PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Momcilo Milenkovic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artem Zarencev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Momcilo Milenkovic has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Milenkovic
vs
Zarencev

185 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

170 cm
27
205 lbs
9 - 8 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Momcilo Milenkovic!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Artem Zarencev!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Milenkovic throws a head kick but Zarencev moves out of range.
Milenkovic throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zarencev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zarencev tries to clinch but Milenkovic is having none of it.

Milenkovic closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Zarencev's guard.
Zarencev wants to sweep but no luck.
Milenkovic wants to control from the top but Zarencev keeps moving.

Zarencev is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Milenkovic defends well.
Milenkovic wants to pass the guard but Zarencev is keeping the position.
Milenkovic throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Milenkovic stopping the sweep attempt from Zarencev.
Zarencev is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zarencev is on top in guard.
Milenkovic controls Zarencev momentarily but Zarencev frees himself.
Zarencev trying to control the position from guard on top but Milenkovic is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Milenkovic tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zarencev postures up in Milenkovic's guard and throws a big left but Milenkovic blocks it.

Zarencev stands up and waves to Milenkovic to follow him.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Zarencev enables Milenkovic to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Zarencev manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarencev controls Milenkovic momentarily but Milenkovic frees himself.
Milenkovic is looking to stand up but Zarencev won't let him.
Zarencev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Zarencev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zarencev working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Milenkovic has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zarencev is working away from the top position though.

Zarencev decides to stand and escape the position.
Zarencev shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Milenkovic looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zarencev wants to control but Milenkovic is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Milenkovic stalling.
Milenkovic knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zarencev on the ground.

Zarencev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Zarencev wants to improve his position but Milenkovic is controlling well.
Zarencev looks gassed!
Milenkovic seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Milenkovic takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Zarencev gets back to full guard.
Zarencev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Milenkovic wants to control from the top but Zarencev keeps moving.

We're going to have a standup here because Momcilo Milenkovic wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Zarencev throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Milenkovic tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zarencev paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Milenkovic shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Zarencev manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zarencev is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Milenkovic is controlling him.

Zarencev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Milenkovic gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
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 Momcilo Milenkovic will probably get the nod.
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.

Zarencev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Milenkovic is fending him off so far but Zarencev persists. Nope, Milenkovic circles away and we're back to standing.
Milenkovic bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Zarencev tries to clinch but Milenkovic moves out of range.
Milenkovic wants to clinch up but Zarencev keeps it at a distance.
Artem Zarencev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zarencev shoots in looking for a takedown but Milenkovic manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Zarencev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Milenkovic drives through with a takedown into Zarencev's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Zarencev wants to sweep here but Milenkovic controlling him for the moment.
Milenkovic trying to control the position from guard on top but Zarencev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Milenkovic wants to get up but he can't break Zarencev's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Zarencev trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarencev is trying to control the position but Milenkovic postures up.
Milenkovic has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Milenkovic wants to stand but Zarencev is controlling his posture from full guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Milenkovic looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Momcilo Milenkovic just wasn't active enough.
Milenkovic shoots in looking for a takedown but Zarencev manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Milenkovic's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zarencev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Milenkovic as he jumps to the side.
Momcilo Milenkovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Artem Zarencev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Milenkovic dives in and grabs Zarencev's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zarencev pushes down on Milenkovic's head and hops out.
Zarencev shoots in and drives through. Milenkovic sprawls well.

Zarencev shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Zarencev was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Milenkovic is desperately trying to improve his position but Zarencev has a good base and remains in mount.
Zarencev unloading with bombs!
Milenkovic is looking to improve his position but Zarencev isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Zarencev cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Milenkovic is wriggling around trying to escape.
Zarencev lands a nice shot to the head.
Zarencev putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarencev raining down shots from the mount!
Milenkovic tries to lock up and control but Zarencev gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Zarencev looking for a guillotine from mount but Milenkovic is having none of it.
Zarencev has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zarencev fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Zarencev trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zarencev raining down hammerfists from mount.
The referee warns Milenkovic that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Milenkovic is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zarencev working away from the top, dropping strikes.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Milenkovic is in all sorts of trouble here.
Zarencev looking to control but Milenkovic is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Zarencev looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zarencev wants to control the pace but Milenkovic is squirming around nicely.
Milenkovic is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Zarencev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Zarencev looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Milenkovic!
Zarencev looking to finish Milenkovic with some ground and pound. This is bad for Milenkovic!
Milenkovic slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Milenkovic tries to get to full guard but Zarencev has control of the leg.
Milenkovic is not content to let Zarencev control the position.
Milenkovic tries to get to full guard but Zarencev has control of the leg.
Zarencev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Zarencev tries to stand but can't do so whilst Milenkovic controls his leg.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Zarencev decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Milenkovic closes this distance looking for a takedown but Zarencev circles away.
Zarencev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Milenkovic swivels and escapes.
Zarencev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Zarencev gets a double leg takedown into Milenkovic's guard.

Milenkovic is working an open guard so Zarencev takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Zarencev tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Milenkovic manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zarencev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Milenkovic as he jumps to the side.

Zarencev gets tackled into the cage by Milenkovic. Milenkovic maintains the clinch.
Zarencev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Milenkovic avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Momcilo Milenkovic has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Artem Zarencev.
Milenkovic is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Zarencev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zarencev misses with a takedown attempt
and Milenkovic counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Milenkovic tries a head kick but it misses.
Milenkovic stuffs the takedown.

Milenkovic scores a takedown into full mount!
Zarencev tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Milenkovic tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Zarencev really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Zarencev wants to control but Milenkovic is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarencev wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Zarencev is looking to improve his position but Milenkovic isn't that keen on the idea.
Zarencev is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Milenkovic looking to secure an arm triangle but Zarencev defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zarencev sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Zarencev flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Milenkovic wants to control but Zarencev is keeping him busy.
Zarencev wants to control but Milenkovic is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Milenkovic decides to stand up.
Milenkovic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zarencev but Zarencev pushes him off and we're back to square one.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zarencev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zarencev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Milenkovic as he jumps to the side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artem Zarencev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Zarencev has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artem Zarencev!