PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Shepel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Djenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Alexei Shepel has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Shepel
vs
Djenko

179 cm
18
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Alexei Shepel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ivan Djenko!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shepel clinches up against the cage.
Shepel tries to land knees in the clinch but Djenko avoids the damage to the body.
Shepel is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Shepel effectively controlling the action here.
Shepel is trying to break the clinch but Djenko has him pressed against the cage.
Djenko is trying to pull guard but Shepel has him pressed against the cage.
Shepel is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Djenko is defending well for now.

Djenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Djenko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shepel sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Djenko somewhat.

Shepel moves into range and clinches up with Djenko.
Shepel trying to land knees to the body.
Djenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Djenko has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Shepel avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Alexei Shepel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Djenko.
Djenko looks gassed!
Shepel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Djenko avoids it.
Shepel tries to land knees in the clinch but Djenko avoids the damage to the body.
Djenko managing to block the knees to the body from Shepel.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Djenko lands a takedown into guard.
Shepel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Djenko is controlling him.
Shepel wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Djenko manages to pass to side control.
Shepel pushes Djenko off but Djenko dives into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepel is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Djenko asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Djenko is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Djenko creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Shepel sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Djenko is looking to take a break and control but Shepel is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shepel trying to remain calm as Djenko controls from the top position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Djenko tries to advance to mount but can't.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Shepel wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepel tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Djenko connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Shepel to escape the position.
Shepel trying to get back to his feet but Djenko is in full control for now.
Djenko tries to keep control of the position but Shepel is staying busy.
Shepel looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Djenko patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Shepel wants to get back to his feet.
Djenko tries to keep control of the position but Shepel is staying busy.
Djenko controlling the position well here. Shepel rolled but Djenko kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

Shepel defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepel is trying to stand back up.
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 Alexei Shepel will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Shepel moves into the clinch.
Djenko is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shepel pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Djenko ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Djenko no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Shepel tries to stand but Djenko is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Djenko is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivan Djenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Shepel wants to stand and escape but instead Djenko has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Shepel avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Shepel is looking to stand up but Djenko isn't so interested in that idea.
Shepel knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Djenko on the ground.
Djenko content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Djenko looking to pass the guard.
Shepel wants to stand and escape but Djenko is having none of it.
Djenko wants to control from the top but Shepel keeps moving.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ivan Djenko wasn't active enough on the ground.

Shepel has managed to clinch.
Shepel utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Shepel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Djenko avoids it.
Shepel unloads a knee to the mid-section. Djenko lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Shepel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Djenko avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shepel tries to land knees in the clinch but Djenko avoids the damage to the body.
Shepel trying to land knees to the body.
Djenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shepel prevents a takedown attempt there.
Djenko wants a takedown but no success here.
Alexei Shepel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Djenko.
Djenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shepel tries to land knees in the clinch but Djenko avoids the damage to the body.
Djenko managing to block the knees to the body from Shepel.
Djenko is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Shepel pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Shepel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Djenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shepel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Shepel prevents Djenko from breaking the clinch.
Shepel crunches a lovely knee into Djenko's ribcage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shepel misses with a punch to the body.
Shepel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Djenko avoids it.
Djenko managing to block the knees to the body from Shepel.
Djenko avoiding damage as Shepel throws knees to the body.
Djenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Djenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Djenko has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Shepel uses from the top position.
Shepel is looking to stand up but Djenko won't let him.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Shepel decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Djenko, up you get!

Shepel pushes Djenko up against the cage in a clinch.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shepel trying to land knees to the body.
Djenko goes for a takedown attempt but Shepel pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Shepel moves into range and clinches up with Djenko.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Shepel dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Shepel closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Shepel missing with knees to the body.
Shepel missing with knees to the body.
Djenko wants to break the clinch but can't.
Shepel has Djenko pushed against the cage.
Djenko is looking for a takedown.
Shepel missing with knees to the body.
Djenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Shepel trying to land knees to the body.
Shepel is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Djenko is keeping busy.
Djenko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Shepel pulls his leg out and moves away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Shepel has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shepel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Djenko avoids it.
Shepel landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Shepel struggles to land a body shot inside as Djenko controls his hands.
Djenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shepel missing with knees to the body.
Shepel tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Djenko avoids it.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Djenko as Shepel tries to tie him up.
Djenko fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Alexei Shepel has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ivan Djenko.
Djenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Djenko tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shepel smiles and moves away.
Ivan Djenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Shepel pushes Djenko up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shepel using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Djenko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Djenko avoiding damage as Shepel throws knees to the body.
Djenko managing to block the knees to the body from Shepel.
Djenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shepel misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shepel wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Djenko has him pressed against the cage.
Shepel trying to land knees to the body.
Shepel working Djenko over with knees to the body.
Djenko managing to block the knees to the body from Shepel.

Shepel is fighting off a takedown attempt but Djenko is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Shepel to the mat. Shepel regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Djenko landing with the ground and pound.
Shepel wants to stand up but Djenko is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Djenko controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Shepel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Djenko is controlling him.
Shepel trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Djenko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Shepel wants to stand and escape but Djenko is having none of it.
Djenko works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Djenko is taking a breather. Shepel says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Shepel manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Djenko shoots in but Shepel avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Alexei Shepel is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Djenko tries to keep at a distance but Shepel has taken the fight into the clinch.
Djenko avoiding damage as Shepel throws knees to the body.
Djenko takes a knee to the side of the body.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Djenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Shepel lands a nice knee to the body.
Shepel misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Djenko.
Ivan Djenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shepel is leaning against Djenko and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexei Shepel showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shepel, 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexei Shepel!