PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rashid Magomedov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Krnlenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Magomedov
vs
Krnlenko

176 cm
24
182 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rashid Magomedov!
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, Ivan Krnlenko!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Viktor Lagutenko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Krnlenko throws a body kick that misses.
Magomedov lands a two punch combo.

Magomedov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Magomedov has Krnlenko pressed against the cage.

Magomedov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Krnlenko is trying to keep an underhook but Magomedov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Krnlenko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Krnlenko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Magomedov stands up out of the half guard.

Krnlenko gets caught flat footed, as Magomedov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Krnlenko being controlled here, momentarily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Krnlenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Magomedov 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.
Magomedov looking to pass the guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Magomedov stays in close to Krnlenko's body and controls the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Rashid Magomedov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Krnlenko doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Magomedov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Magomedov.
Magomedov taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Magomedov has hold of one of Krnlenko's legs. Krnlenko is fighting the takedown attempt but Magomedov gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Magomedov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Magomedov works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Krnlenko's head.
Magomedov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Magomedov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Rashid Magomedov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Krnlenko tries to clinch

and Magomedov holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Magomedov decides to pull guard.
Krnlenko thows a big elbow that misses.
Krnlenko looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov seems keen to control Krnlenko's posture.
Krnlenko stopping the sweep attempt from Magomedov.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Magomedov pulls Krnlenko in to control the position.
Krnlenko looks gassed!
Magomedov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Krnlenko's guard.

Magomedov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krnlenko throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Magomedov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Magomedov decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Magomedov throws a one two combo.
Magomedov tries a head kick but it misses.

Magomedov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Krnlenko's half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Krnlenko flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Magomedov stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashid Magomedov 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.

Magomedov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Magomedov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Krnlenko has managed to free his arm - good work.
Magomedov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Krnlenko gets back to full guard.
Krnlenko looking to control.
Magomedov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Magomedov stands up from Krnlenko's guard - Magomedov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Krnlenko is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krnlenko misses with a takedown

and Magomedov counters with a shoot takedown. Krnlenko fights it but they end up in guard.
Magomedov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Magomedov gets to his feet - Krnlenko follows without any prompting.

Magomedov has closed the distance and engaged Krnlenko in a clinch.

Magomedov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Magomedov misses with a head kick.

Magomedov moves into the clinch successfully.
Magomedov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Krnlenko.

Magomedov has hold of one of Krnlenko's legs. Krnlenko is fighting the takedown attempt but Magomedov gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Krnlenko wants to sweep here but Magomedov controlling him for the moment.
Magomedov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Krnlenko can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Magomedov looking to pass the guard.
Magomedov connects with a couple of short punches.
Magomedov is working Krnlenko over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Magomedov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Krnlenko, up you get!

Magomedov feints and as Krnlenko raises his hands in defense, Magomedov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Magomedov with a nice head shot there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krnlenko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Krnlenko is trying to keep Magomedov in close.
Magomedov throwing strikes from guard but Krnlenko blocks nicely.
Magomedov stopping the sweep attempt from Krnlenko.
Krnlenko can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Magomedov controls the pace.

That's four 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.

Rashid Magomedov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Magomedov moves into the clinch.

Magomedov jumps into guard, dragging Krnlenko to the mat.
Magomedov wants to sweep here but Krnlenko controlling him for the moment.

Magomedov is looking for a triangle but Krnlenko pushes his legs off easily.
Magomedov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Magomedov looking for a sweep. Not yet Magomedov, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Magomedov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Magomedov drops an elbow to the side of Krnlenko's head.
Krnlenko is looking to control Magomedov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Krnlenko avoid being mounted?
Krnlenko might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Magomedov kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Magomedov tries to pass to full mount but Krnlenko defends it.
Krnlenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Magomedov stands up and beckons Krnlenko to join him on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Magomedov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Magomedov controlling from the top position.
Magomedov is in close to Krnlenko's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Magomedov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rashid Magomedov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rashid Magomedov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Magomedov closes the distance and clinches.
Magomedov stalling against the cage.

Magomedov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Magomedov has a takedown stuffed.
Magomedov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Krnlenko gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Magomedov stays in close to Krnlenko's body and controls the position.
Krnlenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Magomedov connects with a couple of short punches.

Magomedov stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Magomedov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Krnlenko to the mat! Krnlenko manages to get full guard.
Magomedov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krnlenko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Rashid Magomedov.

Magomedov clinches with his opponent.

Magomedov gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Magomedov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Ivan Krnlenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashid Magomedov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Magomedov 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:25
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:25
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rashid Magomedov!