PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Gavrik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Shlemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gavrik
vs
Shlemenko

183 cm
22
185 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

191 cm
25
172 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolai Gavrik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Shlemenko!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shlemenko shoots in and gets a takedown into Gavrik's guard.
Gavrik is looking to stand up but Shlemenko isn't so interested in that idea.
Gavrik is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Shlemenko wants to control from the top but Gavrik keeps moving.
Shlemenko prevents Gavrik from getting back to his feet.
Gavrik tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gavrik knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shlemenko on the ground.

Shlemenko drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Shlemenko jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Shlemenko is fighting to break Gavrik's control of his arms but Gavrik is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gavrik is wriggling around but Shlemenko manages to pass to half guard.
Gavrik wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gavrik trying to hold on to Shlemenko's head to control him but Shlemenko postures up.
Gavrik tries to get to full guard but Shlemenko has control of the leg.
Shlemenko is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Gavrik!

Shlemenko has hold of Gavrik's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Gavrik manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Gavrik reaches up to try and control the position but Shlemenko seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Gavrik rolls and tries to escape and now Shlemenko has his back!

Gavrik is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Shlemenko gets his way!
Shlemenko throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Gavrik!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gavrik has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

Shlemenko is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Gavrik is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Shlemenko looks gassed!

Shlemenko patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gavrik looking very determined here, making life difficult for Shlemenko.
Gavrik trying to get back to his feet but Shlemenko is in full control for now.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Shlemenko not allowing Gavrik to control his hands.
Shlemenko controlling well, preventing Gavrik from escaping the position.

Shlemenko has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Gavrik has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Gavrik can't escape the position.
Gavrik controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Gavrik controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad spot.
Shlemenko trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Gavrik doesn't escape.
Shlemenko not allowing Gavrik to control his hands.
Gavrik is trying to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Shlemenko dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shlemenko is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gavrik sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gavrik wants to clinch.
Shlemenko is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Gavrik gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Shlemenko blocks the elbow strike.
Gavrik lands an elbow that stopped Shlemenko in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Alexander Shlemenko has been cut.
Gavrik is trying to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shlemenko avoids the elbow strike from Gavrik, against the cage.
Shlemenko blocks an elbow strike from Gavrik.
Shlemenko blocks an elbow strike from Gavrik.
Shlemenko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gavrik.
Shlemenko is trying to break the clinch but Gavrik has him pressed against the cage.
Shlemenko looking to slow down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gavrik misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Shlemenko.
Shlemenko misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gavrik.
Shlemenko blocks an elbow strike.
Shlemenko scores with a knee to the head.
Gavrik tries to stall but Shlemenko uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Gavrik throws an elbow that misses.
Shlemenko looking to slow down the pace here.
Gavrik lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Gavrik throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Shlemenko avoids the elbow strike from Gavrik, against the cage.
Gavrik throws an elbow but it misses.
Shlemenko misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Shlemenko dodges an elbow strike from Gavrik.

Shlemenko pulls Gavrik into guard.

Gavrik got a little sloppy there for a moment and Shlemenko has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Gavrik has managed to get both his arms back between Shlemenko's legs - danger averted.
Gavrik with a flurry of punches that miss.
Gavrik wants to get up but he can't break Shlemenko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gavrik throwing strikes but missing.
Gavrik landing some decent shots from guard.
Shlemenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Shlemenko, not yet.
Gavrik throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gavrik throwing strikes from guard but Shlemenko blocks nicely.

Shlemenko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Shlemenko is breathing heavily.

Shlemenko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gavrik doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gavrik manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko is trying to keep Gavrik in close.
Gavrik throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gavrik throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gavrik landing with the ground and pound.
Gavrik postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Gavrik in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Gavrik throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Gavrik makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shlemenko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Shlemenko working a defensive guard here.
Gavrik controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gavrik throws a strike but Shlemenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Gavrik seems keen to control Shlemenko's posture.
Shlemenko stops Gavrik from standing up.
Shlemenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Gavrik is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Nikolai Gavrik will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Alexander Shlemenko's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Shlemenko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gavrik tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shlemenko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gavrik leaves Shlemenko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Shlemenko rushes Gavrik and presses him up against the cage.
Shlemenko is trying to maintain a safe position but Gavrik gets an underhook and turns Shlemenko into the cage.
Shlemenko looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Gavrik throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Shlemenko avoids the elbow strike from Gavrik, against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Gavrik.
Gavrik utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shlemenko misses with some punches.
Shlemenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Gavrik misses with an elbow over the top.
Shlemenko blocks the elbow strike.
Shlemenko blocks an elbow strike from Gavrik.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Shlemenko.

Shlemenko manages to break the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gavrik tries to clinch up

and Shlemenko counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gavrik!
Gavrik is looking to get to half guard.
Shlemenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Gavrik is looking to escape.
Gavrik wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Gavrik is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gavrik tries to improve his position but instead Shlemenko has taken his back!
Alexander Shlemenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gavrik wants to escape the position.

Shlemenko working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Gavrik is trying to stand back up.
Shlemenko trying to control momentarily.
Gavrik holding both Shlemenko 's hands and preventing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko gets his hands free as Gavrik looks to control.
Shlemenko is punishing Gavrik with strikes - can he finish him?!

Shlemenko is looking for the choke from the back position but Gavrik is controlling his hands well.
Gavrik is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Gavrik trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

Shlemenko is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.

Shlemenko is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Gavrik has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gavrik is trying to get back to his feet but Shlemenko has full control of the position and if anything, Gavrik has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Gavrik wants to escape the position.
Gavrik staying busy and making it hard for Shlemenko to control.

Shlemenko is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Shlemenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Shlemenko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

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