PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ruslan Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lenny Nero (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Smirnov
vs
Nero

167 cm
32
142 lbs
12 - 8 - 0

175 cm
25
146 lbs
15 - 6 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Sport Support

Fight Night Nutrition

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ruslan Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Lenny Nero!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smirnov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Nero is fending him off so far but Smirnov persists. Nope, Nero circles away and we're back to standing.
The fighters circling - Nero throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Smirnov doesn't manage to clinch there - Nero circles away.
Smirnov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Smirnov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Nero sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Smirnov somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruslan Smirnov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nero feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Smirnovs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Smirnov shoots in and drives through. Nero sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nero stuffs the takedown.
Ruslan Smirnov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Smirnov misses with a takedown attempt
letting Nero counter with a right hand.
Nero scores with the left hand. Smirnov knows he should have avoided that one.
Smirnov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Nero counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Smirnov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nero circles away.
Smirnov looks to be in better condition than last time we saw him fight. Obviously he's been working hard on his cardio.
Nero cracks Smirnov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Nero is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Smirnov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov shoots in for a takedown but Nero shows good takedown defense.
Smirnov misses with a takedown
and Nero counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Smirnov thinking.
Smirnov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Smirnov dives in for a single leg takedown but Nero sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Nero is trying to break the clinch but Smirnov has him pressed against the cage.
Smirnov is trying to drag Nero to the mat but Nero just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov tries for a takedown. No joy.

Nero breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Smirnov misses with a takedown attempt
and Nero connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Smirnov misses with a takedown
and Nero counters with a right hand to the body.

Nero gets caught napping as Smirnov dives in and scores a takedown. Nero manages to retain guard.

Nero is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smirnov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nero is keeping the position for now.
Nero can't keep his opponent in guard - Smirnov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Smirnov is looking for a kimura here.
Nero felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

Smirnov is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nero sees it coming and defends easily.
Nero makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nero.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nero keeping moving, preventing Smirnov from controlling successfully.
Nero wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Nero is trying to control the position from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smirnov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Lenny Nero will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Smirnov drives through with a takedown into Nero's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Nero seems keen to control Smirnov's posture.
Nero preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smirnov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Smirnov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smirnov wants to control from the top but Nero keeps moving.
Nero looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Smirnov controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's one minute 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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smirnov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nero displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smirnov.
Nero defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Smirnov.
Smirnov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruslan Smirnov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smirnov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Nero can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
You can see the frustration on Nero's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nero is trying to improve his position.

Lenny Nero has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Nero lands a jab to Smirnov's midsection.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov misses with a takedown
and Nero counters with a left and a right that stings Smirnov.
Smirnov shoots in for a takedown but Nero shows good takedown defense.

Smirnov drives through with a takedown into Nero's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Smirnov postures up.
Smirnov 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.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Smirnov is pushing down on Nero's leg trying to pass to half guard. Nero is fighting to maintain full guard but Smirnov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Nero is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smirnov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Smirnov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nero is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Smirnov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Smirnov's back!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smirnov takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Smirnov rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Nero not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Nero is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Smirnov manages to get to full guard.
Nero working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smirnov looking to control.
Smirnov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nero manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruslan Smirnov 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!

Smirnov tries for a takedown but Nero sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Nero stuffs the takedown.
Nero misses with an uppercut.

Smirnov drives through with a takedown into Nero's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Smirnov won't allow Nero to sweep him here.
Smirnov wants to control from the top but Nero keeps moving.
Smirnov content to stall in guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nero is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smirnov is aware though and is defending well.

Nero working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smirnov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smirnov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Smirnov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nero is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Smirnov trying to control but Nero is working from the bottom.
Nero is trying to keep Smirnov in close.
Smirnov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov stopping the sweep attempt from Nero.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Nero avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Nero working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Smirnov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Smirnov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Smirnov wants to control from the top but Nero keeps moving.
Ruslan Smirnov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Smirnov wants to pass the guard but Nero is keeping the position.
Nero trying to keep a closed guard but Smirnov is proving a slippery customer.
Nero keeping moving, preventing Smirnov from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smirnov is really struggling to control Nero but he's trying to hold on to the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nero not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ruslan Smirnov just wasn't active enough.
Smirnov shoots for a takedown but Nero saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ruslan Smirnov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed right hand from Smirnov misses the target.
Nero stuffs the takedown.

Smirnov has Nero up against the cage in a clinch.
Smirnov is trying to pull guard but Nero turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nice body punch from Nero.
Smirnov is trying to drag Nero to the mat but Nero just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smirnov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Nero fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice uppercut lands for Nero. That snapped Smirnov's head back.
A jab lands there for Nero.
Smirnov misses with a takedown attempt
and Nero counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Nero slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nero jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Lenny Nero.
I think Nero 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Lenny Nero!
Lenny Nero very nearly forgot to thank Fight Night Nutrition amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.