PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Anatoly Akulshin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fedor Papadopulos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akulshin comes to the cage accompanied by GROT - The Winners. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Akulshin
vs
Papadopulos

178 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, Anatoly Akulshin!
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, Fedor Papadopulos!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Ivan Kurochkin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Akulshin clinches.
Akulshin lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Akulshin.
Papadopulos fails to pull guard.

Akulshin breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Akulshin lands a big head kick that sends Papadopulos tumbling to the mat! Akulshin takes a step backwards and waves Papadopulos back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Papadopulos is rocked!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Papadopulos fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Papadopulos is still on wobbly legs! Can Akulshin finish him?

Akulshin rushes Papadopulos and presses him up against the cage.

Akulshin jumps guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Papadopulos content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Akulshin is adopting a defensive guard.
Papadopulos seems to have recovered his senses.
Papadopulos looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Akulshin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papadopulos trying to control but Akulshin is working from the bottom.
Akulshin wants to sweep here but Papadopulos controlling him for the moment.
Papadopulos has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Akulshin is working hard here to advance position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Papadopulos shoots in and drives through. Akulshin sprawls well.
Anatoly Akulshin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Papadopulos.

Akulshin gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Akulshin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Papadopulos fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Akulshin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Papadopulos defends it nicely.
Akulshin fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Akulshin is defended easily by Papadopulos.

Akulshin gets a clinch.
Papadopulos is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Akulshin pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Akulshin breaks the clinch.
Akulshin shoots in for a takedown but Papadopulos shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Akulshin is breathing heavily.

Papadopulos pushes Akulshin up against the cage in a clinch.
Papadopulos is trying to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Papadopulos jumps guard but Akulshin stands there with Papadopulos around his waist. Papadopulos gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Papadopulos wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Papadopulos working hard to break the clinch.
Akulshin prevents Papadopulos from breaking the clinch.

Akulshin successfully pulls guard.
Akulshin pulls Papadopulos in close to prevent any damage.
Papadopulos looking to pass the guard.
Papadopulos trying to stand up but can't free himself from Akulshin's guard.
Akulshin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Papadopulos on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papadopulos trying to control the position from guard on top but Akulshin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Fedor Papadopulos has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Akulshin clinches up with Papadopulos and pushes him back against the cage.

Akulshin breaks the clinch.
Papadopulos doesn't manage to clinch there - Akulshin circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Akulshin closes the distance and clinches.
Papadopulos tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Akulshin smiles and moves away.
Papadopulos tries to close the distance and clinch up but Akulshin swats him away and circles back towards the center.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anatoly Akulshin dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Papadopulos fails with the takedown.
Papadopulos shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Akulshin as he jumps to the side.
Akulshin blocks a head kick by Papadopulos.
Papadopulos moves to clinch but Akulshin breaks away
and Akulshin counters with a nice body kick.

Akulshin gets a double leg takedown into Papadopulos's guard.
Papadopulos is trying to keep Akulshin in close.
Papadopulos keeping full guard, as Akulshin tries to pass.
Papadopulos is breathing heavily.
Akulshin content to stall in guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akulshin postures up.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Papadopulos is on top in guard.
Akulshin might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Akulshin keeping moving, preventing Papadopulos from controlling successfully.
Akulshin looking for a sweep. Not yet Akulshin, not yet.
Papadopulos trying to control the position from guard on top but Akulshin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Fedor Papadopulos wasn't active enough on the ground.
Akulshin shoots in and drives through. Papadopulos sprawls well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papadopulos closes the distance looking to clinch

and Akulshin moves into the clinch.
Akulshin lands a shoulder strike.
Akulshin goes for a takedown in the clinch but Papadopulos prevents it.
Akulshin is pushing Papadopulos up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Papadopulos is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Papadopulos wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akulshin lands a body punch.
Akulshin leaning against his opponent.
A left hand lands to the body for Akulshin.
Papadopulos has Akulshin pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Akulshin manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Anatoly Akulshin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Papadopulos.
Papadopulos tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Akulshin manages to pull guard.
Papadopulos trying to stand up but can't free himself from Akulshin's guard.
Papadopulos stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Akulshin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Akulshin controlling Papadopulos's posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papadopulos passes Akulshin's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Papadopulos is looking to take a break and control but Akulshin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Akulshin gets full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Akulshin wants to sweep here but Papadopulos controlling him for the moment.
Papadopulos pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Akulshin is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Anatoly Akulshin dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Papadopulos fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Akulshin. No joy for Papadopulos on that attempt.
Akulshin scores with a jab to the jaw.

Akulshin shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Akulshin is looking to take a break and control but Papadopulos is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Akulshin seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Papadopulos regains full guard. Nicely done.
Papadopulos keeping full guard, as Akulshin tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Papadopulos seems keen to control Akulshin's posture.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Papadopulos not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Papadopulos is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Papadopulos is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Papadopulos has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Papadopulos there as he acknowledges the shot.
Papadopulos closes the distance and clinches up with Akulshin, looking for a takedown. Papadopulos pushes Akulshin against the cage but Akulshin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Papadopulos has a takedown stuffed.
Anatoly Akulshin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fedor Papadopulos.
Akulshin fails with a takedown attempt.
Papadopulos shoots in and drives through. Akulshin sprawls well.
Papadopulos takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Papadopulos is trying desperately to land a takedown but Akulshin is having absolutely none of it. This is turning into a bit of a nightmare for Papadopulos.
Papadopulos fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Akulshin.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Akulshin decides to stand back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akulshin throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Papadopulos fails with an attempt to clinch.
Akulshin misses with a takedown attempt - Papadopulos sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Akulshin leaves Papadopulos with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Akulshin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Papadopulos moves away.
Akulshin looks for a takedown but Papadopulos sprawls well.
Papadopulos misses with a jab, cross combination.
Papadopulos darts in trying to clinch

and Akulshin counters by moving into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Papadopulos fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Papadopulos creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Akulshin pulls guard successfully.
Papadopulos wants to stand but Akulshin has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Akulshin is looking for a triangle but Papadopulos pushes his legs off easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Akulshin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Anatoly Akulshin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Akulshin 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 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Anatoly Akulshin!