PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexandr Vatin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and dwayne johnson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). johnson is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by the rock says. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Vatin
vs
johnson

187 cm
24
220 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

195 cm
18
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexandr Vatin!
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, dwayne johnson !
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Excellent takedown into side control there by johnson .
A bit of a lull in the action here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vatin wants to control but johnson postures up.

johnson tries for a kimura but Vatin is defending well.

johnson is trying to get an arm triangle but Vatin is defending well.

johnson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

johnson is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Vatin has escaped the position, nice work there.
Vatin is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Vatin regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatin trying to hold on to johnson 's head to control him but johnson postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

johnson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Vatin to score an easy takedown into full guard.

Vatin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but johnson manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Vatin has johnson in his guard.
johnson is fighting to break Vatin's control of his arms but Vatin is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
johnson trying to control the position from guard on top but Vatin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
johnson has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Vatin is proving hard to escape from.
johnson looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vatin controlling johnson 's posture.
Vatin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Vatin trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
johnson postures up in Vatin's guard and throws a big left but Vatin blocks it.
Vatin seems keen to control johnson 's posture.

johnson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Vatin is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of johnson , into his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if johnson can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vatin is stalling in the full guard.
Vatin stands up over johnson , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Vatin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Vatin is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Vatin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
johnson has momentary wrist control but Vatin slips an elbow through the middle.
Vatin has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Vatin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Vatin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of johnson 's head.
Vatin wants to control from the top but johnson keeps moving.
johnson has momentary wrist control but Vatin slips an elbow through the middle.
Vatin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Vatin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandr Vatin dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Vatin closes the distance and clinches.
Vatin lands a nice elbow.

It looks like dwayne johnson has been cut.
Vatin wants a takedown.
johnson goes for a takedown attempt but Vatin pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Vatin stuffs the takedown attempt from johnson . johnson gets slowly back to his feet.
johnson with a lazy takedown attempt
and Vatin counters with a slapping leg kick.
Alexandr Vatin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of dwayne johnson .

Vatin gets a clinch.
Vatin is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
johnson can't break the clinch.
Vatin lands a nice knee to the body.
Vatin stalls.
Vatin wants a takedown.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Vatin obliges.

Vatin gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Vatin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
johnson is breathing heavily.
Vatin lands a couple of elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vatin scoring with some ground and pound.
Vatin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Vatin's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Vatin landing some decent shots from guard.
Vatin connects with a couple of short punches.
Vatin connects with a couple of short punches.
Vatin with a nice head shot there.
Vatin is in close to johnson 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Vatin trying to control but johnson is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vatin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Vatin thows a big elbow that misses.
Vatin distracts johnson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Vatin trying to control the position from guard on top but johnson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Alexandr Vatin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vatin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vatin connects with a couple of short punches.
Vatin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatin lands a couple of elbows.
Vatin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Vatin scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Vatin distracts johnson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vatin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vatin connects with a couple of short punches.
johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vatin content to stall in guard here.
Vatin landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vatin trying to control but johnson is working from the bottom.
johnson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Vatin thows a big elbow that misses.
Vatin throwing strikes but missing.
Vatin cracks johnson with a solid left hand.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vatin content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandr Vatin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on dwayne johnson 's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

johnson tries to keep at a distance but Vatin has taken the fight into the clinch.
johnson has had enough of the clinch but Vatin keeps him there for the moment.
Vatin working johnson over with knees to the body.
johnson tries to break free but Vatin pushes him back against the cage.
Vatin stalls.
johnson tries to break the clinch but Vatin is controlling the position.
johnson tries for a takedown. No joy.
Vatin connects with a knee to the head.
Vatin connects with a nasty looking knee right to johnson 's face.
Vatin tries for a takedown but johnson manages to get underhooks.
Vatin controlling the action here for a moment.
Vatin landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Vatin lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A knee to the head by Vatin.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Vatin.
Vatin wants a takedown but no success here.
johnson being controlled against the cage.
Vatin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexandr Vatin. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
johnson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Vatin lands a good knee to the midsection. johnson won't want to take too many of those.
Vatin lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
johnson wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Vatin just leaning against johnson , taking a breather.
Vatin lands a good knee to the midsection. johnson won't want to take too many of those.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Vatin here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
johnson wants to break the clinch but can't.

johnson is fighting off a takedown attempt but Vatin is just too persistent for him and manages to trip johnson to the mat. johnson regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
johnson has momentary wrist control but Vatin slips an elbow through the middle.
Vatin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
johnson keeping moving, preventing Vatin from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

johnson had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Vatin defends it easily.
Vatin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Alexandr Vatin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vatin wants to control from the top but johnson keeps moving.
johnson really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vatin. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vatin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of johnson 's head.
Vatin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as johnson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Vatin wants to control from the top but johnson keeps moving.
Vatin postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vatin wants to control from the top but johnson keeps moving.

That's four 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.
Vatin scoring with punches to the head and body.
johnson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vatin.
johnson preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vatin working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of johnson 's head.
Vatin lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Vatin trying to control but johnson is working from the bottom.
Vatin is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexandr Vatin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vatin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:26
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexandr Vatin!