PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Huey Bright (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexandr Shlemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bright
vs
Shlemenko

160 cm
18
177 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
18
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 Montreal, Huey Bright!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alexandr Shlemenko!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Steve Smith and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shlemenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shlemenko tries to clinch but Bright is having none of it.
Shlemenko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shlemenko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bright swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shlemenko swinging wildly here.
Bright avoids the head kick by Shlemenko.
Bright avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shlemenko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shlemenko tries to bum rush Bright with a series of wild strikes but Bright uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Bright shoots in and gets a takedown into Shlemenko's guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Bright gets to his feet - Shlemenko follows without any prompting.

Shlemenko shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Bright napping and manages to drive through into side control!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Shlemenko is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Bright is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Shlemenko wants to control but Bright is keeping him busy.
Bright might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shlemenko in side control, throwing shots but Bright defends.
Shlemenko postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

Shlemenko swings around for an armbar but Bright sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Shlemenko's guard.
Bright trying to control but Shlemenko is working from the bottom.
Bright with a flurry of punches that miss.
Bright works over Shlemenko with some ground and pound from guard.
Bright content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Shlemenko looking for a guillotine here but Bright defends easily.
Shlemenko looks winded!
Bright scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bright stands up and waves to Shlemenko to follow him.
Alexandr Shlemenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Shlemenko scores with a takedown into Bright's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bright is controlling Shlemenko's posture.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bright bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Shlemenko's guard.
Bright slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Bright trying to control the position from guard on top but Shlemenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bright controlling from the top position.

We're going to have a standup here because Huey Bright wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Bright has taken the fight to the clinch.
Bright could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Bright has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Shlemenko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Bright tries to throw a body punch but Shlemenko avoids it by throwing Bright back against the cage.
Shlemenko is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Shlemenko is pressed up against the cage. Bright has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shlemenko down to the mat. Shlemenko avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bright is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shlemenko.

Shlemenko darts in and clinches Bright up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shlemenko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Shlemenko shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Bright wants to get back to full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Shlemenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shlemenko throwing shots but Bright is blocking nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shlemenko is looking to stall here but Bright recovers full guard.
Shlemenko wants to pass the guard but Bright is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexandr Shlemenko will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Shlemenko scores with a one two! Bright had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Shlemenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Shlemenko scores with a push kick.

Shlemenko rushes Bright and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Shlemenko breaks from the clinch.
Bright takes a head kick and keeps coming.

It looks like Huey Bright has been cut.
Shlemenko throws a sloppy head kick and Bright moves out of range easily.
Bright tries to close the distance and clinch but Shlemenko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Shlemenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shlemenko goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.

Bright clinches.

Bright breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bright has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Shlemenko is breathing heavily.

Shlemenko shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Shlemenko works his way into full mount!
Bright bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Bright pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Shlemenko is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bright stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Bright clinches.

Shlemenko has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Bright is trying to keep an underhook but Shlemenko manages to get the takedown into half 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!
Shlemenko looks to land a strike but Bright avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Bright controls Shlemenko momentarily but Shlemenko frees himself.
Shlemenko throws a big elbow that misses.
Shlemenko throws a strike but Bright rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Bright trying to control but Shlemenko is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bright controlling from the top position.

Huey Bright has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Bright closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Bright lands in his opponent's guard.
Shlemenko controls Bright momentarily but Bright frees himself.
Bright trying to control the position from guard on top but Shlemenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Huey Bright overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Shlemenko working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bright is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Shlemenko keeping moving, preventing Bright from controlling successfully.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bright looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shlemenko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Shlemenko scores with a head kick.
Shlemenko throws a sloppy head kick and Bright moves out of range easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexandr Shlemenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Huey Bright's cut.
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!

Bright bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Shlemenko takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Shlemenko is looking for a sweep.
Shlemenko throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Shlemenko is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bright works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Bright scores with a couple of short elbows.
Bright lands some shots froms side control.
Shlemenko tries to improve position but can't.
Bright connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Shlemenko some visible discomfort.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Bright lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Shlemenko down.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Bright has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Shlemenko is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Bright yanks on the arm and Shlemenko is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Bright.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Huey Bright!