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WP 91 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 47 wins and 64 losses; Boris Balkan! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 21 wins and 17 losses; Roman Kersikov!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Ackerman and James Glass.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Kersikov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Balkan quickly recovers to half guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Balkan (0) vs (2) Kersikov
Kersikov prevents Balkan from improving his position.
Kersikov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Balkan has a hand on Kersikov's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Kersikov takes advantage of the position though and mounts him! Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (0) vs (5) Kersikov
Balkan is just holding on here. Kersikov manages to take his back.
Score +3 for taking back: Balkan (0) vs (8) Kersikov
Kersikov is not going to allow Balkan to sit and survive in this position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balkan is really stuck here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan is working hard here to advance position.
Kersikov controlling from the back.
You can see the frustration on Balkan's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Kersikov slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Balkan has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Kersikov wants to control but Balkan is keeping busy.
I really don't envy Balkan right now.
Our spies down at at KFA inform us that Kersikov has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Kersikov is not going to allow Balkan to sit and survive in this position.
Kersikov controlling the position well here. Balkan rolled but Kersikov kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan breaks Kersikov's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (2) vs (8) Kersikov
Balkan trying to control but Kersikov is working from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kersikov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Balkan sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kersikov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kersikov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Balkan controls the pace.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Kersikov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Balkan is one step ahead there.
Balkan trying to control the position from guard on top but Kersikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Kersikov manages to land a sweep and now he's on top! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Balkan (2) vs (10) Kersikov
Balkan looking for a sweep. Not yet Balkan, not yet.
Balkan is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Balkan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kersikov is one step ahead there.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Balkan holds on and takes a little breather.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Balkan managing to control the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Balkan is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kersikov defends well.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
Balkan is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kersikov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Balkan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balkan has control of Kersikov's left arm, preventing Kersikov from doing any damage.
Kersikov trying to control but Balkan is working from the bottom.
Balkan trying to keep a closed guard but Kersikov is proving a slippery customer.
Balkan working for a triangle but Kersikov defends it easily.
Kersikov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kersikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Balkan trying to control the position.
Balkan looking for a sweep. Not yet Balkan, not yet.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Balkan controlling Kersikov's posture.
Balkan trying to control the position.
Balkan has an active guard here but Kersikov has managed to pass into half guard.
Balkan is trying to get back to full guard.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is trying to control but can't.
Balkan is looking for a sweep. Kersikov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Balkan has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kersikov is working away from the top position though.
Balkan is looking for a sweep. Kersikov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kersikov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Balkan has his hands clasped together around Kersikov's back. He's all about the action.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov trying to control the action but Balkan is working from the bottom.
Balkan tries to get to full guard but Kersikov has control of the leg.
Kersikov is trying to control. Balkan wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Balkan is trying to get back to full guard.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov trying to pass the guard but Balkan defending well.
Kersikov trying to control the action but Balkan is working from the bottom.
Kersikov is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Balkan! Score +3 for passing guard: Balkan (2) vs (13) Kersikov
Balkan just holding on.
Balkan slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is looking to control Kersikov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Balkan avoid being mounted?
Balkan is concentrating on defense, preventing Kersikov from advancing position.
Balkan continues to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balkan is trying to control but can't.
Balkan is looking to improve his position.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kersikov wins on points by 13 to 2.
A relieved looking Roman Kersikov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it. |
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