PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nicholas Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Adriano Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nicholas Smirnov could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Adriano Fernandez's chin.

Smirnov
vs
Fernandez

202 cm
24
268 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

190 cm
18
225 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nicholas Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Adriano Fernandez!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernandez fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Smirnov scores with a head kick.

Fernandez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Smirnov tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Fernandez is in Smirnov's guard.
Smirnov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Fernandez thows a big elbow that misses.
Smirnov wants to stand up but Fernandez is controlling him.
Smirnov controlling Fernandez's posture.
Fernandez with a nice head shot there.
Smirnov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Smirnov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Fernandez is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Smirnov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Smirnov has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov wants to control from the top but Fernandez keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fernandez being controlled here, momentarily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Nicholas Smirnov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Smirnov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Fernandez counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Smirnov wants to sweep but no luck.
Fernandez looking to pass the guard.

Smirnov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fernandez can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Smirnov keeping moving, preventing Fernandez from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez is looking to work some ground and pound but Smirnov has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Fernandez accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Fernandez trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fernandez preventing the sweep.
Fernandez is looking to work some ground and pound but Smirnov has wrist control.
Smirnov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fernandez manages to get himself to full guard.
Fernandez wants to stand and escape but Smirnov is having none of it.
Fernandez looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez looking for a sweep. Not yet Fernandez, not yet.
Smirnov looking to sit in guard and control but Fernandez gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smirnov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Smirnov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Fernandez has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smirnov is on top in guard.
Smirnov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Smirnov wanted to stand there but Fernandez had control of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov wants to control from the top but Fernandez keeps moving.
Fernandez wants to sweep but no luck.
Smirnov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fernandez swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smirnov trying to control the position from guard on top but Fernandez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Nicholas Smirnov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Donk. Smirnov catches Fernandez right on the button with a cross.
Smirnov wants to clinch.

Smirnov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Fernandez's half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Nicholas Smirnov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Smirnov lands with a kick to the temple. Fernandez shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Fernandez misses with a jab, cross combination.
Smirnov with a lazy takedown attempt

so Fernandez counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Smirnov kicks Fernandez off and gets to his feet.
Smirnov tries to clinch

and Fernandez counters with a single leg into guard. Smirnov didn't expect that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Smirnov looking for a sweep. Not yet Smirnov, not yet.
Smirnov managing to control the position.
Fernandez seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Smirnov is pulling down on Fernandez's head. It's preventing any offense from Fernandez, at least for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smirnov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Smirnov wants to clinch but Fernandez slips to the side

and Fernandez counters with a nice double leg into side control. Smirnov won't be happy with that.
Smirnov is not content to let Fernandez control the position.
Fernandez is breathing heavily.
Fernandez in the domination position with Smirnov hanging on.
Smirnov is trying to improve his position.
Smirnov has one of Fernandez's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.
Smirnov regains half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov is looking to escape.
Smirnov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Fernandez's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Fernandez's back!
Smirnov wants to control the position but Fernandez frees himself and scrambles - Smirnov manages to regain control in side control.
Smirnov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fernandez keeps working.
Smirnov controlling the position.
Smirnov scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Smirnov decides to stand back up.
Smirnov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nicholas Smirnov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fernandez tries for a takedown but Smirnov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov tries to clinch
and Smirnov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Fernandez avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Smirnov clinches.

Smirnov decides to pull guard.
Fernandez preventing the sweep.
Smirnov is trying to control the position but Fernandez postures up.
Fernandez throwing strikes from guard but Smirnov blocks nicely.
Smirnov looking for a sweep. Not yet Smirnov, not yet.
Adriano Fernandez has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Smirnov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Smirnov working Fernandez over with strikes.
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 Nicholas Smirnov will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Smirnov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Smirnov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Fernandez as he jumps to the side.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Fernandez.
Smirnov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Smirnov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Fernandez counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Fernandez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Smirnov is refusing to be controlled, as Fernandez sits in half guard.
Smirnov wants to get back to full guard.
Smirnov trying to control from the bottom.
Fernandez takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez prevents Smirnov from improving his position.
Smirnov trying to control here.

We're going to have a standup here because Nicholas Smirnov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Fernandez shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Smirnov sprawls well. Smirnov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Fernandez gets slowly back to his feet.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Nice elbow from Smirnov.

Smirnov successfully pulls guard.
Fernandez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Fernandez trying to control the position from guard on top but Smirnov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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.
Smirnov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Fernandez is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Smirnov trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Smirnov is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Fernandez's half guard.

Fernandez is defending against the submission attempts here by Smirnov.
Smirnov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Fernandez keeps working.
Fernandez wants to get back to his feet.
Fernandez is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov controlling the pace.

Smirnov stands up out of the half guard.

Smirnov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Fernandez is looking for a sweep.
Smirnov advances to full mount.
Smirnov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nicholas Smirnov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nicholas Smirnov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Smirnov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nicholas Smirnov!