PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Toni Soprano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruslan Cherenkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Ruslan Cherenkov enters the cage!

Soprano
vs
Cherenkov

195 cm
20
260 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

194 cm
22
232 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Determined

Pegasus Nutrition

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Toni Soprano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ruslan Cherenkov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksandr Martynov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soprano defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Cherenkov.
Soprano looks to land a combination but Cherenkov avoids it well.
Some wild striking there from Soprano.
Soprano throws out a powerful jab.

It looks like Ruslan Cherenkov has been cut.
Soprano misses with a jab, cross combination.
Soprano lands a jab-cross combination.
Soprano stalks Cherenkov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cherenkov's face. Cherenkov staggers backwards, shaken.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Soprano. Those never looked like landing.
Toni Soprano is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Cherenkov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Soprano.
Soprano displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Some wild striking there from Soprano.
Toni Soprano seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Soprano misses with a wild combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soprano swinging wildly here.
Cherenkov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Soprano but Soprano pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Soprano lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cherenkov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Soprano avoids it really well and circles away.
Toni Soprano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Cherenkov.
Soprano throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Cherenkov.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Soprano cracks Cherenkov with a good jab.
Soprano misses with the combination.
Soprano misses with the combination.
Soprano scores with a nice strike.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toni Soprano dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ruslan Cherenkov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Soprano misses with a few strikes there.
Soprano fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Toni Soprano is winning the standup battle so far.
Soprano works over Cherenkov's head and body with a nice combination.
Sloppy strikes from Soprano. Those never looked like landing.
Soprano catches Cherenkov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Cherenkov avoids a punch combination nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soprano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cherenkov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Soprano.
Soprano throws a series of strikes that have Cherenkov backpedaling.

That has opened up Ruslan Cherenkov's cut even more.
Soprano fails to land with a series of punches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soprano misses with the combination.
Cherenkov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Cherenkov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Soprano misses with a series of wild punches.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Cherenkov is defended easily by Soprano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano swinging wildly here.
Soprano misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Cherenkov gets a double leg takedown into Soprano's guard.
Cherenkov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Cherenkov works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Cherenkov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Soprano sees it coming and defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toni Soprano dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ruslan Cherenkov's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Soprano catches Cherenkov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Soprano scores with a one two! Cherenkov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Soprano throws a right hand that Cherenkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Cherenkov also avoids with ease.
Soprano throws a series of punches but Cherenkov avoids them all with ease.
Cherenkov ducks right into an uppercut from Soprano.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Soprano. No joy for Cherenkov on that attempt.
Soprano stuffs the takedown attempt from Cherenkov. Cherenkov gets slowly back to his feet.
Soprano misses with a few strikes there.
Soprano leaves Cherenkov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Toni Soprano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ruslan Cherenkov.
Cherenkov dodges the punch combination from Soprano.

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.
Soprano fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cherenkov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Soprano as he avoids it easily.
Cherenkov dodges the punch combination from Soprano.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soprano misses with a double jab.
Soprano misses with a series of wild punches.
Cherenkov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Soprano sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cherenkov somewhat.
Soprano fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Toni Soprano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Cherenkov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Soprano misses with a combination

and Cherenkov counters with a nice double leg into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toni Soprano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Soprano, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:26
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toni Soprano!