PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ted Butler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dmitrij Vasilin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Butler
vs
Vasilin

210 cm
18
214 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
25
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good in bed

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ted Butler!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dmitrij Vasilin!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vasilin dives in and grabs Butler's left leg, looking for a takedown. Butler pushes down on Vasilin's head and hops out.

Butler tries to sprawl but Vasilin drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Butler is trying to stand back up but Vasilin is controlling him
Vasilin stalling.
Vasilin wants to pass the guard but Butler is defending well.
Butler punching from the bottom.
Butler trying to hold on to Vasilin's head to control him but Vasilin postures up.
Butler looks like he's trying to stand up.

Butler is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Vasilin pulls his head out easily.

Butler makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Vasilin misses the shot to the body.
Vasilin fails with a takedown attempt.
Dmitrij Vasilin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vasilin looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler tries a head kick but it misses.
Vasilin swats away the attempt to clinch by Butler.
Vasilin shoots in looking for a takedown. Butler tries to sprawl out of it but Vasilin keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Butler manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ted Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitrij Vasilin.

Vasilin clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasilin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Butler gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Butler is trying to break the clinch but Vasilin has him pressed against the cage.
Vasilin is trying to drag Butler to the mat but Butler just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Vasilin wants a takedown.
Vasilin gets underhooks to prevent Butler's takedown attempt.
Butler wants to break free but Vasilin has control.
Butler tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Vasilin just stands there and leans against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vasilin pulls Butler into guard.
Vasilin working a defensive guard here.
Butler slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Butler tries to stand but Vasilin is controlling from the bottom.
Butler trying to control the position from guard on top but Vasilin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ted Butler has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Vasilin with a poor takedown

and Butler counters by clinching up.
Butler is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Vasilin to keep the fight standing.
Butler wants to get back to striking at distance but Vasilin won't allow it.
Butler wants to break the clinch but can't.

Butler has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Vasilin uses from the top position.

Butler has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Vasilin can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vasilin controls from within his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ted Butler will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vasilin feints and as Butler raises his hands in defense, Vasilin changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Butler is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vasilin defends well.
Butler is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vasilin is controlling him.
Vasilin advances position into side control!
A control attempt from Butler but he's now mounted!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vasilin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Butler trying desperately to get to his feet.
Vasilin lands a big elbow.
Vasilin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Butler tries to lock up and control but Vasilin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Vasilin controlling from the full mount.
Butler wants to control but Vasilin is having none of it.
Vasilin controlling from the full mount.
Butler working to try and regain half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butler wants to get back to his feet.
Vasilin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Let's hope that Vasilin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vasilin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Dmitrij Vasilin was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Vasilin avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Vasilin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Vasilin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Butler really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Butler is trying to control the position but Vasilin postures up.
Vasilin engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Dmitrij Vasilin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Vasilin doesn't manage to clinch there - Butler circles away.
Ted Butler is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Butler gets caught flat footed, as Vasilin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Butler escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Vasilin gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Butler will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vasilin wants to control from the top but Butler keeps moving.
Butler is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dmitrij Vasilin 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! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Vasilin misses with a takedown

and Butler counters by moving into the clinch.
Vasilin has Butler pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Butler manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Vasilin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Butler is trying to break the clinch but Vasilin has him pressed against the cage.
Vasilin tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ted Butler has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dmitrij Vasilin.
Butler tries for a takedown but Vasilin manages to get underhooks.
Butler jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vasilin walks away with a smile on his face. Butler gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Butler throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vasilin loads up on a big right hand but Butler slips the punch.
Vasilin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Butler fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vasilin, pushing him back against the cage.
Vasilin stops a takedown attempt from Butler.

Vasilin tightens his grip and picks Butler up, before dumping him to the ground. Butler manages to land in guard.
Vasilin is fighting to break Butler's control of his arms but Butler is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Butler will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Butler working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Vasilin doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Vasilin manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Butler is trying to control the position but Vasilin postures up.
Vasilin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Vasilin pushing down on Butler's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Butler is looking to escape.
Vasilin works his foot free and advances to mount.
Vasilin tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Vasilin lands a heavy elbow.
Butler tries to lock up and control but Vasilin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Vasilin content just to control the position here.
Butler wants to try and get back to his feet.
Vasilin takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Butler can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasilin punishing his opponent with strikes.
Vasilin sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Vasilin trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Butler's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Vasilin can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Butler is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Butler wants to try and get back to his feet.
Butler keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Vasilin postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Butler looks a forlorn figure.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vasilin looking to control and managing it successfully.
Vasilin cracks Butler with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
You get the feeling that Butler really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Butler is trying to escape the mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Dmitrij Vasilin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Vasilin 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dmitrij Vasilin!