PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Samuel Washington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Kersikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Washington's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, TNT. Kersikov has chosen Iron Maiden - The Wicker Man as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Roman Kersikov was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Washington
vs
Kersikov

169 cm
24
157 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

173 cm
24
149 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

KO Clothing

KO Clothing
Conquer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Samuel Washington!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roman Kersikov!
The judges for this bout are John Kavanagh, Lou da Vinci and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kersikov moves out of range of the leg kick from Washington.

Washington gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Washington is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kersikov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kersikov has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Washington working to try and regain half guard.
Washington is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov thowing shots but they're missing.
Washington avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kersikov.
Washington avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kersikov.
Kersikov punching from mount but Washington doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kersikov lands a heavy elbow.
Washington taking shots to the head.
Kersikov punching from mount but Washington doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kersikov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Washington is looking to escape.
Washington is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Washington manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Kersikov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Washington defending well though.
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!
Washington blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kersikov.
Washington moves into full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kersikov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kersikov throws a big elbow that misses.
Washington looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kersikov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washington keeping moving, preventing Kersikov from controlling successfully.
Washington avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kersikov looking to pass the guard.
Kersikov preventing the sweep.
Kersikov wants to control from the top but Washington keeps moving.
Washington controlling Kersikov's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Roman Kersikov.
Kersikov blocks the body kick.
Washington lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kersikov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov misses with a jab to the body
enabling Washington to counter with a crisp jab.
Samuel Washington seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kersikov moves out of range of the leg kick from Washington.
Kersikov jabs Washington right on the nose. Washington blinks but takes it well.
Washington takes one to the side of the head.
Washington feints and then cracks Kersikov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kersikov down.
Kersikov scores with a jab.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Washington takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kersikov cracks Washington with an open hand slap.
Washington on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kersikov. That's going to slow Washington down.
Washington looks to score with a jab to the body but Kersikov is just out of range.
Kersikov lunges at Washington with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Washington's hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kersikov lands with an uppercut that bounces Washington off the cage and back into range.
Washington tries a low kick but Kersikov avoids it.
Washington moves out of range as Kersikov throws a body kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Kersikov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Washington uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kersikov.
Washington misses with a looping left.
Kersikov moves out of range of the strikes.
Kersikov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kersikov throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Kersikov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kersikov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Washington at a distance.
Kersikov throws a low kick but Washington avoids it.
Washington loads up on a big right hand but Kersikov slips the punch.
Washington misses with a body shot.
Kersikov walks into a stiff left hand from Washington.
A jab lands there for Washington.
Washington takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Washington takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Washington takes a swing at Kersikov's ribcage but misses.
Washington cracks Kersikov with a good jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washington misses with a hook. Kersikov ducked under it nicely.
Washington missing with a left hand there. Kersikov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A nice leg kick lands there from Washington.
A jab from Kersikov finds it's way through Washington's defenses.
Washington swings away with a body shot that misses

and Kersikov counters with a shoot takedown. Washington fights it but they end up in guard.
Washington looking to control.
Kersikov throws a big right hand that misses.
Kersikov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kersikov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Washington looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kersikov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kersikov postures up in Washington's guard and throws a big left but Washington blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov wants to control from the top but Washington keeps moving.
Washington working a defensive guard here.
Kersikov stands and throws Washington's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kersikov working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Kersikov is looking to take a break and control but Washington is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kersikov looks up at the clock and then as Washington takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kersikov smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Washington is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kersikov connects with a decent elbow.
The ground and pound from Kersikov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kersikov lands a decent elbow from side control.
Kersikov wants to control but Washington is keeping him busy.
Kersikov looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Washington is avoiding damage well.
Check out the look on Kersikov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Kersikov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Washington tries to improve position but can't.
Washington managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kersikov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kersikov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Washington keeps working.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kersikov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Washington is looking for a sweep.
The referee asks Kersikov politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Kersikov prefers to stall for the moment though.
Kersikov looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Washington is avoiding damage well.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kersikov working away.

Kersikov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Washington is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kersikov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Washington keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Roman Kersikov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kersikov shoots in looking for a takedown but Washington manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kersikov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kersikov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Washington throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Kersikov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Washington keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Kersikov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kersikov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Washington is looking to escape.
Kersikov wants to pass to mount but Washington is defending the position.
Washington works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Washington keeping moving, preventing Kersikov from controlling successfully.
Kersikov advances position into side control!
Washington struggling a bit here.
Washington is trying to escape the position but Kersikov is controlling the position.
Kersikov working the ground and pound but Washington is defending the strikes.
Kersikov working the head and body with strikes.
Kersikov landing strikes.
Washington manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kersikov's best efforts.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov thows a huge punch but Washington dodges it nicely.
Kersikov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Washington's head.
Kersikov trying to control from Washington's half guard. Washington has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
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!
Kersikov throwing strikes from guard but Washington blocks nicely.
Kersikov looking to sit in guard and control but Washington gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kersikov wants to sweep here but Washington controlling him for the moment.
Kersikov trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Washington with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kersikov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Kersikov throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Washington escapes and throws Kersikov's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Kersikov is trying to control Washington's posture but Washington avoids it.
Kersikov takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Samuel Washington has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov wants to control but Washington postures up.
Kersikov tries to improve position but can't.
Kersikov takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Kersikov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Washington's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kersikov trying to control here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kersikov is looking to improve his position.
Washington looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kersikov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Roman Kersikov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kersikov 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 John Kavanagh scores the fight 27:30
Judge Lou da Vinci scores the fight 27:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Roman Kersikov!
Roman Kersikov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.