PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Artemiy Polyanskiy (ranked 4679 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Pushkin (ranked 4800 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.

Polyanskiy
vs
Pushkin

186 cm
18
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

174 cm
18
192 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Artemiy Polyanskiy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Vladimir Pushkin!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, Steven Brown and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Polyanskiy throws a head kick that misses.

Pushkin 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.
Pushkin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Pushkin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Polyanskiy wants to sweep but no luck.
Polyanskiy looking to control.
Pushkin controlling from the top position.
Polyanskiy knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Pushkin on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pushkin is working Polyanskiy over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Pushkin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Polyanskiy avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pushkin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Pushkin blocks a head kick by Polyanskiy.
Pushkin throws out a loose jab but Polyanskiy uses good head movement to avoid it.
Polyanskiy seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Pushkin wants to slow Polyanskiy down by chopping away at his legs.
Pushkin throws a jab when Polyanskiy was well out of range.
Polyanskiy scores with a leg kick.
A low kick from Polyanskiy misses

and Pushkin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Pushkin is in close to Polyanskiy's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Pushkin is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Pushkin keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Polyanskiy's head.
Pushkin controlling from the top position.
Pushkin should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Pushkin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Pushkin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Polyanskiy looking to control.
Pushkin passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Pushkin is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Polyanskiy will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Pushkin working the body and head with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pushkin controls the position.
Polyanskiy tries to escape but Pushkin is in control.
Pushkin controlling the position from side mount.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Polyanskiy struggling a bit here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Polyanskiy throws a head kick but Pushkin moves out of range.
Pushkin misses with a straight right.
Polyanskiy keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Polyanskiy seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Polyanskiy throws a leg kick

and Pushkin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Polyanskiy's guard.
Pushkin distracts Polyanskiy with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Pushkin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Pushkin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pushkin passes into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Pushkin dominated that round.
That's time! Polyanskiy's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Polyanskiy throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Pushkin counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Pushkin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ground and pound from Pushkin.
Pushkin passes the guard and advances to mount!
Pushkin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Pushkin with good strikes from the mount here!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Polyanskiy is in all sorts of trouble here.
Pushkin raining down hammerfists from mount.
Pushkin postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Polyanskiy looks a forlorn figure.
Pushkin controlling from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pushkin is continuing to stall.
Pushkin fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Pushkin scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Pushkin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Pushkin controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pushkin breaks from Polyanskiy's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Pushkin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Polyanskiy taking shots to the head.
Pushkin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Pushkin working the ground and pound effectively.
Pushkin putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Pushkin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Pushkin has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Polyanskiy's face.
Pushkin landing strikes from the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pushkin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Let's hope that Pushkin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Polyanskiy tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Polyanskiy is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Polyanskiy taking shots to the head.
Pushkin working Polyanskiy over with strikes here.
Pushkin working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Pushkin scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Polyanskiy?
Vladimir Pushkin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pushkin controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polyanskiy keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Pushkin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Pushkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Polyanskiy slips under a jab from Pushkin.
Pushkin swings for the body but Polyanskiy moves out of range.
Polyanskiy went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Polyanskiy lands a leg kick that knocks Pushkin off balance momentarily.
Polyanskiy throws a leg kick

and Pushkin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Polyanskiy won't be happy with that.
Pushkin slows the pace down.
Polyanskiy looking for a sweep but Pushkin has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Pushkin lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Pushkin with the ground and pound from mount.
Pushkin content just to control the position here.
Pushkin lands a nice shot to the head.
Pushkin controlling his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Pushkin postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Polyanskiy looks a forlorn figure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polyanskiy tries to lock up and control but Pushkin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Pushkin lands a big shot there that rocks Polyanskiy but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Pushkin unloading with bombs!
Pushkin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Pushkin with good strikes from the mount here!
Pushkin raining down hammerfists from mount.
Pushkin content just to control the position here.
Pushkin with good strikes from the mount here!
Pushkin landing strikes, looking to finish!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pushkin controlling the pace for now.
Polyanskiy is desperately trying to improve his position but Pushkin has a good base and remains in mount.
Pushkin scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Polyanskiy?
Pushkin controlling his opponent.
BOOM! Pushkin connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pushkin controlling the pace for now.
Polyanskiy takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Pushkin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Polyanskiy is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Pushkin in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
A nice elbow there by Pushkin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pushkin controlling from mount.
Pushkin with good strikes from the mount here!
Vladimir Pushkin is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Pushkin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The adventures of Pushkin the control monster continue. Boring.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Pushkin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pushkin winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 James Atkins scores the fight 26:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 26:30
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Pushkin!