PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Asylbek Malybaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Holden Topokrs (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Malybaev
vs
Topokrs

186 cm
23
270 lbs
5 - 11 - 0

190 cm
26
225 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

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 5 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Asylbek Malybaev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Holden Topokrs!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Topokrs connects with a crisp jab.
Malybaev could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Malybaev looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Topokrs lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Malybaev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Topokrs looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Malybaev won't allow Topokrs to get back to his feet.
Topokrs pulls Malybaev in close to prevent any damage.
Malybaev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Topokrs wants to stand up but Malybaev is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malybaev won't allow Topokrs to sweep him here.
Topokrs has a closed guard, preventing Malybaev from standing up.
Topokrs looking to hit a scissor sweep but Malybaev is one step ahead there.
Topokrs is looking to stand up but Malybaev isn't so interested in that idea.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Topokrs wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Malybaev doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Topokrs counters with a single leg into guard. Malybaev didn't expect that.
Topokrs really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Malybaev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Topokrs wants to pass the guard but Malybaev is keeping the position.
Topokrs is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Topokrs wants to control from the top but Malybaev keeps moving.

Malybaev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Topokrs is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Holden Topokrs hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Topokrs tries to clinch up but Malybaev circles away and keeps his distance.
Topokrs tries to clinch there but Malybaev circles away.
Topokrs swats away the attempt to clinch by Malybaev.

Topokrs looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Malybaev!
Topokrs controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Topokrs avoids the attempt from Malybaev to control.
Topokrs looking to control but Malybaev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Topokrs takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Topokrs shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Malybaev as he avoids it easily.

Topokrs shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Topokrs was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Malybaev is looking to get to half guard.
Topokrs blocks Malybaev's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
Topokrs content just to control the position here.
Malybaev wants to control but Topokrs is having none of it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Topokrs tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Topokrs wants to control the action but instead Malybaev gets a body lock and reverses into Topokrs's guard! Nice work!
Topokrs is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

Malybaev gets to his feet - Topokrs follows without any prompting.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Topokrs!
Malybaev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Topokrs counters with a single leg into guard. Malybaev didn't expect that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Malybaev being controlled here, momentarily.
Topokrs must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Topokrs loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Topokrs engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Holden Topokrs has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Topokrs scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Topokrs slows the pace down in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Malybaev wants to improve his position but Topokrs is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Topokrs trying to pass the guard but Malybaev defending well.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Holden Topokrs.
Topokrs lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Malybaev backs up against the cage.

Topokrs looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Malybaev!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Topokrs can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Malybaev is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Holden Topokrs showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Topokrs moves in looking to clinch but Malybaev pushes him off.
Asylbek Malybaev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Topokrs throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Malybaev was covering up waiting for the punch and Topokrs finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Malybaev being controlled here, momentarily.
Malybaev keeping moving, preventing Topokrs from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Malybaev is trying to control the position but Topokrs postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Holden Topokrs was stalling too much, according to the referee.

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

Malybaev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Topokrs stopping the sweep attempt from Malybaev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Topokrs 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.
Topokrs looking to pass the guard.
Topokrs not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Holden Topokrs was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Topokrs shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Malybaev defends it nicely.
Malybaev throws a head kick but Topokrs moves out of range.

Topokrs looking to score a takedown here. Malybaev is defending well but Topokrs drives through and ends up in Malybaev's guard.
Topokrs stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Malybaev swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Malybaev keeping moving, preventing Topokrs from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Topokrs is stalling in the full guard.

Holden Topokrs has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Topokrs closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Malybaev's guard.
Topokrs stays in close to Malybaev's body and controls the position.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Topokrs. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Topokrs works a leg free and moves into half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Holden Topokrs comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Topokrs has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Holden Topokrs!