PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Keller Rock (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Hrenov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Rock
vs
Hrenov

184 cm
25
202 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

167 cm
26
190 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Keller Rock!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Hrenov!
The judges for this bout are Aafke Stam, Paulsen Ambrosius and Albert Achterberg.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hrenov looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Hrenov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice sprawl there from Hrenov as Rock shoots in.
Hrenov throws a jab when Rock was well out of range.
Rock moves out of range as Hrenov throws a body kick.
Hrenov lands with a nice combination. Rock backs away looking to recover.

It looks like Keller Rock has been cut.

Rock closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Hrenov quickly recovers to half guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rock with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Rock looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Rock trying to mount his opponent but Hrenov defends it.
Rock will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Hrenov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hrenov is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rock tries to pass the half guard into mount. Hrenov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hrenov wants to get back to his feet.
Hrenov is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.

Rock is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hrenov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rock.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rock connects with a nice short shot to Hrenov's temple.
Hrenov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Hrenov is trying to stand.
Well, if Rock is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Hrenov is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rock controlling the action here.

Rock is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hrenov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rock.
Hrenov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hrenov tries to roll over but Rock keeps him under control.
Rock is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Keller Rock wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Hrenov catches Rock with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!

Rock dives in and scores a takedown into Hrenov's guard.
Rock prevents Hrenov from getting back to his feet.
Rock in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Hrenov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rock trying to control the position from guard on top but Hrenov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hrenov wants to get back to his feet but Rock is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Rock postures up and lands a big shot to Hrenov's brow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Rock thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Hrenov wants to stand but Rock is controlling the position.
Rock slips nicely into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rock controlling the action here.
Rock working over Hrenov with some ground and pound. Hrenov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
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 Keller Rock will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Keller Rock's cut.
That's time! Rock's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rock manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Hrenov on his heels. He'll look to pass Hrenov's guard now, I'm sure.
Rock postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Hrenov has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rock has passed into side control.
Hrenov wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Rock has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Rock looks up at the clock and then as Hrenov takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Rock smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Hrenov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Rock landing strikes.

Rock is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Hrenov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Rock is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Hrenov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Rock lands a nice forearm strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rock prevents Hrenov from escaping the position.
Rock lands a few punches from side control.
Hrenov is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Rock asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Rock remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Rock has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Hrenov!
Hrenov's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Rock is working for a guillotine from mount but Hrenov frees his head quite easily.
Rock working the ground and pound effectively.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Rock cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Rock working away from the top, dropping strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Hrenov is trying desperately to improve position.
Rock putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Hrenov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Hrenov trying desperately to get to his feet.
Hrenov is breathing heavily.
Rock can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Hrenov is looking to escape.
Rock lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hrenov tries to buck Rock off but he can't manage it.
Rock controlling from mount.
BOOM! Rock connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Hrenov is desperately trying to improve his position but Rock has a good base and remains in mount.
Hrenov is squirming around, avoiding Rock's attempts to control the action.
Hrenov is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rock landing strikes from the mount.
Rock controlling the position easily from mount.
Hrenov's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rock tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
A nice elbow there by Rock.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Rock controlling from mount.

Rock goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Hrenov turns into him and now he's in Rock's guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Rock looking for a guillotine here but Hrenov defends easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keller Rock dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Keller Rock's cut.
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!

Rock fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Hrenov sprawls well initially but Rock persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hrenov looks like he's trying to stand up.

Rock is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Hrenov is looking to get back to is feet but Rock passes into side control.
Rock working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Rock trying to control the position but Hrenov is working away.
Hrenov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Rock working the body and head with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hrenov is trying to buck Rock off.
Hrenov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rock wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hrenov keeps working.
Hrenov takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Rock scores with a couple of short elbows.
Rock looking to control but instead Hrenov has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Hrenov is trying to stand back up but Rock is controlling him
Hrenov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rock missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rock working Hrenov over with strikes.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Rock in particular looking to stall.
Hrenov gets full guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hrenov keeping moving, preventing Rock from controlling successfully.
Rock throws a big elbow that misses.
Rock trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Hrenov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rock trying to control but Hrenov is working from the bottom.
Hrenov is looking to stand up but Rock isn't so interested in that idea.
Hrenov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Keller Rock overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rock controlling from the top position.
Rock chips away with some ground and pound.
Hrenov wants to stand and escape but Rock is having none of it.
Hrenov can't keep his opponent in guard - Rock advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Rock controlling the action here.
Rock prevents Hrenov from improving his position.
Keller Rock is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Still in half guard, Rock seems content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hrenov wants to stand back up but Rock manages to pass into side control.
Rock taking a breather here.
Rock has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
You can see the frustration on Hrenov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ivan Hrenov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rock remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hrenov prevents Rock from improving position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keller Rock showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Rock, 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 Aafke Stam scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight 30:27
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keller Rock!
Keller Rock took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.