PBP Commentary

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

Shlemenko
vs
Dragunov

178 cm
20
183 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

195 cm
24
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Shlemenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Dragunov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dragunov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Shlemenko swinging wildly here.
Dragunov lands a head kick. Shlemenko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

It looks like Alexander Shlemenko has been cut.
Shlemenko tries to clinch but Dragunov moves out of range.
A head kick misses from Dragunov.
Shlemenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dragunov shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Shlemenko eats them both and turns towards Dragunov to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sloppy strikes from Shlemenko. Those never looked like landing.
Shlemenko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Dragunov rushes Shlemenko and presses him up against the cage.

Dragunov breaks the clinch.
Shlemenko tries to bum rush Dragunov with a series of wild strikes but Dragunov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Shlemenko falls off balance throwing a combination

and Dragunov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shlemenko won't be happy with that.
Shlemenko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Dragunov just content to control the position.
Shlemenko pushes Dragunov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Dragunov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragunov taking a break here but Shlemenko is having none of it and regains half guard.
Dragunov is looking to stall here but Shlemenko recovers full guard.
Dragunov wants to control from the top but Shlemenko keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko can't keep his opponent in guard - Dragunov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Dragunov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Shlemenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Dragunov is trying to work for a kimura but Shlemenko is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov is keen to just control but Shlemenko is a slippery customer.
Dragunov trying to control the pace.
Dragunov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Shlemenko tries to kick Dragunov off but Dragunov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Dragunov stands up out of the half guard.
Shlemenko dodges the punch combination from Dragunov.
Dragunov shoots for a double leg takedown but Shlemenko sprawls well. He's pushed Dragunov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Shlemenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Dragunov avoids the head kick by Shlemenko.
Shlemenko misses with a double jab
and Dragunov counters with an outside leg kick.
Shlemenko is breathing heavily.
Shlemenko throws a right and a left that Dragunov avoids nicely.
Dragunov dodges the punch combination from Shlemenko.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dragunov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Dragunov fails with a takedown attempt.
Shlemenko misses with a double jab
and Dragunov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Dragunov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Alexander Shlemenko's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Dragunov shoots in for a takedown but Shlemenko shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Dragunov moves into the clinch.
Shlemenko jumps guard but Dragunov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Dragunov jumps guard.
Dragunov is trying to control the position but Shlemenko postures up.
Shlemenko wants to get up but he can't break Dragunov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragunov controls Shlemenko momentarily but Shlemenko frees himself.
Shlemenko wanted to stand there but Dragunov had control of the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ivan Dragunov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Shlemenko throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Dragunov.
Dragunov closes the distance and clinches up with Shlemenko, looking for a takedown. Dragunov pushes Shlemenko against the cage but Shlemenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Dragunov is breathing heavily.
Shlemenko throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
letting Dragunov counter with a right hand.
Dragunov throws a head kick that misses.
Shlemenko swinging wildly here.
Dragunov is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Dragunov tried to score with a low kick but Shlemenko checks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Alexander Shlemenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Shlemenko misses with a double jab.
Some wild striking there from Shlemenko.
Dragunov tries a head kick but it misses.
Shlemenko takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Shlemenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Dragunov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shlemenko.
Dragunov throws a combination. Shlemenko tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Shlemenko swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Dragunov counters with a takedown into side control.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Shlemenko tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Dragunov looking to control but Shlemenko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Ivan Dragunov has got the better of the ground game so far.

Dragunov gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Shlemenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Sloppy strikes from Dragunov. Those never looked like landing.
Some wild striking there from Shlemenko.
Dragunov throws a right hand that Shlemenko ducks under and follows up with a left that Shlemenko also avoids with ease.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko throws a right hand that Dragunov ducks under and follows up with a left that Dragunov also avoids with ease.
Alexander Shlemenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shlemenko falls off balance throwing a combination

and Dragunov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Shlemenko's guard.

Dragunov drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Shlemenko dives on top into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Dragunov is working an open guard so Shlemenko takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Shlemenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dragunov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dragunov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Shlemenko defends it nicely.
Alexander Shlemenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Dragunov.

Shlemenko gets in close and instigates a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Dragunov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Alexander Shlemenko'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. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Shlemenko misses with a two punch combination.
Shlemenko misses with a few strikes there.
Dragunov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Dragunov shoots in for a takedown but Shlemenko shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Shlemenko wants to clinch up but Dragunov keeps it at a distance.
Shlemenko misses with a double jab.
Dragunov scores with a head kick.

Alexander Shlemenko's cut is getting worse.
Shlemenko swinging wildly here.
Shlemenko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Dragunov scores with a nice strike.
Dragunov is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Dragunov misses with the combination.
Shlemenko lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragunov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Shlemenko is out of range.
Dragunov fails with a takedown attempt.
Alexander Shlemenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Dragunov.
Shlemenko misses with a few strikes there.
Shlemenko misses with a wild combination.
Shlemenko throws a right and a left that both miss.
Some wild striking there from Dragunov.
Shlemenko lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Dragunov circles away quickly and effectively.
Dragunov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shlemenko tries to avoid it but Dragunov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shlemenko to the ground. Shlemenko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Dragunov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shlemenko.
Dragunov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Dragunov duly obliges.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko looks to land a combination but Dragunov avoids it well.
Dragunov throws a one two combo.
Shlemenko misses with a two punch combination.
Shlemenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Shlemenko swinging wildly here.
Dragunov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Shlemenko misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Dragunov clinches up with Shlemenko and pushes him back against the cage.
Dragunov tries for a takedown. No joy.
Dragunov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shlemenko gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Shlemenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko throws a left and a right that both miss
and Dragunov counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Shlemenko throws a right and a left that Dragunov avoids nicely.
Shlemenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Shlemenko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Dragunov lands with a hook. Shlemenko tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Shlemenko rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Dragunov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dragunov scores with a head kick. Shlemenko tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Shlemenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Dragunov misses with a series of wild punches.
Dragunov throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov thows a left - swing and a miss!
Dragunov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Dragunov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shlemenko.

Shlemenko tries to keep at a distance but Dragunov has taken the fight into the clinch.

Shlemenko manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Alexander Shlemenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dragunov is stalling in the full guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dragunov trying to control the position from guard on top but Shlemenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

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 Alexander Shlemenko.
Well Dragunov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivan Dragunov!
An out of breath Ivan Dragunov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.