PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Evgenii Mamchenko (ranked 729 p4p, 702 weight class) and Magnus Pyke (ranked 95 p4p, 91 weight class). Magnus Pyke will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Mamchenko
vs
Pyke

175 cm
41
198
31 - 23 - 2

190 cm
37
193
24 - 11 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Fenrir Fightgear - Anno 2013
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 23 - 2, fighting out of Los Angeles, Evgenii Mamchenko!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 24 - 11 - 0, fighting out of London, Magnus Pyke!
The judges for this bout are Seu Braga, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mamchenko avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Mamchenko moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Pyke throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Mamchenko on the side of the head.
Mamchenko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Pyke's waist but Pyke gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mamchenko off to one side.
Mamchenko fails with the takedown

and Pyke counters by clinching up.

Mamchenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Pyke tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Mamchenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Pyke.
Mamchenko misses with a head kick.
Pyke looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Mamchenko is fending him off so far but Pyke persists. Nope, Mamchenko circles away and we're back to standing.

Mamchenko shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Pyke manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Pyke working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Mamchenko.

Pyke working for a triangle but Mamchenko defends it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mamchenko wants to stand but Pyke has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Pyke trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Pyke not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Pyke can't keep his opponent in guard - Mamchenko advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Mamchenko is figuring out what he wants to do next.

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.
Pyke tries to get to full guard but Mamchenko has control of the leg.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mamchenko seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Pyke manages to get to full guard.
Mamchenko pushes down on Pyke's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pyke regains full guard. Nicely done.
Mamchenko stopping the sweep attempt from Pyke.
Pyke utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Mamchenko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mamchenko with a flurry of punches that miss.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Mamchenko is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Pyke moves into the clinch successfully.

Pyke pulls guard effortlessly.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mamchenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Pyke is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mamchenko stopping the sweep attempt from Pyke.
Mamchenko trying to control but Pyke is working from the bottom.
Pyke looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mamchenko is one step ahead there.
Mamchenko tries to stand but Pyke is controlling from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Pyke trying to control the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Evgenii Mamchenko will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mamchenko throws the kick towards the body but Pyke avoids it.
Mamchenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Mamchenko throws a lazy body kick
and Pyke counters with a good low kick that Mamchenko was not able to check.
Mamchenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Pyke lands a head shot.
Magnus Pyke seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Mamchenko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pyke.
Pyke swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Mamchenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Pyke circles away.
Evgenii Mamchenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Pyke rushes Mamchenko and presses him up against the cage.
Pyke misses with a body punch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pyke throws a head punch that misses.
Mamchenko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mamchenko tries for a takedown but Pyke manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evgenii Mamchenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mamchenko blocks an uppercut.
Mamchenko stalling.
Pyke working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mamchenko is looking for a takedown.
A short left from Pyke.
Pyke is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Mamchenko pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Pyke jumps guard but Mamchenko stands there with Pyke around his waist. Pyke gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Pyke tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Mamchenko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Mamchenko blocks a body shot from Pyke.
Mamchenko is trying to stall.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Pyke creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Mamchenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Pyke misses with the head strike.
Pyke keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Mamchenko's efforts to push away.
Mamchenko tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Pyke lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A head punch on the inside from Pyke fails to land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A short uppercut from Pyke.
Pyke pushes Mamchenko back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Mamchenko has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Pyke after a bit of a struggle.
Mamchenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A nice left hand lands by Pyke.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Mamchenko content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Pyke throws a punch but it's blocked by Mamchenko.
Pyke misses with some punches.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Pyke lands an uppercut.
Pyke misses with a punch on the inside.
Pyke lands a right hand.
Mamchenko jumps guard but Pyke turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Pyke is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Mamchenko can't fight it off and eventually Pyke manages to take the fight to the floor. Mamchenko looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mamchenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Mamchenko has Pyke pulled in close to control his posture.
Mamchenko is trying to control the position but Pyke postures up.
Mamchenko keeping moving, preventing Pyke from controlling successfully.
Pyke is pushing down on Mamchenko's leg trying to pass to half guard. Mamchenko is fighting to maintain full guard but Pyke has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Mamchenko is staying active underneath Pyke, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Mamchenko trying to control but Pyke postures up.
Mamchenko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mamchenko is refusing to be controlled, as Pyke sits in half guard.

Pyke is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Mamchenko doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Pyke.
Pyke wants to take a breather but Mamchenko is having none of it.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Magnus Pyke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action!

Mamchenko drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mamchenko stopping the sweep attempt from Pyke.
Pyke wants to improve his position but instead Mamchenko has moved into half guard.
Pyke tries to kick Mamchenko off but Mamchenko keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Pyke has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Mamchenko lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Pyke misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Mamchenko prevents Pyke from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Still in half guard, Mamchenko seems content to control.
Pyke tries to roll over but Mamchenko keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mamchenko looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Pyke is looking to improve his position.
Mamchenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Pyke tries to get to full guard but Mamchenko has control of the leg.
Pyke is trying to control but Mamchenko passes into side control!
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Mamchenko trying to control the position but Pyke is working away.
Pyke is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Mamchenko's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Mamchenko is looking to stall in half guard but Pyke is in no mood to hang around. He's locked up a Kimura from the bottom and has used it to sweep! He's held on to the kimura and is looking to finish here... will he get it... YES! Mamchenko taps out and the crowd goes crazy! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Magnus Pyke!
Magnus Pyke is the new middleweight champion!
Magnus Pyke bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.