PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Denis Churilov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sasha Metelkin (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.

Churilov
vs
Metelkin

190 cm
22
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
22
142 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Denis Churilov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sasha Metelkin!
The judges for this bout are Sam Margolis, Steven Brown and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Churilov has managed to clinch.
Churilov lands with a light punch inside.
Churilov tries to break the clinch but Metelkin is controlling the position.
Churilov stops a takedown attempt from Metelkin.
Churilov misses with a knee strike.

Churilov successfully pulls guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Metelkin missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Churilov keeping moving, preventing Metelkin from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Churilov is looking for a triangle here but Metelkin uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

Metelkin stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Churilov delivers a nice body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Churilov has managed to clinch.
Metelkin tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Churilov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Come on Churilov - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Metelkin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Churilov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Denis Churilov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sasha Metelkin.
Churilov tries for a takedown but Metelkin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Metelkin shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Churilov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Metelkin won't be happy with that.
Churilov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Metelkin is letting Churilov control him for a moment.

Churilov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Churilov trying to control the position but Metelkin is working away.
Churilov lands an elbow.

Churilov stands up.
Churilov throws a head kick but Metelkin moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Churilov tries to clinch but Metelkin moves out of range.
Metelkin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Churilov as he avoids it easily.

Churilov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Metelkin looking for a sweep but Churilov has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Churilov controlling the position easily from mount.
Churilov lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Churilov trying to control but he's not successful this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Churilov is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Metelkin is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Metelkin tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Churilov punishing his opponent with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Churilov with shots to the head and body - Metelkin looks very uncomfortable down there.
Churilov controlling from mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Churilov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Churilov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Churilov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Churilov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Metelkin controls Churilov momentarily but Churilov frees himself.
Churilov trying to control but Metelkin is working from the bottom.
Churilov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Churilov slips nicely into half guard, despite the strikes coming from Metelkin.
Churilov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Metelkin trying to hold on to Churilov's head to control him but Churilov postures up.
Churilov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Churilov is keen to just control but Metelkin is a slippery customer.
Metelkin desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Churilov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Metelkin darts in looking for a takedown but Churilov gets double underhooks and turns Metelkin into the cage.

Churilov jumps guard and drags Metelkin to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Churilov is adopting a defensive guard.
Metelkin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Churilov is keeping the position for now.
Metelkin throws a strike but Churilov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Churilov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Churilov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Churilov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Metelkin tries to bench press Churilov off him but Churilov keeps the position.

Churilov stands up and beckons Metelkin to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Churilov drives through with a takedown into Metelkin's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Metelkin wants to sweep here but Churilov controlling him for the moment.
Denis Churilov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Churilov trying to control but Metelkin is working from the bottom.
Metelkin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Churilov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Metelkin is breathing heavily.
Metelkin trying to keep a closed guard but Churilov is proving a slippery customer.
Churilov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

We're going to have a standup here because Denis Churilov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Metelkin closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Churilov keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Metelkin wants to control but Churilov is keeping him busy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Churilov gets back to full guard.
Churilov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Churilov dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Metelkin fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Churilov avoids it really well and circles away.
Churilov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Metelkin circles away.
Churilov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Metelkin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Metelkin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Churilov keeps working.
Churilov can't do much from the bottom here.
Churilov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Churilov trying to control here.
Churilov is pressing down on Metelkin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Churilov is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Metelkin frees his head nicely. Oh but Churilov has switched to an armbar! Metelkin is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:37 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Denis Churilov!