PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kalam Mekhar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denis Petrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Mekhar
vs
Petrov

190 cm
20
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
18
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Likes ground

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight 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, Kalam Mekhar!
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, Denis Petrov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Petrov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Petrov working away.
Petrov wants to control but Mekhar is keeping him busy.
Mekhar gets back to half guard.
Mekhar is trying to stand up here but Petrov is controlling him well.
Mekhar wants to control but Petrov is keeping busy.
Mekhar tries to roll over but Petrov keeps him under control.
Mekhar is breathing heavily.
Mekhar slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Mekhar keeping moving, preventing Petrov from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mekhar is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Petrov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Petrov trying to control but Mekhar is working from the bottom.
Mekhar wants to stand and escape but Petrov is having none of it.
Petrov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Petrov stands up from Mekhar's guard - Petrov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Mekhar shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Petrov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Mekhar's guard.
Mekhar pulls Petrov in close to prevent any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mekhar has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Mekhar manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Mekhar working for a submission but Petrov is keeping him at bay.
Mekhar tries to control but Petrov wriggling away.
Petrov is looking to improve his position but Mekhar isn't that keen on the idea.
Mekhar with shots to the head and body - Petrov looks very uncomfortable down there.
Petrov tries to hold on but Mekhar postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Petrov tries to lock up and control but Mekhar gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Petrov slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Petrov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Mekhar is taking a breather. Petrov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Petrov is pressing down on Mekhar's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Mekhar wants to control from the top but Petrov keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Mekhar gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Petrov stuffs the takedown attempt from Mekhar. Mekhar gets slowly back to his feet.
Mekhar with a poor takedown

and Petrov counters with a single leg into guard. Mekhar didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kalam Mekhar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mekhar wants to stand but Petrov is controlling the position.
Petrov trying to control the position from guard on top but Mekhar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Petrov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mekhar tries to get to full guard but Petrov has control of the leg.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Petrov stands up and beckons Mekhar to join him on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Petrov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Mekhar feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Petrov pushes Mekhar off and gets back to his feet.

Mekhar gets a takedown into half guard.
It looks like Mekhar is going to stand back up.
Mekhar trying to control from half guard but Petrov is working away.
Mekhar content to control rather than advance.
Denis Petrov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Mekhar is trying to control the action in half guard but Petrov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Petrov controlling Mekhar's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Petrov has a closed guard, preventing Mekhar from standing up.
Mekhar trying to control but Petrov is working from the bottom.
Petrov is trying to control the position but Mekhar postures up.
Mekhar wants to stand but Petrov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Mekhar looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Mekhar shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Petrov as he jumps to the side.
Kalam Mekhar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Mekhar has Petrov pushed against the cage.
Mekhar is trying to stall.
Petrov tries to pull guard but Mekhar holds him up against the cage and eventually Petrov drops back down to his feet.

Mekhar manages to pull guard.
Mekhar is looking to sweep but instead, Petrov has passed into half guard.
Mekhar really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Petrov stands up out of the half guard.
Mekhar shoots in and drives through. Petrov sprawls well.

Mekhar scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Petrov looking for submissions off his back.

Mekhar postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Petrov to stand up.
Mekhar throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Petrov's waist but Petrov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mekhar off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kalam Mekhar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Petrov as Mekhar shoots in.
A solid body kick from Petrov.
Mekhar is looking to clinch.

Mekhar moves into range and clinches up with Petrov.
Petrov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Petrov tries to pull guard but Mekhar holds him up against the cage and eventually Petrov drops back down to his feet.

Mekhar manages to pull guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Petrov postures up.
Petrov won't allow Mekhar to get back to his feet.
Mekhar looking for a sweep. Not yet Mekhar, not yet.
Mekhar wants to get back to his feet but Petrov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Mekhar has control of Petrov's left arm, preventing Petrov from doing any damage.
Mekhar is trying to control the position but Petrov postures up.
Mekhar tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Mekhar tries for a takedown but Petrov circles away easily

and Petrov counters with a single leg into guard. Mekhar didn't expect that.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kalam Mekhar will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Mekhar has his takedown stuffed

so Petrov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mekhar has a closed guard, preventing Petrov from standing up.
Petrov won't allow Mekhar to sweep him here.
Petrov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Petrov wants to control from the top but Mekhar keeps moving.
Petrov won't allow Mekhar to sweep him here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Mekhar can't keep his opponent in guard - Petrov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Petrov stops Mekhar from getting back to his feet.
Mekhar tries to roll over but Petrov keeps him under control.
Petrov works his way into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mekhar can't do much from the bottom here.
Mekhar manages to get back to half guard.
Mekhar holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Mekhar is trying to control but can't.
Mekhar is not content to let Petrov control the position.
Petrov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Mekhar actively working from the bottom here.
Petrov wants to take a breather but Mekhar is having none of it.

Petrov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Mekhar looks like he's trying to stand up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Petrov misses with a series of wild punches.
Mekhar avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Mekhar gets a clinch.
Mekhar stops a takedown attempt from Petrov.
Petrov prevents the takedown attempt.

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

Petrov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Petrov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Mekhar wants to get back to his feet.
Mekhar is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Petrov there.
Mekhar keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Mekhar tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Mekhar is trying to get back to full guard.
Petrov prevents Mekhar from standing back up.
Petrov tries to pass to full mount but Mekhar defends it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Mekhar fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kalam Mekhar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Petrov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Mekhar shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Petrov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov keeping moving, preventing Mekhar from controlling successfully.
Petrov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Mekhar is one step ahead there.
Mekhar trying to stand up but can't free himself from Petrov's guard.

Petrov kicks Mekhar off and gets to his feet.
Mekhar shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Petrov but Petrov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Mekhar misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mekhar shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Petrov pinned against the cage. Petrov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Denis Petrov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Petrov 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denis Petrov!