PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Denis Severnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksej Aleksejev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Aleksej Aleksejev will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Severnov
vs
Aleksejev

180 cm
20
190 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

194 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Denis Severnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Aleksej Aleksejev!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Aleksejev.
Aleksejev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Severnov but Severnov pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Aleksejev gets a double leg takedown into Severnov's guard.
Aleksejev wants to control from the top but Severnov keeps moving.
Aleksejev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Severnov keeping full guard, as Aleksejev tries to pass.
Aleksejev trying to control the position from guard on top but Severnov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Severnov wants to stand and escape but Aleksejev is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aleksejev controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Aleksej Aleksejev wasn't active enough on the ground.
Aleksejev misses with a wild combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aleksejev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Aleksejev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Severnov sprawls well. Severnov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Aleksejev gets slowly back to his feet.
Denis Severnov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksej Aleksejev.
Aleksejev takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Aleksejev shoots in looking for a takedown but Severnov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Aleksejev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Aleksejev looks gassed!
Aleksejev tries to clinch there but Severnov circles away.

Aleksejev gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Aleksejev trying to control the position.
Severnov wants to stand but Aleksejev is controlling his posture from full guard.
Aleksejev looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Severnov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Severnov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Aleksejev is working an open guard so Severnov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Severnov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Aleksejev is trying to defend but Severnov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Severnov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Severnov is keen to just control but Aleksejev is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Severnov wants to pass the guard but Aleksejev is defending well.
Aleksejev tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Severnov has advanced to mount. Uh oh.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Severnov is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Aleksejev can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Severnov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Aleksejev is looking to escape.
Aleksejev avoids a series of strikes thrown by Severnov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Severnov is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Aleksejev to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Aleksejev shrugs it off.
Severnov working the ground and pound effectively.
Severnov raining down hammerfists from mount.
Severnov misses with a head shot.
Severnov sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
The referee warns Aleksejev that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Severnov breaks from Aleksejev's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aleksejev is in a horrible position here. Severnov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Severnov lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Severnov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Aleksejev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Severnov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aleksejev pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Severnov back to the cage. Aleksejev follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Aleksejev shoots in for a takedown but Severnov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Aleksejev looks for a takedown but Severnov sprawls well.
Denis Severnov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksej Aleksejev.
Severnov cracks Aleksejev with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Denis Severnov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Severnov looking to score a takedown here. Aleksejev is defending well but Severnov drives through and ends up in Aleksejev's guard.

Severnov drops back looking for a leg! Aleksejev is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Aleksejev manages to kick Severnov off! Severnov jumps back into Aleksejev's guard.
Severnov trying to control but Aleksejev is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Severnov stands up from Aleksejev's guard - Severnov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Aleksejev is breathing heavily.
Severnov lands a slapping body shot.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Severnov wants to get back to striking at distance but Aleksejev won't allow it.
Severnov throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Aleksejevs head.
Aleksejev jumps guard but Severnov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Severnov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Severnov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Aleksejev has a takedown stuffed.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Severnov throws a head kick that Aleksejev semi-blocks.
Aleksejev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Severnov is fending him off so far but Aleksejev persists. Nope, Severnov circles away and we're back to standing.
Severnov tries to clinch but Aleksejev is having none of it.
Severnov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Sloppy strikes from Severnov. Those never looked like landing.
Severnov keeps the fight on the outside.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Severnov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Severnov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Severnov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Aleksejev as he jumps to the side.
Severnov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Severnov tries to bum rush Aleksejev with a series of wild strikes but Aleksejev uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Severnov shoots in but Aleksejev avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Severnov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Aleksejev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Severnov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Aleksejev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Severnov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Aleksejev manages to avoid it.
Aleksejev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Aleksejev defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Severnov.
Severnov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Aleksejev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Aleksejev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Severnov tries to avoid it but Aleksejev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Severnov to the ground. Severnov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Severnov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Aleksejev fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Severnov avoids it really well and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Severnov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Aleksejev.
Severnov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Aleksejev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Severnov somewhat.
Aleksejev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Severnov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Severnov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Aleksejev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Severnov tries to clinch but Aleksejev moves out of range.
Severnov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Aleksejev moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Severnov dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Aleksejev has Severnov up against the cage in a clinch.

Severnov breaks the clinch.

Aleksejev closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Severnov is trying to break the clinch but Aleksejev is controlling him.
Aleksejev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Severnov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Aleksejev prevents it.

Aleksejev manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Severnov stands and steps away. Aleksejev gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Aleksejev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Severnov defends it nicely.
Severnov looks to land a combination. Aleksejev sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Aleksejev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Severnov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Aleksejev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Severnov swivels and escapes.
Denis Severnov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksej Aleksejev.
Severnov misses with a two punch combination.
Severnov tries to clinch there but Aleksejev circles away.
Denis Severnov is winning the standup battle so far.

Severnov moves into the clinch successfully.
Aleksejev looking for a takedown.
Severnov is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Aleksejev is defending well.

Severnov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Aleksejev rushes Severnov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Severnov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Aleksejev avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Aleksejev has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Severnov is trying to keep an underhook but Aleksejev manages to get the takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Severnov looks like he's trying to stand up.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aleksejev is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Severnov tries to roll over but Aleksejev keeps him under control.
Aleksejev keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Severnov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Aleksejev content to control rather than advance.
Severnov 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Aleksej Aleksejev has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Severnov closes the distance and clinches up with Aleksejev, looking for a takedown. Severnov pushes Aleksejev against the cage but Aleksejev circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Aleksejev shoots in but no luck this time.
Severnov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Aleksejev as he avoids it easily.
Aleksejev tries to clinch but Severnov moves out of range.

Severnov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Aleksejev did well to prevent Severnov getting side control.
Aleksejev wants to get back to full guard but Severnov has mounted him!
Aleksejev working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Severnov lands a nice shot to the head.
Aleksejev takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Aleksej Aleksejev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Aleksejev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Severnov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Severnov avoids the attempt from Aleksejev to control.
Severnov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Aleksejev?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Severnov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Aleksejev hang on?
Denis Severnov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Severnov lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Denis Severnov.
Well Severnov 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denis Severnov!