PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Heinz Medvedev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Manny Sessions (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Medvedev
vs
Sessions

175 cm
25
151 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

169 cm
23
156 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Good low kicks
Powerful

L.A. Elite Supplements

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Heinz Medvedev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Manny Sessions!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Viktor Lagutenko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sessions lands with a thumping leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Sessions.
Medvedev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sessions.

Sessions drives through and clinches with Medvedev against the cage.
Medvedev blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Sessions with a knee to the head.
Sessions working Medvedev over with knees to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Medvedev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Sessions lands an elbow that stopped Medvedev in his tracks for a moment.
Sessions digs a right hand into Medvedev's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Medvedev's gas tank.
Sessions throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

Medvedev ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Medvedev no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Sessions scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Sessions in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sessions postures up in Medvedev's guard and throws a big left but Medvedev blocks it.
Sessions throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Medvedev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Medvedev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sessions is one step ahead there.

Sessions drops back, looking for a kneebar! Medvedev looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Medvedev looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Medvedev!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Medvedev is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Sessions will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Sessions pushes Medvedev away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Medvedev gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Medvedev wants to control but Sessions is keeping him busy.
Sessions wants to get back to his feet.
Medvedev slows the pace down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Sessions is looking to reverse the position.
Sessions tries to escape but Medvedev is in control.
Medvedev is looking to take a break and control but Sessions is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sessions is looking to reverse the position.
Medvedev trying to control the action but Sessions is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Heinz Medvedev wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Medvedev digs a good body shot into Sessions's ribs.
Sessions misses with a double jab.
Medvedev looks to score with a jab to the body but Sessions is just out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev scores with a three punch combo!
Sessions looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Sessions lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Medvedev lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Sessions drives through and clinches with Medvedev against the cage.

Medvedev pulls guard successfully.
Sessions throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Medvedev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Medvedev tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sessions tries to free his leg and advance position but Medvedev is retaining full guard.
Medvedev is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Sessions throws a strike but Medvedev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sessions wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Medvedev content to stall in guard here.
Sessions wants to stand but Medvedev is controlling the position.
Medvedev sitting in guard here, content to control.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Heinz Medvedev wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Sessions fails with an attempt to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Heinz Medvedev dominated that round.
That's time! Medvedev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sessions tries a head kick but it misses.
A looping hook to the body misses from Medvedev. Sessions does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sessions throws a half hearted mid kick.
Sessions throws the kick towards the body but Medvedev avoids it.
Sessions thows a body shot but no joy.
Medvedev takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Medvedev leaves Sessions with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Medvedev avoids a kick to the body.
Medvedev misses with a straight left.
Medvedev swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Sessions closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Medvedev quickly recovers to half guard.
Medvedev tries to kick Sessions off but Sessions keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Sessions winds up and cracks Medvedev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Sessions sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Medvedev defending well though.
Sessions thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Medvedev tries to get to full guard but Sessions has control of the leg.
Medvedev is working hard here to advance position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Medvedev gets full guard.
Sessions is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Medvedev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sessions is one step ahead there.
Sessions slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Sessions grinds an elbow into Medvedev's temple.
Sessions tries to score with some ground and pound. Medvedev controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Medvedev tries to bench press Sessions off him but Sessions keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sessions cracks Medvedev with a big right hand but Medvedev just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Sessions working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Medvedev tries to improve position but can't.
Medvedev is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Sessions off and has taken his back!
Medvedev trying to control momentarily.
Medvedev is really struggling to control Sessions but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Medvedev keeps control of the position easily here as Sessions tries to buck him off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sessions is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Medvedev trying to control momentarily.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Medvedev controlling the positon.
Medvedev trying to control.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Heinz Medvedev.
Medvedev misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sessions.
Heinz Medvedev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Medvedev takes a swing at Sessions's ribcage but misses.
Medvedev sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Medvedev lands an overhand right.

Sessions has Medvedev up against the cage in a clinch.
Sessions lands an elbow just above Medvedev 's eye.
Sessions throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sessions wants a takedown but no success here.
Medvedev takes an elbow to the forehead.
Medvedev wants to break free but Sessions has control.
Medvedev takes an elbow to the temple.
Medvedev misses with a punch on the inside.
Sessions unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Sessions lands a knee to the body.
Medvedev blocks an elbow strike.
Sessions keeps control of Medvedev as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Sessions lands a good knee to the midsection. Medvedev won't want to take too many of those.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Sessions scores a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Manny Sessions showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Sessions keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Sessions staying out of range there.
Medvedev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Manny Sessions seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sessions takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sessions lands a front kick.
Sessions turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Sessions scores with a push kick.

Sessions drives through and clinches with Medvedev against the cage.
Sessions tries to land knees in the clinch but Medvedev avoids the damage to the body.
Medvedev lands an uppercut.
Sessions misses with an elbow strike.
Sessions unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Medvedev tries to circle away but Sessions has him pinned against the cage.
Medvedev pressing his opponent against the cage.
Medvedev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Sessions lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sessions misses with a knee to the head.
Medvedev is trying to push Sessions away but Sessions has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Sessions utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Nice elbow from Sessions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sessions lands a left hand.
Medvedev blocks the elbow strike.
Sessions misses with a punch on the inside.
Medvedev lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sessions backwards.
Sessions using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sessions.
Medvedev wants to get back to striking at distance but Sessions won't allow it.
Medvedev working hard to break the clinch.
Sessions lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Medvedev.
Nice body punch from Sessions - that landed with a thud.
Sessions unloads a knee to the mid-section. Medvedev lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Nice body punch from Medvedev.
Sessions putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Medvedev in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Medvedev fails to pull guard.
Sessions pushes off an throws an elbow but Medvedev leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Sessions misses with a short punch on the inside.
With the fighters up against the cage, Sessions throws an elbow but misses.
Sessions has Medvedev pressed against the cage, preventing Medvedev from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Medvedev jumps guard but Sessions stands there with Medvedev around his waist. Medvedev gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A right handed body shot lands from Sessions.

Medvedev pulls guard effortlessly.
Medvedev manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Sessions sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Sessions is refusing to be controlled, as Medvedev sits in half guard.

Medvedev stands up and beckons Sessions to join him on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Medvedev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Sessions counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sessions moves in looking to clinch but Medvedev pushes him off.
Sessions showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Medvedev.
Medvedev blocks the body kick.
Medvedev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sessions manages to avoid it.
Sessions connects with a leg kick. Medvedev looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Jab, jab by Medvedev - just one landing.
Medvedev takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Sessions lands a front kick.
Medvedev misses with a two punch combination.

Sessions has Medvedev up against the cage in a clinch.
Sessions lands a nice elbow.
Sessions lands a damaging elbow.
Medvedev misses with a hook from the clinch.
Sessions using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Sessions creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Medvedev's defenses.
Sessions fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Medvedev on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sessions scores a nice knee to the body.
Medvedev will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Sessions up against the cage.
Sessions pushes Medvedev back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sessions lands a knee to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Sessions.
Sessions comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Sessions tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Medvedev avoids it.
Medvedev will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Medvedev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heinz Medvedev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Medvedev blocks an elbow strike from Sessions.
Medvedev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Medvedev tries to break free but Sessions pushes him back against the cage.
Sessions throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sessions lands a right hand that snaps the head of Medvedev backwards.
Medvedev gets through Sessions's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Medvedev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Medvedev moves out of range as Sessions throws a body kick.
Medvedev throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Sessions shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Medvedev is trying to defend but Sessions finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Manny Sessions has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Medvedev is pressing down on Sessions's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Manny Sessions comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sessions 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Manny Sessions!