PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Kharlamov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Brad Highsmith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kharlamov's entrance music is Into the Mouth of Hell we March. A fine choice. Yuri Kharlamov had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 156.1lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. On his way into the cage it seems that Yuri Kharlamov has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Yuri Kharlamov seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Kharlamov
vs
Highsmith

175 cm
20
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

179 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Kharlamov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Brad Highsmith!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kharlamov leaves Highsmith with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Highsmith fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kharlamov avoids it really well and circles away.
Highsmith shoots in but Kharlamov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Yuri Kharlamov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Brad Highsmith.
Highsmith shoots in and drives through. Kharlamov sprawls well.
Kharlamov stuffs the takedown.
A swing and a miss from Highsmith.
Highsmith shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kharlamov as he jumps to the side.
Highsmith will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Highsmith looks gassed!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A head kick misses from Kharlamov.
Highsmith doesn't manage to clinch there - Kharlamov circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Highsmith is defended easily by Kharlamov.
Kharlamov misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Highsmith will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kharlamov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kharlamov keeps Highsmith at a distance using the push kick.
Kharlamov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kharlamov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Highsmith moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kharlamov scoring well with a low kick there.

Kharlamov drives through and clinches with Highsmith against the cage.
Kharlamov tries a knee to the head but Highsmith blocks it.
Kharlamov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Highsmith takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kharlamov tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kharlamov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Highsmith blocks it with crossed arms.
Highsmith managing to block the knees to the body from Kharlamov.
Kharlamov leaning against his opponent.

Highsmith pulls guard successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kharlamov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Highsmith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kharlamov defends well.
Kharlamov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Highsmith looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kharlamov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kharlamov is pushing down on Highsmith's leg trying to pass to half guard. Highsmith is fighting to maintain full guard but Kharlamov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Highsmith is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Highsmith tries to kick Kharlamov off but Kharlamov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kharlamov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kharlamov wants to take a breather but Highsmith is having none of it.
Highsmith regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kharlamov wants to control from the top but Highsmith keeps moving.
Kharlamov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Highsmith controls Kharlamov momentarily but Kharlamov frees himself.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Highsmith is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kharlamov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Highsmith shoots in but no luck this time.
Highsmith shoots in for a takedown but Kharlamov shows good takedown defense.
Kharlamov stuffs the takedown attempt from Highsmith. Highsmith gets slowly back to his feet.
Highsmith darts in trying to clinch
and Kharlamov counters with a nice body shot.

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.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kharlamov.

Highsmith shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kharlamov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Highsmith working away.
Kharlamov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Highsmith's best efforts.

Highsmith is looking for a kimura but Kharlamov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Highsmith to get the leverage.
Kharlamov is not content to let Highsmith control the position.
Highsmith is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

Highsmith wants to work for an arm triangle but Kharlamov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Kharlamov trying to control but Highsmith postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Kharlamov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Highsmith shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Kharlamov holds on, trying desperately to control.

Kharlamov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Highsmith.
Highsmith postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kharlamov looks a forlorn figure.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kharlamov is wriggling around trying to escape.

Highsmith looking for a guillotine from mount but Kharlamov is having none of it.
Kharlamov tries to hold on but Highsmith pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Highsmith landing shots from mount.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Highsmith is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kharlamov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Kharlamov tries to hold on but Highsmith pushes him away.
Highsmith wants to control the pace but Kharlamov is squirming around nicely.

Highsmith is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Kharlamov to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Kharlamov shrugs it off.

Highsmith looking to secure an arm triangle but Kharlamov defends it well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Highsmith goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kharlamov is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kharlamov content to stall in guard here.

Highsmith is looking for a triangle but Kharlamov pushes his legs off easily.
Kharlamov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kharlamov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Highsmith keeping moving, preventing Kharlamov from controlling successfully.

Highsmith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kharlamov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kharlamov trying to control but Highsmith is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Highsmith looking for a sweep. Not yet Highsmith, not yet.
Kharlamov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kharlamov postures up in Highsmith's guard and throws a big left but Highsmith blocks it.
Kharlamov trying to control the position from guard on top but Highsmith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Highsmith is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kharlamov defends well.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Highsmith pushes a forearm under Kharlamov's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Kharlamov is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Brad Highsmith!