PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Fightah Numbah Five (ranked 24484 p4p, 498 weight class) and Andrei Mirkovich (ranked 24023 p4p, 486 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.

Numbah Five
vs
Mirkovich

195 cm
21
240 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

187 cm
19
269 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Fightah Numbah Five!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrei Mirkovich!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Numbah Five keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Numbah Five throws a low kick but Mirkovich avoids it.
Mirkovich looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Numbah Five is fending him off so far but Mirkovich persists. Nope, Numbah Five circles away and we're back to standing.
And Numbah Five counters with a quick kick to the body but Mirkovich blocks it.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Mirkovich has Numbah Five pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Mirkovich pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Numbah Five tumbling to the mat - Mirkovich dives into Numbah Five's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mirkovich working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Mirkovich content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Mirkovich stops Numbah Five from standing up.
Mirkovich's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Numbah Five is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Numbah Five trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Mirkovich really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Numbah Five. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Numbah Five throws a leg kick but Mirkovich moved away.
Numbah Five throws a body punch but Mirkovich moves out of range.
Fightah Numbah Five is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Numbah Five attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Mirkovich moves out of range of the body kick from Numbah Five.
Numbah Five definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Nice sprawl there from Numbah Five as Mirkovich shoots in.
It looked like Numbah Five was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Mirkovich.
Fightah Numbah Five has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrei Mirkovich.
A looping hook to the body misses from Numbah Five. Mirkovich does a little dance to reset his feet.

Numbah Five tries to sprawl but Mirkovich drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Numbah Five kicks Mirkovich off and gets back to his feet.
Numbah Five throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Numbah Five stuffs the takedown.
Numbah Five keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Numbah Five scores with a leg kick.
Numbah Five throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Mirkovich shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Numbah Five is defending against the submission attempts here by Mirkovich.
Mirkovich prevents Numbah Five from standing back up.
Mirkovich not doing much here.
Mirkovich'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 fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Numbah Five is looking to escape.
Mirkovich sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Numbah Five is trying to stand.
Mirkovich perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Mirkovich trying to pass the guard but Numbah Five defending well.
Numbah Five wants to get back to his feet.

That's four 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.
Mirkovich performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Numbah Five is looking to escape.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Numbah Five misses with a leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Numbah Five.
Numbah Five throws a low kick but Mirkovich moves out of range easily.
A thudding body kick lands there by Numbah Five!

Mirkovich rushes Numbah Five and presses him up against the cage.
A knee to the head by Mirkovich.

It looks like Fightah Numbah Five has been cut.
Numbah Five is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Mirkovich is keeping busy.

Mirkovich is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Numbah Five can't fight it off and eventually Mirkovich manages to take the fight to the floor. Numbah Five looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Numbah Five kicks Mirkovich off and gets to his feet.
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 Fightah Numbah Five will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Fightah Numbah Five's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Nice body punch from Numbah Five.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Numbah Five.
Mirkovich drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Numbah Five defends it well.
Numbah Five throws a leg kick but Mirkovich sees it coming and moves out of range.
Mirkovich feints the counter takedown.
Numbah Five throws a quick inside leg kick.
Mirkovich misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Mirkovich walks forward, straight into a front kick from Numbah Five.

Mirkovich shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Numbah Five napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Mirkovich controls the position.
Let's hope that Mirkovich 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.
Numbah Five wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mirkovich decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Mirkovich throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Numbah Five was covering up waiting for the punch and Mirkovich finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Mirkovich controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Numbah Five wants to stand but Mirkovich is controlling the position.
Mirkovich controlling from the top position.
Mirkovich won't allow Numbah Five to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mirkovich content to stall in guard here.

Numbah Five is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Mirkovich works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Numbah Five can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Mirkovich controls the pace.
Numbah Five wants to stand but Mirkovich is controlling the position.
Mirkovich is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mirkovich pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Numbah Five is keeping the position for now.
Numbah Five wants to stand up but Mirkovich is controlling him.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Andrei Mirkovich is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Mirkovich misses with a takedown attempt
and Numbah Five makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Mirkovich moves out of range of the body kick from Numbah Five.
Numbah Five throws a quick inside leg kick.
Mirkovich with a poor takedown
and Numbah Five counters with a low kick, right behind Mirkovich 's knee.
Fightah Numbah Five has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrei Mirkovich.
Numbah Five connects with a solid leg kick.
Numbah Five throws a body kick, spinning off balance

so Mirkovich counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Numbah Five manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

That's four 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!
Mirkovich wants a takedown but no success here.
Numbah Five tries to break free but Mirkovich pushes him back against the cage.

Mirkovich pulls guard successfully.
Mirkovich is breathing heavily.
Mirkovich is looking to stand up but Numbah Five isn't so interested in that idea.

Numbah Five stands up from Mirkovich's guard - Numbah Five perhaps looking for a knockout.
Mirkovich takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mirkovich darts in looking for a takedown but Numbah Five gets double underhooks and turns Mirkovich into the cage.
Numbah Five throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Mirkovich chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Numbah Five can pounce on him.
Numbah Five lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Numbah Five buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fightah Numbah Five dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Fightah Numbah Five's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Mirkovich takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Mirkovich drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Numbah Five defends it well.

Mirkovich closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mirkovich lands in his opponent's guard.
Mirkovich lands a couple of elbows.
Mirkovich passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Numbah Five wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Numbah Five being controlled for a moment.

Numbah Five throws Mirkovich to one side and escapes!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Numbah Five fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Mirkovich.
Numbah Five with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Mirkovich closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Numbah Five to the mat! Numbah Five manages to get full guard.
Mirkovich is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Mirkovich with a nice head shot there.

Numbah Five manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Nice takedown defense from Numbah Five. No joy for Mirkovich on that attempt.

Mirkovich shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Numbah Five is trying to defend but Mirkovich finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Numbah Five has one foot on Mirkovich's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Mirkovich's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Mirkovich takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Numbah Five fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Mirkovich has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Numbah Five. Mirkovich shrugs it off though.
Mirkovich takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Numbah Five throws a body punch but Mirkovich moves out of range.
Numbah Five scores with a push kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Numbah Five.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Mirkovich moves into the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Numbah Five wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Mirkovich successfully pulls guard.

Numbah Five gets to his feet - Mirkovich follows without any prompting.

Numbah Five gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Mirkovich to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Mirkovich 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.
Numbah Five is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Mirkovich can do to turn this around?
Numbah Five wants to stand but Mirkovich is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Numbah Five has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Mirkovich is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Numbah Five wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Numbah Five tries to land knees in the clinch but Mirkovich avoids the damage to the body.

Mirkovich has picked Numbah Five up - he's going for a ride! Mirkovich dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Numbah Five wants to get back to his feet.
Mirkovich performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Numbah Five wants to get back to his feet.
Mirkovich content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Numbah Five wants to get back to his feet.
Mirkovich not doing much here.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Mirkovich closes this distance looking for a takedown but Numbah Five circles away.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Numbah Five, right into the meat.
Numbah Five keeps Mirkovich at a distance using the push kick.
Mirkovich has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Numbah Five.
Mirkovich takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mirkovich looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Numbah Five is fending him off so far but Mirkovich persists. Nope, Numbah Five circles away and we're back to standing.
Fightah Numbah Five has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Andrei Mirkovich.
Numbah Five looks to score with a jab to the body but Mirkovich is just out of range.

Mirkovich changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Numbah Five looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Numbah Five is trying to get back to his feet.
Andrei Mirkovich has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Fightah Numbah Five showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Numbah Five, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Fightah Numbah Five!