PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nikita Chernuha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Martin Fernstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Martin Fernstrom told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Chernuha
vs
Fernstrom

177 cm
21
178 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

185 cm
20
174 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikita Chernuha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Martin Fernstrom!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chernuha shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fernstrom but Fernstrom pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Chernuha takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.

It looks like Nikita Chernuha has been cut.

Chernuha feints and as Fernstrom raises his hands in defense, Chernuha changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Chernuha drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Chernuha jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Chernuha drops back looking for a leg! Fernstrom is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fernstrom manages to kick Chernuha off! Chernuha jumps back into Fernstrom's guard.

Chernuha is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chernuha advances position into side control!
Fernstrom tries to buck Chernuha off but Chernuha is having none of it.

Chernuha is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Fernstrom has escaped the position, nice work there.

Chernuha looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Fernstrom can do anything to dispel that myth.

Chernuha tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernstrom is looking for a sweep.
Fernstrom is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Chernuha wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Fernstrom, who protects the arm well.

Chernuha goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Fernstrom has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Chernuha but great work by Fernstrom.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Fernstrom scoring with punches from side control.
Fernstrom creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Fernstrom scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Chernuha to see if he's OK.
Chernuha taking a bit of punishment here - Fernstrom scoring with strikes.
Chernuha is looking to reverse the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernstrom landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Chernuha is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Fernstrom's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Fernstrom scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Fernstrom scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Chernuha looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Chernuha is breathing heavily.
Fernstrom is nestled in close to Chernuha, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Fernstrom lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

Chernuha actively working from the bottom here.
Ground and pound from Fernstrom.
Fernstrom missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Chernuha actively working from the bottom here.
Chernuha avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Fernstrom.
Chernuha taking some punishment here, with Fernstrom in his half guard.
Fernstrom lands strikes from half guard.

Chernuha is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fernstrom pulls his head out easily.
Fernstrom lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernstrom drops an elbow to the side of Chernuha's head.
Fernstrom thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Chernuha on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Chernuha looking for submissions off his back.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Chernuha is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Fernstrom pulls his head out easily.
Fernstrom throwing shots but Chernuha is blocking nicely.
Chernuha taking some punishment here, with Fernstrom in his half guard.
Fernstrom working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

Chernuha actively working from the bottom here.
Fernstrom really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Chernuha. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fernstrom missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Chernuha looking for submissions off his back.
Fernstrom is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Martin Fernstrom dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nikita Chernuha's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Chernuha takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Fernstrom scores with a sloppy right hand. Chernuha should have avoided that one.
Chernuha misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Chernuha blocks a low kick nicely.
Chernuha shoots for a takedown but Fernstrom saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fernstrom tries to work over Chernuha's front leg with a kick but Chernuha checks it.
Fernstrom stuffs the takedown attempt from Chernuha. Chernuha gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Nikita Chernuha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fernstrom scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Fernstrom lands a head shot.
Nikita Chernuha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chernuha takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.

Chernuha is rocked!
Fernstrom paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Oh Chernuha is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fernstrom keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Fernstrom lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Chernuha walks straight into a right hand from Fernstrom - that's dropped him! Fernstrom jumps into mount and starts pounding away - can he finish?! More strikes go undefended and the referee has to dive in to save Chernuha from any more punishment! Chernuha complains about the stoppage but falls over as he tries to stand back up, so it was clearly a good stoppage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:50 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Martin Fernstrom!