewart might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Pichushkin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Pichushkin lands a nice hook to Stewart's body. Stewart takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Pichushkin takes a swing at Stewart's ribcage but misses.
Stewart throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Stewart misses with a straight right.
Stewart looks to land a left hand but Pichushkin moved out of range nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stewart avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Pichushkin throws a right and a left that both miss.
Stewart is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Stewart throws a low kick but Pichushkin avoids it.
Stewart is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pichushkin scores with a hook to the body. Stewart takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Pichushkin throws an off balance right hand
and Stewart counters with a stiff right hand.
Stewart stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Pichushkin.
Pichushkin is looking to wear down Stewart with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Pichushkin chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Pichushkin wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Stewart keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Pichushkin scores with a jab. Stewart acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Stewart tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pichushkin paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Pichushkin scores with a hook.
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 Alexander Pichushkin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexander Pichushkin's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Pichushkin cracks Stewart with a right hand to the side of the head.

Stewart dives in and scores a takedown into Pichushkin's guard.
Pichushkin looking for a sweep. Not yet Pichushkin, not yet.
Stewart wants to control from the top but Pichushkin keeps moving.
Stewart working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Pichushkin throws his legs up looking for a submission but Stewart uses it to pass to side control.
Stewart working the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stewart gets to mount! Pichushkin was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Pichushkin can't escape the position.
Stewart scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Pichushkin sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stewart scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Stewart lands with a punch from half guard.
Stewart working over Pichushkin with some ground and pound. Pichushkin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stewart is keen to just control but Pichushkin is a slippery customer.
Stewart passes to full mount!
Stewart looking to finish Pichushkin with some ground and pound. This is bad for Pichushkin!

Pichushkin is rocked!
Stewart trying to control but Pichushkin is having none of it.
Pichushkin is looking to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stewart lands a couple of good shots and Pichushkin has given up his back, trying to escape the position!

Stewart looking to break Pichushkin's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Pichushkin remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Stewart will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!

Stewart working for a choke but Pichushkin is defending well.
You can see the frustration on Pichushkin's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Stewart lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Stewart.
Stewart landing with strikes.
Stewart lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Stewart.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stewart punishes Pichushkin with strikes from the back mount.
The referee is taking a good look at Pichushkin as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Stewart!
Oh Pichushkin is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Stewart not allowing Pichushkin to control his hands.
Pichushkin seems to have got his legs back now.
Stewart punches Pichushkin on the ear.
Pichushkin tries to roll but Stewart sticks to his back.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Stewart's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
Stewart drops a couple of huge strikes from the back position and Pichushkin is in real trouble here! Stewart lands more strikes and the referee has to step in to end the fight! Stewart is delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Don Stewart!
Don Stewart was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.