PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between William Tank (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksandr Skerlik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Tank
vs
Skerlik

165 cm
18
152 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
23
154 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Dangerous knees
Tends to cut

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, William Tank!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksandr Skerlik!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Skerlik instigates a clinch.
Skerlik stalling in the clinch.
Skerlik is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Tank working hard to break the clinch.
Skerlik landing knees to the head.

It looks like William Tank has been cut.
Skerlik with a knee to the head.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Tank has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Skerlik is stalling here.
Skerlik connects with a knee to the head.
Skerlik using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tank has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Skerlik lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Tank tries for a takedown. No joy.
Skerlik landing knees to the head.
Skerlik unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tank lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Skerlik throws a knee to the head but misses.
Skerlik looks gassed!
Tank is trying to push Skerlik away but Skerlik has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Skerlik is pressed up against the cage. Tank has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Skerlik down to the mat. Skerlik avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tank scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tank misses with a two punch combination.
Tank swats away the attempt to clinch by Skerlik.
Tank throws a head kick that misses.
Skerlik tries to clinch up
and Tank makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Tank misses with the combination.
Skerlik is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Skerlik tries to clinch but Tank is having none of it.
Skerlik tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Skerlik tries to clinch up.
Aleksandr Skerlik is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Skerlik tries to clinch up.

Skerlik clinches with his opponent.
Skerlik avoiding damage.
Skerlik with a knee to the head.
Skerlik lands a good knee to the midsection. Tank won't want to take too many of those.
Skerlik lands a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Skerlik obliges.
Skerlik is pushing Tank up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Skerlik is pressed up against the cage. Tank has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Skerlik down to the mat. Skerlik avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Tank. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skerlik tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tank paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Skerlik tries to clinch there but Tank circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tank gets tackled into the cage by Skerlik. Skerlik maintains the clinch.
Skerlik connects with a knee to the head.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Skerlik obliges.
Tank takes a knee right on the jaw!
A bit of stalling here from Skerlik.
Skerlik with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Skerlik connects with a knee to the head.
Tank tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Skerlik is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Tank wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tank takes a knee right on the jaw!
Tank takes a knee right on the jaw!
Skerlik stops a takedown attempt from Tank.
Tank takes a knee right on the jaw!
Tank being controlled against the cage.
Tank has a couple of punches blocked by Skerlik.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tank is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Skerlik connects with a knee to the head.
Knees to the body from Skerlik.
Tank is working for takedown but Skerlik is calmly controlling the position for now.
A knee to the head by Skerlik.
Skerlik with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Skerlik with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Tank goes for a takedown attempt but Skerlik pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Tank rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Skerlik moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Skerlik tries to clinch but Tank moves out of range.
Skerlik tries to clinch up but Tank circles away and keeps his distance.
Horrible takedown by Tank or perhaps it was just good defense by Skerlik which made him look bad.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Skerlik dominated that round.
The cut man is working on William Tank's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Skerlik tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tank paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Skerlik tries to clinch but Tank is having none of it.
Nice shot lands for Tank.
Tank throws a front kick aimed at Skerlik's knee but Skerlik avoids it well.
Some wild striking there from Tank.
No joy there for Tank, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Tank.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A right-left combo lands from Tank.
Skerlik is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Skerlik wants to clinch.
William Tank is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skerlik tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Skerlik clinches.
Skerlik is pressed up against the cage. Tank has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Skerlik down to the mat. Skerlik avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Skerlik rushes Tank and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tank drops down looking for an ankle pick but Skerlik pulls his leg out and moves away.
Skerlik moves in looking to clinch but Tank pushes him off.
No joy there for Tank, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Skerlik tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Tank manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Skerlik forces Tank back against the cage and clinches.
Skerlik lands a knee to the head.
Skerlik connects with a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Skerlik lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Skerlik taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Skerlik with a knee to the head.
Tank tries to pull guard but Skerlik won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Tank. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tank tries for a takedown. No joy.
Skerlik with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A knee to the head by Skerlik.
Skerlik holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Tank wants to break the clinch but can't.
Skerlik lands a good knee to the midsection. Tank won't want to take too many of those.
Skerlik just leaning against Tank, taking a breather.
Tank takes a knee right on the jaw!
Skerlik misses with a knee strike.
Tank wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Skerlik has him pressed against the cage.
Skerlik connects with a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tank takes an elbow to the temple.
Skerlik dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Skerlik utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Tank tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Skerlik smiles and moves away.

Skerlik fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tank, pushing him back against the cage.
Skerlik throws a knee to the head but misses.
Skerlik with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Tank has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Skerlik uses from the top position.
Tank is looking to stand up but Skerlik isn't so interested in that idea.
Tank looking for a sweep. Not yet Tank, not yet.

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.
Skerlik wants to get up but he can't break Tank's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Skerlik gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Skerlik shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.

Skerlik forces Tank back against the cage and clinches.
Skerlik with a knee to the head.
Skerlik scores with a knee to the head.
Tank can't get the takedown.
Skerlik landing knees to the head.
Tank tries to pull guard but Skerlik won't allow it.
Skerlik scores with a knee to the head.
Skerlik tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Skerlik taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Skerlik showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on William Tank's cut.
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!

Skerlik moves in looking to clinch but Tank pushes him off.
Skerlik fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tank tries to bum rush Skerlik with a series of wild strikes but Skerlik uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Skerlik doesn't manage to clinch there - Tank circles away.
Tank throws a half hearted mid kick.
Tank throws a right and a left that both miss.
Tank looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Skerlik tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Tank manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Skerlik fails with an attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skerlik fails in his attempt to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Tank. Those never looked like landing.
Skerlik slaps away a takedown attempt from Tank, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Skerlik gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skerlik lands an elbow that stopped Tank in his tracks for a moment.
A knee to the head by Skerlik.
Skerlik's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Skerlik lands a knee to the head.
Skerlik creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Tank's defenses.
Skerlik lands a knee to the head.
Tank looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Skerlik is struggling to control the position.
Skerlik using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tank has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

Tank pulls guard.

Tank scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Skerlik has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tank throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Skerlik wants to clinch but Tank slips to the side
and Tank counters with a nice uppercut.
Tank keeps the fight on the outside.
Skerlik defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Tank.
Skerlik tries to clinch there but Tank circles away.
Skerlik fails in his attempt to clinch.
Tank throws a right and a left that Skerlik avoids nicely.
Tank shoots in for a double leg but Skerlik sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for William Tank. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Skerlik tries to clinch there but Tank circles away.
Skerlik tries to clinch up.
Skerlik tries to clinch but Tank moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Tank. Those never looked like landing.
Skerlik moves to clinch but Tank breaks away
and Tank connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

Tank tries to keep at a distance but Skerlik has taken the fight into the clinch.
Skerlik stalling against the cage.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Skerlik obliges.
A knee to the head by Skerlik.
Skerlik just leaning against Tank, taking a breather.
Skerlik landing knees to the head.
Tank tries to break free but Skerlik pushes him back against the cage.
Skerlik landing knees to the body.
Tank is looking to control Skerlik's arms but Skerlik gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tank has his back to the cage.
Skerlik avoiding damage.
Skerlik connects with a nasty looking knee right to Tank's face.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Skerlik displaying some good clinch control by pressing Tank up against the cage.
Tank jumps guard but Skerlik stands there with Tank around his waist. Tank gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Skerlik scores with a knee to the head.
Tank wants to break free but Skerlik has control.
A knee to the head by Skerlik.
Skerlik is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Skerlik lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
William Tank has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Skerlik lands a nice knee to the body.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Skerlik landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Skerlik keeps control of Tank as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Come on Skerlik - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Aleksandr Skerlik is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A knee to the head by Skerlik.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksandr Skerlik comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Skerlik winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksandr Skerlik!