PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Guile Sin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timur Rafkatovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Timur Rafkatovich is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sin
vs
Rafkatovich

195 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
24
210 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Dangerous knees
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Guile Sin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Timur Rafkatovich!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Ivan Kurochkin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sin tries to close the distance and clinch but Rafkatovich swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rafkatovich is defended easily by Sin.

Sin drives through and clinches with Rafkatovich against the cage.
Sin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rafkatovich is defending well for now.
Rafkatovich has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sin is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sin on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rafkatovich tries to break the clinch but Sin is controlling the position.
Rafkatovich is trying to break free.
Sin is trying to drag Rafkatovich to the mat but Rafkatovich just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

Sin pulls Rafkatovich into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sin wants to sweep but no luck.
Rafkatovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Sin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sin has Rafkatovich pulled in close to control his posture.
Sin controls Rafkatovich momentarily but Rafkatovich frees himself.
Rafkatovich 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.

Timur Rafkatovich has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Rafkatovich tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rafkatovich gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Sin stops Rafkatovich from standing up.
Sin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sin looking to sit in guard and control but Rafkatovich gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sin looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sin trying to control the position here.
Sin wants to sweep but no luck.
Rafkatovich trying to control the position from guard on top but Sin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Rafkatovich decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sin, up you get!
Rafkatovich moves in looking to clinch but Sin pushes him off.
Sin keeps the fight on the outside.

Sin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rafkatovich, pushing him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sin blocks a body shot from Rafkatovich.
Rafkatovich tries for a takedown but Sin manages to get underhooks.
Guile Sin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Timur Rafkatovich.
Rafkatovich jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sin walks away with a smile on his face. Rafkatovich gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Sin takes the fight into the clinch.

Sin is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rafkatovich can't fight it off and eventually Sin manages to take the fight to the floor. Rafkatovich looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Rafkatovich is working an open guard so Sin takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rafkatovich shoots in but Sin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guile Sin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Timur Rafkatovich's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

The fight stays on the outside here - Rafkatovich looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Sin has Rafkatovich up against the cage in a clinch.
Rafkatovich taking a breather.
Sin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Sin lands a knee to the body.
Rafkatovich is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Rafkatovich jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Sin walks away with a smile on his face. Rafkatovich gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafkatovich circles away from the clinch attempt.
Sin tries to clinch there but Rafkatovich circles away.
Sin blocks a leg kick.
Sin doesn't manage to clinch there - Rafkatovich circles away.
Sin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sin tries to clinch but Rafkatovich is having none of it.

Sin moves into the clinch successfully.
Sin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rafkatovich in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Sin trying to land knees to the body.
Sin is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Rafkatovich is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rafkatovich struggles to land a body shot inside as Sin controls his hands.
Rafkatovich tries to break the clinch but Sin is controlling the position.
Rafkatovich has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Sin gets control of Rafkatovich's arms and successfully pulls guard. Sin will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Sin is controlling Rafkatovich's posture.
Sin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rafkatovich on the ground.
Sin keeping moving, preventing Rafkatovich from controlling successfully.
Rafkatovich might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sin kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Sin will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Timur Rafkatovich hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Sin fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rafkatovich, pushing him back against the cage.
Sin lands a nice knee to the body.
Rafkatovich blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sin lands a good knee to the midsection. Rafkatovich won't want to take too many of those.
Sin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Rafkatovich is trying to force a seperation but Sin has the dominant position.
Guile Sin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Sin is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rafkatovich.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sin is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Rafkatovich is defending well for now.
Rafkatovich on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Sin ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sin no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Sin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rafkatovich is aware though and is defending well.
Sin wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Sin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Sin is looking for a triangle but Rafkatovich pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Guile Sin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Timur Rafkatovich's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rafkatovich shoots in for a takedown but Sin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sin fails in his attempt to clinch.

Sin shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Rafkatovich napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Rafkatovich manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Sin wants to get back to his feet.
Rafkatovich seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Sin is trying to stand up here but Rafkatovich is controlling him well.
Sin slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rafkatovich prevents Sin from getting back to his feet.

Sin has an active guard here but Rafkatovich has managed to pass into half guard.
Rafkatovich performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Rafkatovich wants to control but Sin is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sin is controlling Rafkatovich's position as best he can from this difficult position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rafkatovich wants to stand but Sin has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

Rafkatovich wants to work for an arm triangle but Sin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sin wants to get back to full guard.
Sin is trying to stand.
Rafkatovich trying to control the action but Sin is working from the bottom.

Rafkatovich decides to stand and escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sin wants to clinch.
Rafkatovich closes the distance and clinches up with Sin, looking for a takedown. Rafkatovich pushes Sin against the cage but Sin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Sin shoots for a double leg takedown but Rafkatovich sprawls well. He's pushed Sin's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rafkatovich lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Sin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Timur Rafkatovich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sin lands a knee to the body.
Rafkatovich fails to pull guard.
Guile Sin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Timur Rafkatovich.
Sin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rafkatovich in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knees in the clinch landing for Sin.
Sin gets underhooks to prevent Rafkatovich's takedown attempt.
Timur Rafkatovich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Guile Sin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sin lands a nice knee to the body.

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 Guile Sin.
Well Sin 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Guile Sin!