PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Egor Khorov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexey Durandin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Durandin's choice of entrance music: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DKLCQvQohGI. Egor Khorov has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Khorov
vs
Durandin

198 cm
23
185 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

180 cm
19
190 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Egor Khorov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexey Durandin!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khorov misses with a low kick.
Khorov throws a head kick but Durandin moves out of range.
Durandin shoots in for a takedown but Khorov shows good takedown defense.
Khorov misses with a lunging right hand

and Durandin counters with a takedown into side control.
Durandin trying to control the action but Khorov is working from the bottom.
Durandin in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Khorov wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Durandin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Khorov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Khorov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Durandin is controlling him well.

Durandin goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Khorov has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Durandin but great work by Khorov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Durandin tries to improve position but can't.

Khorov stands up and beckons Durandin to his feet.
Durandin checks a low kick from Khorov.
Khorov gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Durandin counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Khorov scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Durandin closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Khorov is trying to stand up here but Durandin is controlling him well.
Durandin is trying to control. Khorov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Durandin is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Durandin stops Khorov from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Durandin postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Khorov to stand up.
Durandin shoots in for a takedown but Khorov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Egor Khorov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Khorov.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Durandin drops his hands momentarily and Khorov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Khorov lands a head kick!
Durandin blocks a leg kick.
Durandin moves out of range of the body kick from Khorov.
Khorov swats away the attempt to clinch by Durandin.
Khorov misses with an uppercut

and Durandin counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Khorov!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Durandin there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Durandin has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Poor strikes thrown by Durandin there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Durandin trying to control but Khorov is having none of it.
Khorov is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Durandin fails to advance to Khorov's back.
Durandin wants to control the pace but Khorov is squirming around nicely.

Khorov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Durandin.
Khorov is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Khorov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Khorov somehow manages to escape the mount and get back to his feet!
Khorov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Durandin counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Khorov wants to get back to his feet.
Khorov is breathing heavily.

Durandin is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Khorov defends it well.

Durandin is working for a kimura but Khorov is defending it quite comfortably.
Durandin works his way into full mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Durandin content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexey Durandin dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Khorov misses with a right hand

and Durandin counters with a takedown into side control.

Durandin is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Khorov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Khorov is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Durandin asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Durandin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Durandin goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Khorov rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Durandin's guard! Nice work there by Khorov!
Durandin working a defensive guard but Khorov passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khorov tries to stand and escape but Durandin is controlling the position.

Khorov escapes and gets back to his feet.
Khorov throws a right hand that misses

and Durandin counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Khorov!

Durandin looking for a guillotine from mount but Khorov is having none of it.
You get the feeling that Khorov really doesn't like being in this position too much.

Durandin working for a submission but Khorov is keeping him at bay.
Khorov is really trying hard to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Durandin moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Khorov has worked his arm free - good work by Khorov!
Durandin prevents Khorov from escaping the position.

Durandin is trying to get an arm triangle but Khorov is defending well.

Durandin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Durandin controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durandin wants to control but Khorov is keeping him busy.

Durandin working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Khorov is trying to get back to his feet.
Durandin is looking to take a break and control but Khorov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Durandin is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Khorov wants to get back to his feet.

Durandin is trying to get an arm triangle but Khorov is defending well.
Durandin lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Khorov wants to get back to his feet but Durandin drags him back down.

Durandin tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Durandin is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Khorov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexey Durandin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Khorov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Khorov fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Durandin.
Khorov throws a looping overhand right but Durandin ducks down to avoid it.
Khorov scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
A thudding body kick lands there by Khorov!
Khorov looking to land some kicks to the body here.

Durandin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Khorov's guard.
Durandin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khorov wants to stand but Durandin is controlling the position.
Khorov keeping moving, preventing Durandin from controlling successfully.

Khorov pushes Durandin off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Durandin drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Khorov misses with a head kick.
Khorov throws an off balance right hand

and Durandin counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Khorov!
Durandin trying to control but Khorov is having none of it.
Khorov has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Durandin's lack of action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Durandin trying to control the action but Khorov is working from the bottom.
Durandin tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Khorov.
Khorov is refusing to be controlled, as Durandin sits in half guard.
Khorov is trying to stand back up but Durandin is controlling him

Alexey Durandin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Khorov - that will leave a mark!
Khorov misses with a hook

and Durandin counters with a shoot takedown. Khorov fights it but they end up in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Durandin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Khorov keeping full guard, as Durandin tries to pass.

Durandin drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Khorov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Durandin has Khorov in his guard.
Durandin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Alexey Durandin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Durandin has a closed guard, preventing Khorov from standing up.
Khorov postures up.

Durandin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Khorov is aware though and is defending well.
Durandin looking to control.
Khorov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Khorov gets to his feet - Durandin follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khorov throws a head kick but Durandin moves out of range.
Durandin shoots in but no luck this time.
Khorov moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
A nice inside leg kick there by Khorov. That's going to slow Durandin down.
Egor Khorov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khorov lands a nice looking kick to the body. Durandin takes a step back to recover.
Khorov tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Durandin is able to avoid easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Khorov thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Durandin if he has to take too many more of those.
Khorov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Durandin checks it well.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Egor Khorov.
I think Durandin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexey Durandin!