PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aleksandr Chernekov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fabien Gigu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Chernekov
vs
Gigu

175 cm
22
177 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

175 cm
22
168 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Aleksandr Chernekov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Fabien Gigu!
The judges for this bout are Tatsuya Matsuyama, Kenichi Hosakawa and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gigu doesn't manage to clinch there - Chernekov circles away.
Gigu chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Chernekov can pounce on him.
A left and a right from Chernekov both land. Nice combination.
Chernekov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Gigu is out of range.
Gigu misses with a combination
and Chernekov counters with a straight right hand.
A big right from Gigu misses.
Chernekov lands with an uppercut that bounces Gigu off the ropes and back into rage.
Chernekov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Chernekov.
Chernekov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

Chernekov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Chernekov decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Fabien Gigu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good leg kick by Chernekov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
A clash of legs there as Gigu blocks the low kick.
Chernekov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gigu moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gigu misses with a takedown attempt
and Chernekov counters with an outside leg kick.
Gigu looks gassed!
Chernekov lunges at Gigu with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Gigu's hand.
Chernekov lands a nice hook to Gigu's body. Gigu takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Chernekov with a hook.
Chernekov connects with a nice looking jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chernekov lands a lovely overhand right.
Chernekov cracks the inside of Gigu's front leg.
Gigu tries to clinch

and Chernekov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Gigu's guard now.
Chernekov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Gigu is proving hard to escape from.
Gigu controls Chernekov momentarily but Chernekov frees himself.
Gigu has a closed guard, preventing Chernekov from standing up.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chernekov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Chernekov checks a low kick from Gigu.

Chernekov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Chernekov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gigu on the ground.
Chernekov wants to get up but he can't break Gigu's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Gigu pulls Chernekov in to control the position.
Gigu bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Chernekov's guard.
Chernekov wants to stand up but Gigu is controlling him.
Gigu sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Chernekov's guard.
Chernekov is trying to stand up here but Gigu is controlling him well.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gigu works his way into side control.
Chernekov tries to escape but Gigu is in control.
Chernekov wants to control but Gigu postures up.
Gigu controlling the position.

Chernekov sneaks out the side door and pushes Gigu away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Chernekov keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Gigu throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Chernekov counters with a three punch combo that has Gigu backing up. Gigu nods at Chernekov to acknowledge the strikes.
Gigu is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Chernekov.
Chernekov throws a nice inside leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gigu throws a left and a right that both miss
and Chernekov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Chernekov lands a jab-cross combination.
Chernekov is working the combinations to good effect here.
Chernekov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Gigu moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Gigu scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Gigu throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Gigu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Chernekov moves into the clinch successfully.
Chernekov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gigu pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Chernekov is trying to stall.
Chernekov tries to pull guard but Gigu won't allow it.

Gigu gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Chernekov controlling the position.
Chernekov is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gigu looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Chernekov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Chernekov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Chernekov closes the distance and lands a one-two.

Chernekov gets a clinch.
Chernekov is working for a takedown up against the ropes. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Chernekov prevents the takedown attempt.

Chernekov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Chernekov jabs at Gigu's body.
Gigu moves out of range of the body kick.
Chernekov throws a low kick but Gigu avoids it.
Chernekov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Gigu.
Chernekov lands with a nice combination. Gigu backs away looking to recover.
Aleksandr Chernekov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gigu shoots in and drives through. Chernekov sprawls well.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chernekov is looking to score with low kicks.
Chernekov throws a series of strikes that have Gigu backpedaling.
Gigu takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Gigu takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gigu takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Chernekov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The fight stays on the outside here - Gigu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gigu closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Chernekov bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Chernekov's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Chernekov duly obliges.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Chernekov stops a takedown attempt from Gigu.
Aleksandr Chernekov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabien Gigu.
Chernekov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Chernekov pulls guard effortlessly.
Gigu trying to control but Chernekov is working from the bottom.
Chernekov wants to stand but Gigu is controlling the position.
Gigu passes easily into side control. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chernekov is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Gigu has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Gigu trying to control the position but Chernekov is working away.
Gigu prevents Chernekov from escaping the position.
Gigu remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Gigu working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gigu tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gigu has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Chernekov tries to bench press Gigu off him but Gigu keeps the position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Chernekov bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Gigu's head.
Good standup being displayed there by Chernekov as he connects with a hook.
Gigu misses with a combination
and Chernekov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Chernekov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Chernekov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Gigu takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Gigu walks into a jab.
Chernekov looks to throw the jab but Gigu is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Gigu tries for a takedown but Chernekov circles away easily
and Chernekov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Gigu thinking.

Gigu gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gigu looking for a sweep. Not yet Gigu, not yet.
Chernekov is looking to stand up but Gigu won't let him.
Gigu trying to keep a closed guard but Chernekov is proving a slippery customer.
Gigu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Chernekov wants to stand but Gigu is controlling his posture from full guard.
Chernekov 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksandr Chernekov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Gigu misses with a takedown
and Chernekov counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Gigu misses with a takedown attempt

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

Chernekov gets to his feet - Gigu follows without any prompting.
Gigu closes the distance but Chernekov moves to the side
and Chernekov counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Chernekov misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Chernekov. Gigu shrugs it off though.
Chernekov goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Chernekov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

Chernekov clinches.
Chernekov with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Chernekov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Gigu has him pressed against the ropes.
Chernekov goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gigu prevents it.

Gigu ties up his opponent against the ropes and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Gigu no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Chernekov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Chernekov cracks Gigu with a right hand to the side of the head.
Aleksandr Chernekov is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chernekov lands a jab to the nose.
Chernekov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Gigu moves out of range of the strikes.
Gigu tries for a takedown but Chernekov circles away easily

and Chernekov counters by moving into the clinch.
Aleksandr Chernekov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fabien Gigu.

Gigu breaks the clinch.

Chernekov clinches up with Gigu and pushes him back against the ropes.

Chernekov manages to break the clinch.
Gigu dodges the punch combination from Chernekov.
Gigu swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Chernekov counters with a one-two to the body.
Gigu tries to clinch there but Chernekov circles away.
Gigu avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Chernekov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gigu is looking to clinch but Chernekov is avoiding it.

Chernekov clinches up against the ropes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gigu gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Chernekov.
Gigu lands an elbow just above Chernekov 's eye.
Chernekov is trying to break the clinch but Gigu has him pressed against the ropes.
Gigu lands a left hand that snaps the head of Chernekov backwards.

Gigu has clasped his hands together around Chernekov's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Gigu wants to control but Chernekov is keeping him busy.
Chernekov is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the ropes but Gigu has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Chernekov can't do much from the bottom here.
Chernekov tries to escape but Gigu is in control.
Gigu working the body and head with strikes.
Chernekov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Chernekov tries to get out of the position.
Gigu wants to lay and pray for a moment but Chernekov keeps working.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chernekov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Chernekov wants to stand up but Gigu has a hold of him and won't allow it.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Gigu walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Gigu throws a lazy right hand but Chernekov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Gigu has his takedown stuffed
and Chernekov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Chernekov lands a lovely overhand right.

Chernekov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Gigu to the mat! Gigu manages to get full guard.
Chernekov won't allow Gigu to sweep him here.
Gigu looking to control.
Gigu keeping moving, preventing Chernekov from controlling successfully.
Gigu looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gigu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Chernekov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gigu trying to control the position.
Gigu might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Chernekov kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Gigu wants to sweep but no luck.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Gigu throws a sloppy body shot
and Gigu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Chernekov gets the takedown into side control.
Chernekov is looking to take a break and control but Gigu is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fabien Gigu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Gigu is trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksandr Chernekov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Chernekov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tatsuya Matsuyama scores the fight 30:27
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 30:27
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksandr Chernekov!