PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between ILja Muromets (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shamil Magomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). ILja Muromets has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Muromets
vs
Magomedov

192 cm
18
255 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

200 cm
20
270 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, ILja Muromets!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Shamil Magomedov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Muromets shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Magomedov's guard.
Muromets pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Magomedov is keeping the position for now.

Muromets avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Muromets is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Magomedov keeping moving, preventing Muromets from controlling successfully.
Magomedov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
BOOM! Magomedov connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Muromets is looking to improve his position but Magomedov isn't that keen on the idea.
Muromets manages to control the position for a moment.
Magomedov landing strikes from the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov with shots to the head and body - Muromets looks very uncomfortable down there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Muromets manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Magomedov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Magomedov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Muromets moves into full guard.
Muromets tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Magomedov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Muromets working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Magomedov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Magomedov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Magomedov postures up in Muromets's guard and throws a big left but Muromets blocks it.
Magomedov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Muromets's head.
Magomedov trying to control but Muromets is working from the bottom.
Magomedov postures up in Muromets's guard and throws a big left but Muromets blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Muromets has his foot on Magomedov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Magomedov works his way back into a safe position though.
Magomedov scoring with some ground and pound.

Magomedov drops back looking for a leg! Muromets is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Muromets manages to kick Magomedov off! Magomedov jumps back into Muromets's guard.

Muromets has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Magomedov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Magomedov postures up.
Muromets manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
BOOM! Muromets connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov is looking to get to half guard.

Muromets with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

Muromets wants to finish this one by submission but Magomedov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Muromets.
Magomedov is trying to escape the mount.
Magomedov is just holding on here. Muromets manages to take his back.
Magomedov wants to control his opponent's hands but Muromets gets his hands free.
Muromets scores with punches to the body.
Magomedov is in bad spot here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov trying to control the position but Muromets manages to sink in the hooks.
Magomedov breaks Muromets's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Magomedov looks gassed!
Magomedov looking to sit in guard and control but Muromets gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Muromets wants to stand but Magomedov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Magomedov is trying to keep Muromets in close.
Magomedov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Muromets puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Magomedov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Muromets pulls his head out easily.
Muromets slows the pace down in half guard.

Muromets looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that ILja Muromets will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Muromets slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Muromets gets the takedown into side control.
Muromets scoring with punches from side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Muromets working away.

Muromets is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Magomedov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muromets wants to control but Magomedov is keeping him busy.
Muromets working away.
Muromets wants to control but Magomedov is keeping him busy.
Magomedov is trying to get back to half guard.
Muromets is looking to take a break and control but Magomedov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Magomedov tries to improve position but can't.

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

Muromets working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Magomedov manages to work his way to half guard, despite Muromets's best efforts.

Muromets wants to work for an arm triangle but Magomedov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Magomedov wants to get back to full guard but Muromets has mounted him!
Magomedov tries to lock up and control but Muromets gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Magomedov taking shots to the head.
Magomedov taking shots to the head.
Magomedov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Magomedov is breathing heavily.
Muromets putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

Muromets looking for a guillotine from mount but Magomedov is having none of it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Magomedov can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov is looking to get to half guard.

Muromets is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Magomedov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Magomedov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Muromets moves to the back position.
Muromets is looking to control Magomedov but Magomedov is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
I would not like to be Magomedov right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Muromets is punishing Magomedov with strikes - can he finish him?!

Magomedov defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Muromets's arms.
Magomedov rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Muromets prevents Magomedov from improving his position.
Muromets content to control rather than advance.

Magomedov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Muromets pulls his head out easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Muromets is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

ILja Muromets dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

A momentary lapse in concentration from Magomedov enables Muromets to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Magomedov manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

Magomedov throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Muromets escapes and throws Magomedov's legs to the side, diving into side control!

Muromets working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

Muromets thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Muromets working away.
Muromets content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Magomedov gets back to half guard.
Magomedov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Muromets throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Muromets scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Magomedov won't allow Muromets to pass to mount.
Magomedov wants to improve his position but Muromets is controlling well.
Muromets wants to take a breather but Magomedov is having none of it.
Magomedov is looking for a sweep. Muromets is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Muromets is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Magomedov sees it coming and defends easily.

Muromets is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Magomedov is just riding it out for now. Muromets eventually gives up the hold.

Magomedov looking for submissions off his back.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Muromets is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Magomedov!

Muromets goes for an armbar but Magomedov turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Magomedov.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Muromets here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

Muromets is looking for a triangle but Magomedov pushes his legs off easily.
Muromets looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Magomedov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Magomedov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Magomedov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Muromets trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Muromets tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Muromets looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Muromets is really struggling to control Magomedov but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Magomedov throwing strikes but missing.
Magomedov postures up and lands a big shot to Muromets's brow.
ILja Muromets overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Muromets wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Muromets not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Magomedov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Muromets's guard.
Magomedov trying to control the action but Muromets is working from the bottom.
Muromets trying to control from the bottom.
Shamil Magomedov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Magomedov winds up and cracks Muromets with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Muromets controlling the position for now.
Magomedov is thwarting Muromets's attempts to control the position.
ILja Muromets is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Magomedov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Magomedov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Muromets keeps working.
Muromets is trying to control but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
ILja Muromets showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Muromets 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... ILja Muromets!