PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sasa Molotov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Shlemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Molotov
vs
Shlemenko

190 cm
24
222 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

190 cm
20
244 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite 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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sasa Molotov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksander Shlemenko!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shlemenko takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Danga de danga de dang - Shlemenko scores with a four punch combination!
Shlemenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Molotov circles away quickly and effectively.
Molotov connects with a high kick.
Molotov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shlemenko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Molotov cracks the inside of Shlemenko's front leg.
Shlemenko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Molotov misses with a combination

and Shlemenko counters by moving into the clinch.
Molotov is pressed up against the cage. Shlemenko has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Molotov down to the mat. Molotov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Shlemenko slips a jab and a cross from Molotov.
Molotov misses with a head kick.
Molotov throws a series of strikes that have Shlemenko backpedaling.
Some wild striking there from Shlemenko.
Molotov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Shlemenko jumps guard and drags Molotov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Molotov tries to stand but Shlemenko is controlling from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shlemenko pulls Molotov in close to prevent any damage.
Let's hope that Shlemenko 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.

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.
Molotov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

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 controlling from mount.
Molotov tries to buck Shlemenko off but he can't manage it.

Shlemenko jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Molotov is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Molotov and Shlemenko has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
You can see the frustration on Molotov's face as Shlemenko controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Shlemenko dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Molotov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Molotov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Shlemenko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Shlemenko.
Molotov working hard to break the clinch.
Shlemenko holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Molotov throws a punch but it's blocked by Shlemenko.
A hook to the body from Molotov.
Shlemenko can't get the takedown.
Molotov is trying to break free.
Molotov can't find room to land a body shot as Shlemenko controls the action.
Molotov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Shlemenko.
Shlemenko blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right hand to the body from Molotov.
Molotov working aggressively here.
Shlemenko tries to break the clinch but Molotov is controlling the position.
Shlemenko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sasa Molotov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Shlemenko.

Molotov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sasa Molotov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Molotov throws a right and a left that Shlemenko avoids nicely.
Molotov misses with a combination

and Shlemenko counters by moving into the clinch.
Shlemenko has Molotov pressed against the cage, preventing Molotov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Shlemenko blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Shlemenko is working for takedown but Molotov is calmly controlling the position for now.
Shlemenko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Molotov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Shlemenko throws a head kick that misses.
Molotov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Shlemenko counters with a two punch combo.
Molotov throws a nice looking combination but Shlemenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A head kick from Molotov lands but Shlemenko takes it in his stride.
Molotov misses with a double jab
and Shlemenko counters with a three punch combo that has Molotov backing up. Molotov nods at Shlemenko to acknowledge the strikes.
Molotov explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
Molotov throws a head kick that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Molotov lands a head kick!
Shlemenko takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Shlemenko tries to clinch there but Molotov circles away.
Sasa Molotov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Shlemenko.
Molotov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shlemenko counters with a three punch combo that has Molotov backing up. Molotov nods at Shlemenko to acknowledge the strikes.
Molotov misses with a double jab

and Shlemenko counters by moving into the clinch.
Molotov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Molotov lands a nice elbow.
Shlemenko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shlemenko is breathing heavily.
Molotov tries to break free but Shlemenko pushes him back against the cage.
Molotov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Molotov scores with a nice hook to the head.
A body shot lands from Molotov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Molotov wants to break free but Shlemenko has control.
Molotov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Shlemenko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Shlemenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Molotov wants to get back to striking at distance but Shlemenko won't allow it.
Shlemenko is trying to drag Molotov to the mat but Molotov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Molotov misses with an elbow over the top.
Molotov has Shlemenko pressed against the cage, preventing Shlemenko from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Molotov pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Shlemenko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Molotov throws a combination that misses
enabling Shlemenko to counter with a crisp jab.
Some wild striking there from Molotov.

Shlemenko moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Molotov has had enough of the clinch but Shlemenko keeps him there for the moment.
Molotov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Shlemenko tries to pull guard but Molotov won't allow it.
Shlemenko has Molotov pressed against the cage, preventing Molotov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Molotov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Molotov wants to break the clinch but can't.
Molotov working aggressively here.

Molotov breaks the clinch.
Molotov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Molotov lands with a slapping head kick.
Molotov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A head kick from Molotov lands but Shlemenko takes it in his stride.
Molotov throws a combination that misses
and Shlemenko counters with a two punch combo.
Molotov falls off balance throwing a combination

and Shlemenko counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Shlemenko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Molotov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksander Shlemenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Molotov throws a head kick but Shlemenko moves out of range.
Molotov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Shlemenko counters with a straight right hand.
Shlemenko fails with an attempt to clinch.
Molotov misses with a combination
and Molotov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Shlemenko tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
A combination from Molotov does no damage.
Molotov displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Molotov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Shlemenko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Shlemenko.
Molotov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A bit of stalling here from Shlemenko.
Molotov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Shlemenko tries for a takedown. No joy.
Shlemenko is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Molotov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Molotov lands a left hand.
Molotov is trying to break the clinch but Shlemenko is controlling him.
Molotov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sasa Molotov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Shlemenko.
Shlemenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shlemenko can't get the takedown.
Shlemenko is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Molotov utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Molotov wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.

Shlemenko pulls guard successfully.
Molotov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shlemenko pulls Molotov in close to prevent any damage.
Shlemenko has a closed guard, preventing Molotov from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Shlemenko, not yet.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shlemenko pulls Molotov in to control the position.

Shlemenko has his feet on Molotov's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Molotov swats away the attempt to clinch by Shlemenko.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
A head kick from Molotov lands but Shlemenko takes it in his stride.
Sasa Molotov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aleksander Shlemenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Molotov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Shlemenko counters with a shoot takedown. Molotov fights it but they end up in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksander Shlemenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Shlemenko has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

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