PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksander Shlemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slava Vitruk (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shlemenko
vs
Vitruk

190 cm
20
244 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

192 cm
25
260 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksander Shlemenko!
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, Slava Vitruk!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Fedor Mirinova and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shlemenko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Shlemenko goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Vitruk fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vitruk fails with a takedown attempt.
Vitruk shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shlemenko but Shlemenko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Aleksander Shlemenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Slava Vitruk.
Shlemenko scores with a punch to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shlemenko wants to clinch up but Vitruk keeps it at a distance.
Shlemenko fails with the takedown

and Vitruk counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Shlemenko's guard now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vitruk wants to control from the top but Shlemenko keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vitruk won't allow Shlemenko to get back to his feet.
Shlemenko being controlled here, momentarily.

Vitruk postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Shlemenko is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Vitruk, into his guard.
Shlemenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vitruk working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shlemenko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Shlemenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Vitruk has wrist control.
Shlemenko throws a big right hand that misses.
Shlemenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Vitruk is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shlemenko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Shlemenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shlemenko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Vitruk shoots in for a double leg but Shlemenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Vitruk looks gassed!
Vitruk shoots for a takedown but Shlemenko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Vitruk shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Shlemenko pinned against the cage. Shlemenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Slava Vitruk seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vitruk moves out of range of the body kick.
Nice sprawl there from Shlemenko as Vitruk shoots in.
Shlemenko moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Shlemenko wants to clinch but Vitruk slips to the side

and Vitruk counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Shlemenko's guard now.
Shlemenko keeping moving, preventing Vitruk from controlling successfully.
Shlemenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vitruk trying to move into half guard but instead Shlemenko has managed to sweep!
Shlemenko has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Vitruk is proving hard to escape from.
Vitruk should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Shlemenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vitruk working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Shlemenko.
Vitruk doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Vitruk shoots in but Shlemenko avoids the takedown attempt easily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shlemenko moves in looking to clinch but Vitruk pushes him off.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Slava Vitruk will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Vitruk fails with a takedown attempt.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Shlemenko.
Vitruk shoots in but Shlemenko avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Jab by Shlemenko.
Shlemenko lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Shlemenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shlemenko lands with a nice combination. Vitruk backs away looking to recover.
Vitruk is breathing heavily.
Vitruk swats away the attempt to clinch by Shlemenko.
Shlemenko throws a body kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vitruk showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shlemenko.
Shlemenko comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Shlemenko lands a head shot.
Vitruk fails with the takedown.
Aleksander Shlemenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Slava Vitruk.
Shlemenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vitruk paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shlemenko lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Shlemenko looks to land a combination but Vitruk avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vitruk.
Shlemenko connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Shlemenko looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A combination from Shlemenko does no damage.
Shlemenko lands with a nice combination. Vitruk backs away looking to recover.
Shlemenko throws a body kick that misses.
Shlemenko misses with a double jab.
Vitruk shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Shlemenko throws a right and a left that Vitruk avoids nicely.

Shlemenko has closed the distance and engaged Vitruk in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vitruk has Shlemenko pressed against the cage, preventing Shlemenko from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Shlemenko working hard to break the clinch.
Shlemenko wants to break free but Vitruk has control.
Shlemenko is trying to break free.
Shlemenko is trying to break the clinch but Vitruk is controlling him.
Shlemenko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shlemenko wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Vitruk keeps control of Shlemenko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Shlemenko tries to pull guard but Vitruk won't allow it.
Shlemenko is trying to force a seperation but Vitruk has the dominant position.
Vitruk keeps control of Shlemenko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Shlemenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Shlemenko is trying to force a seperation but Vitruk has the dominant position.

Vitruk escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shlemenko misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Shlemenko tries to bum rush Vitruk with a series of wild strikes but Vitruk uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shlemenko lands a jab to the head.
Vitruk fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vitruk is defended easily by Shlemenko.
Shlemenko lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Vitruk at a distance.
Shlemenko scores with a one two! Vitruk had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Shlemenko dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Shlemenko catches Vitruk with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Vitruk looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shlemenko is fending him off so far but Vitruk persists. Nope, Shlemenko circles away and we're back to standing.
Vitruk tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shlemenko swivels and escapes.
Shlemenko closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Shlemenko lands a jab to the head.
Shlemenko with a nice cross.
Shlemenko tries to bum rush Vitruk with a series of wild strikes but Vitruk uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shlemenko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Vitruk is fending him off so far but Shlemenko persists. Nope, Vitruk circles away and we're back to standing.
Shlemenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
No joy there for Shlemenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Vitruk takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vitruk walks into a stiff left hand from Shlemenko.
Shlemenko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shlemenko lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Shlemenko.
Vitruk shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Shlemenko as he jumps to the side.
Aleksander Shlemenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Slava Vitruk.
Shlemenko throws a nice looking combination but Vitruk bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Nice shot by Shlemenko.
The crowd cheers as Shlemenko lands an impressive looking overhand right. Vitruk doesn't seem phased though.
Shlemenko throws a series of strikes that have Vitruk backpedaling.

Shlemenko fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vitruk, pushing him back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko tries to circle away but Vitruk has him pinned against the cage.

Shlemenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shlemenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Shlemenko lands a two punch combo.
Vitruk avoids the head kick by Shlemenko.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Vitruk is defended easily by Shlemenko.
Shlemenko tries for a takedown but Vitruk circles away easily

and Vitruk counters with a shoot takedown. Shlemenko fights it but they end up in guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vitruk pushing down on Shlemenko's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko trying to hold on to Vitruk's head to control him but Vitruk postures up.
Vitruk wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shlemenko keeps working.

Vitruk is working for a submission of some sort.
Vitruk wants to control but Shlemenko is keeping him busy.

That's four 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.
Shlemenko wants to control but Vitruk is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shlemenko stuffs the takedown attempt from Vitruk. Vitruk gets slowly back to his feet.
Aleksander Shlemenko is winning the standup battle so far.
Shlemenko shoots in looking for a takedown. Vitruk tries to sprawl out of it but Shlemenko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Vitruk manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Shlemenko connects with the punch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksander Shlemenko showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shlemenko has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksander Shlemenko!