PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Frank Mir (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslan Kharitonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Mir
vs
Kharitonov

191 cm
23
268 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Frank Mir!
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, Ruslan Kharitonov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Mir checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Mir with a poor takedown

and Kharitonov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Kharitonov breaks from the clinch.
Mir defending well as Kharitonov loads up on a big left hand.
Frank Mir seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kharitonov swings widly with a right hand

and Mir counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mir controlling the action here.
Kharitonov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mir is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mir trying to control from half guard but Kharitonov is working away.
Mir controlling the pace.
Mir missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kharitonov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Mir. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Mir is pressing down on Kharitonov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kharitonov is holding on for now.

We're going to have a standup here because Frank Mir wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Mir tries a head kick but it misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir has his takedown stuffed
and Kharitonov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kharitonov misses with a hook.
Mir shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kharitonov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Mir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kharitonov throws a right and a left that Mir avoids nicely.
Kharitonov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

Kharitonov moves into the clinch.

Kharitonov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Mir moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Mir fails with the takedown
and Kharitonov counters with a right hand to the body.
Mir is breathing heavily.
Kharitonov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kharitonov digs a good hook to Mir's body.
Mir closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

It looks like Frank Mir has been cut.

Kharitonov rushes Mir and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kharitonov obliges.
Kharitonov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Come on Kharitonov - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Kharitonov breaks from the clinch.
Kharitonov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kharitonov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Mir doesn't seem bothered though.
Kharitonov lands a really nice looking cross but Mir seems unphased.
Mir needs to keep his hands up - Kharitonov had a free shot at his head there.
Kharitonov lands with a thumping leg kick.
The fighters circle momentarily. Kharitonov darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Kharitonov connects with a high kick.
Mir tries to clinch but Kharitonov is having none of it.
Kharitonov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Mir.
Kharitonov with a jab.
Kharitonov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Mir tries to move into range but Kharitonov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kharitonov throws a head kick that misses.
Mir shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kharitonov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kharitonov.
Mir tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Mir goes for a takedown attempt but Kharitonov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kharitonov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Mir gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Kharitonov counter with a right hand.
Kharitonov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Mir at a distance.
Mir tries for a takedown but Kharitonov circles away easily
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Kharitonov clinches up against the cage.
Kharitonov is trying to maintain a safe position but Mir gets an underhook and turns Kharitonov into the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mir jumps guard but Kharitonov stands there with Mir around his waist. Mir gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kharitonov leaning against his opponent.
Kharitonov can't find room to land a body shot as Mir controls the action.
Kharitonov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kharitonov prevents the takedown attempt.
Mir tries to score a body lock takedown but Kharitonov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kharitonov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Mir is trying to break the clinch but Kharitonov has him pressed against the cage.
A body shot lands from Kharitonov.
Mir tries to pull guard but Kharitonov won't allow it.
Kharitonov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Mir is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kharitonov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Kharitonov stops a takedown attempt from Mir.

Kharitonov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Kharitonov closes the distance and clinches.
Mir wants a takedown.
Kharitonov lands with a right to the head.
Come on Kharitonov - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Kharitonov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Frank Mir's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Mir has his takedown stuffed

and Kharitonov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kharitonov.
Kharitonov has Mir pressed against the cage.
Mir has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kharitonov misses with a knee to the head.

Kharitonov breaks from the clinch.
Mir shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kharitonov counters with a nice leg kick.
Kharitonov looks to throw the jab but Mir is out of range.
Mir shoots and misses
and Mir takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Mir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kharitonov cracks Mir with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kharitonov scores with a one two! Mir had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Frank Mir is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kharitonov darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kharitonov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nice straight punches there by Kharitonov. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kharitonov.
Kharitonov throws a right hand that Mir ducks under and follows up with a left that Mir also avoids with ease.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir with a poor takedown
and Kharitonov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Kharitonov. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Mir takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

Kharitonov gets caught flat footed, as Mir shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Mir trying to control the position from guard on top but Kharitonov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mir wants to stand but Kharitonov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kharitonov keeping moving, preventing Mir from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Frank Mir.
Kharitonov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mir with a poor takedown
and Kharitonov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Mir misses with a takedown attempt
letting Kharitonov counter with a right hand.
Kharitonov misses with a hook to the body

and Mir counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Mir.
Mir stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kharitonov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Mir looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kharitonov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Mir works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mir escapes and gets back to his feet.

Mir pushes Kharitonov up against the cage in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Mir is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kharitonov misses with some punches.
Mir is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mir blocking some punches.

Mir ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Mir no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Mir is on top in guard.
Kharitonov keeping moving, preventing Mir from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kharitonov can't keep his opponent in guard - Mir advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Mir escapes and gets back to his feet.
Mir with a poor takedown
and Kharitonov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kharitonov lands a jab to the head.
Mir tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kharitonov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mir somewhat.
Mir tries to clinch up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kharitonov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Mir gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kharitonov counters with a left and a right that stings Mir.
Mir doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kharitonov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Frank Mir dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Frank Mir's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mir tries for a takedown but Kharitonov circles away easily
and Kharitonov cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Mir fails with the takedown
and Kharitonov counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Kharitonov misses with a straight left.
Mir shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kharitonov counters with a nice body shot.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Frank Mir. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kharitonov lands with an uppercut that bounces Mir off the cage and back into rage.

Kharitonov pushes Mir up against the cage in a clinch.

Kharitonov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
A slapping leg kick lands for Kharitonov.
Mir gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kharitonov counters with a head kick.
Mir tries to clinch up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mir has his takedown stuffed
and Kharitonov counters with a left and a right that stings Mir.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mir shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kharitonov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kharitonov scores with a head kick.
Kharitonov throws a leg kick but Mir sees it coming and moves out of range.
Mir with a poor takedown

and Kharitonov counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kharitonov.
Kharitonov scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Mir dodges an elbow strike from Kharitonov.
Kharitonov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Mir goes for a takedown attempt but Kharitonov pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kharitonov lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Mir backs up against the cage.
Kharitonov displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Mir shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kharitonov counters with a slapping leg kick.
Mir misses with a takedown attempt
and Kharitonov counters with a good low kick that Mir was not able to check.
Mir looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mir gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kharitonov counters with a nice body shot.

Mir darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Mir wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kharitonov keeps working.
Mir seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Mir is keen to just control but Kharitonov is a slippery customer.
Mir uses his free foot to push down on Kharitonov's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Kharitonov.

Mir jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Kharitonov manages to avoid the submission attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mir trying to control the position but Kharitonov is working away.

Mir stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Mir fails with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kharitonov throws a right hand that misses

and Mir counters with a takedown into side control.
You can see the frustration on Kharitonov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mir tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kharitonov's legs.
Mir trying to control the position but Kharitonov is working away.

Mir wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kharitonov, who protects the arm well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mir wants to control but Kharitonov is keeping him busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Frank Mir showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Mir has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Frank Mir!