Aslambek Ilyasovich Idigov vs. Ryan Kurtiss Allan Ford & Apti Ustarkhanov vs. Andrey Sirotkin RBR

Even the headliner (Idigov) doesn't have all that stiff a test. Ford is okay, but he's Sirotkin's leftovers. As well as Buatsi's, Chudinov's, etc..

 

Sirotkin just keeps slaying him with the accurate jab and unconventional movement.

59-54 Sirotkin

 

Partisan crowd now chanting "AP-TI!"

 

Sirotkin doing effective sting like a bee and float like a butterfly work in the lefty stance, using lots of quick ducks while poking Ustarkhanov in the belly with jabs. Sirotkin goes down, imbalanced, as he drops too low and Ustarkhanov taps him with a right on the forehead on the way down. Some refs might have made a chintzy KD ruling there, but this one refrains. Sirotkin loses his balance doing the same thing a minute later - and once more it was a judgment call as Ustarkhanov punched him on the way down (again, not ruled a KD, IMO correctly).

Sirotkin outboxes Ustarkhanov consistently but his legs & fitness are starting to give.

69-63 Sirotkin

 

Round 8

Ustarkhanov is taking advantage of Sirotkin's fatigue, pressing in and lumping in several quick body shots in succession, or tagging Sirotkin on his third eye with a chopping right. Sirotkin is sucking wind, hard, only attacking in short bursts, still finding sharpness with the orthodox and southpaw counter 1-2 but getting tooled over for most of the round, shrimping up and reacting badly to Ustarkhanov's body combos.

10-9 Ustarkhanov

78-73 Sirotkin

 

If this goddamn feather-fist Chechen gets a come from behind kayo just because Sirotkin's gassed, I'm going to flip my table over and cause a scene at the library.

 

Round 9

Ustarkhanov is walking Sirotkin down, holding up his mitts, palms turned out to catch the solo blast slingshot counters Sirotkin is tossing up intermittently from a crouch, and taking big wide swipes at the body, usually in multiples. Sirotkin has to fall in and hold to stem him off. Sirotkin pushing his jab, very tired. Ustarkhanov is grinding in as the crowd starts chanting his first name louder and with more urgency, bloodlust rising. Very untidy 1-2s slung up at the head by Ustarkhanov, most of them missing, but the constant pressure is forcing Sirotkin to dive in and clinch.

10-9 Ustarkhanov

87-83 Sirotkin

 

...c'mon, Dre, hang in there... just coast for 3 minutes...

 

Round 10

Ustarkhanov is mauling Sirotkin, who can only muster a 1-2 at once before pinching himself up at the waist and clasping onto Ustarkhanov. Ref pushing them apart every 5-10 seconds now. Ustarkhanov hurling big curveball rights with bad intentions as he pursues Sirotkin around the ring. Sirokin goes down as he trips over his own feet and Ustarkhanov cuffs him behind the head. Ustarkhanov is stalking, flailing a jab out in Sirotkin's face, no attempt to aim, just a diversion as he runs up and starts pummeling the body. Sirotkin exhausted and on the verge of collapse but manages to hold and then flurry his way loose into the ropes, before holding again when Ustarkhanov pounces on him.

10-9 Ustarkhanov

96-93 Sirotkin

 

...for Sirotkin, I hope?