PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Reva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zeljko Kerum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reva comes to the cage accompanied by Ain't No Grave. Alexander Reva has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Reva
vs
Kerum

198 cm
22
260 lbs
10 - 2 - 1

202 cm
27
260 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Powerful

Russian Top Team 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 10 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Reva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zeljko Kerum!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kerum moves out of range of the strikes.
Reva lands with a right hand.
A big left from Reva misses.
Kerum has his takedown stuffed
and Reva counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Nice shot lands for Reva.
Kerum slips a jab from Reva.
Reva throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kerum sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kerum keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Reva looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Reva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kerum manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reva tries to free his leg and advance position but Kerum is retaining full guard.
Kerum is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Kerum had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Reva defends it easily.
Reva controls from within his opponent's guard.

Kerum looking for a guillotine here but Reva defends easily.
Kerum keeping moving, preventing Reva from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kerum had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Reva defends it easily.

Kerum escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Reva gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Reva looking to pass the guard.
Reva engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Kerum working for a triangle but Reva defends it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kerum looking for a guillotine here but Reva defends easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reva's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Reva is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Kerum is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Reva wants to control from the top but Kerum keeps moving.
Reva passes Kerum's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Reva is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kerum sees it coming and defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Reva is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Kerum actively working from the bottom here.
Kerum wants to improve his position but Reva is controlling well.

Kerum looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kerum has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Reva is working away from the top position though.

Reva is looking for a kimura but Kerum is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Reva to get the leverage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Reva looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Reva trying to control the action but Kerum is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Reva dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Reva connects with the punch.
Reva lands with a hook. Kerum tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.

Reva scores a takedown into full mount!
Reva controlling his opponent.
Kerum can't escape the position.
Kerum slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Still in half guard, Reva seems content to control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Reva is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kerum sees it coming and defends easily.

Reva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kerum defends it well.

Kerum looking for submissions off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kerum is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Reva pulls his head out easily.

Kerum looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kerum tries to get to full guard but Reva has control of the leg.

Reva is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Reva stalling.

Kerum is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Reva pulls his head out easily.

Kerum looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Reva is trying to work for a kimura but Kerum is defending well.
Kerum is looking to improve his position.

Reva is trying to work for a kimura but Kerum is defending well.

Reva is working for a submission of some sort.
Kerum is looking for a sweep. Reva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reva is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kerum defends it well.
Reva has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kerum tries to reverse the position but Reva maintains control.
Kerum is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Reva looking to control but Kerum is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kerum really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Kerum defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Reva.
Reva trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Reva wants to finish this one by submission but Kerum is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Reva.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerum tries to reverse the position but Reva maintains control.
Reva wants to control the pace but Kerum is squirming around nicely.
Kerum is trying to escape the mount.
Kerum has given up his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Reva has his opponent's back and is working for the choke.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reva is trying to stick to Kerum's back but Kerum is turning into Reva. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Reva's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kerum.
Kerum looking to pass the guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Reva dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Reva misses with a takedown attempt - Kerum sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Reva scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kerum tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Reva is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kerum has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Kerum's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kerum tries to bench press Reva off him but Reva keeps the position.

Reva is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kerum knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Reva tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Reva has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerum tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Alexander Reva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Reva tries for a kimura but Kerum is defending well.
Reva is looking to take a break and control but Kerum is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kerum regains half guard.

Kerum looking for submissions off his back.

Reva is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reva takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

Reva is looking for a kimura here.
Reva is figuring out what he wants to do next.

Kerum is defending against the submission attempts here by Reva.

Kerum looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kerum is trying to maintain the position but Reva is very close to passing his half guard.

Kerum looking for submissions off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reva wants to work for an arm triangle but Kerum is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Reva is trying to work for a kimura but Kerum is defending well.

Reva is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kerum is just riding it out for now. Reva eventually gives up the hold.
Zeljko Kerum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reva controlling the pace.

Kerum looking for submissions off his back.

Reva is trying to work for a kimura but Kerum is defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reva seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kerum does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kerum is looking for a sweep. Reva is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Reva is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Alexander Reva is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Reva looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Reva prevents Kerum from improving his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reva trying to control the action but Kerum is working from the bottom.

Reva seems to be looking for submissions.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Reva showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Reva 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

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