PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Renato Cannon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexsandr Slemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Slemenko has chosen Небо Славян as his entrance music. Alexsandr Slemenko has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Cannon
vs
Slemenko

200 cm
23
177 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Hates pizza

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Renato Cannon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexsandr Slemenko!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Konstantin Menshow and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slemenko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Cannon counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Slemenko fails with an attempt to clinch.

Slemenko shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Cannon's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Slemenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Cannon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Cannon looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Slemenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cannon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Cannon will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Slemenko throws a strike but Cannon rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cannon prevents Slemenko from getting back to his feet.
Slemenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Slemenko, not yet.

Cannon postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Slemenko is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cannon, into his guard.
Slemenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Cannon is retaining full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slemenko cracks Cannon with a solid left hand.
Cannon looking to control.
Slemenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Cannon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Slemenko engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Slemenko decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Slemenko gets the takedown into side control.

Slemenko goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Cannon rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Slemenko's guard! Nice work there by Cannon!
Cannon stopping the sweep attempt from Slemenko.
Slemenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slemenko striking off his back but it's not causing Cannon any problems.
Slemenko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Slemenko has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Cannon's face.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Slemenko scoring with strikes but Cannon is staying in there.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Slemenko swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Cannon is now in Slemenko's guard. A big mistake from Slemenko there, giving up the dominant position!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexsandr Slemenko dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Slemenko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Cannon's waist but Cannon gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Slemenko off to one side.
Slemenko misses with a combination
and Cannon counters with a head kick.
Slemenko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Cannon defends it nicely.
Cannon avoids the head kick by Slemenko.
Cannon throws a head kick that Slemenko semi-blocks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slemenko leaves Cannon with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

Slemenko has closed the distance and engaged Cannon in a clinch.
Cannon tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Slemenko smiles and moves away.
Cannon tries to clinch up.
Slemenko tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Cannon defends well and Slemenko ends up having to push Cannon into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Renato Cannon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alexsandr Slemenko.
Cannon tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Slemenko smiles and moves away.
Cannon checks a leg kick nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slemenko with a poor takedown
and Cannon counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
A swing and a miss from Slemenko.
Slemenko misses with a leg kick
and Cannon counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Cannon with a poor takedown
and Slemenko counters with a two punch combo.
Slemenko misses with a takedown attempt - Cannon sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Slemenko shoots in looking for a takedown. Cannon tries to sprawl out of it but Slemenko keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Cannon manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Slemenko is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slemenko changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Cannon tries to avoid it but Slemenko manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Cannon to the ground. Cannon escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Cannon defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Slemenko.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Slemenko is defended easily by Cannon.
Slemenko shoots in and drives through. Cannon sprawls well.
Cannon jabs at Slemenko's body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cannon moves in looking to clinch but Slemenko pushes him off.
Slemenko tries to clinch but Cannon moves away
and Cannon counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Slemenko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Cannon but Cannon pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Cannon is looking to clinch but Slemenko is avoiding it.
Cannon stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Cannon wants it to stay on the feet.
A punch combination from Slemenko misses.
Cannon lands a nice looking body shot.

Slemenko gets caught napping as Cannon dives in and scores a takedown. Slemenko manages to retain guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Renato Cannon will probably get the nod.
That's time! Cannon's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Cannon takes the fight into the clinch.
Slemenko keeps control of Cannon as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Cannon tries to pull guard but Slemenko holds him up against the cage and eventually Cannon drops back down to his feet.
Cannon tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cannon taking a breather.
Slemenko is trying to pull guard but Cannon has him pressed against the cage.

Slemenko pulls guard.
Cannon with a nice head shot there.
Cannon wants to stand and escape but instead Slemenko has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Cannon is looking to sweep but instead, Slemenko has passed into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slemenko is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Cannon really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Slemenko is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Cannon doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Slemenko.
Slemenko is pressing down on Cannon's thigh, looking to free his foot. Cannon is holding on for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Slemenko throws a strike but Cannon avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Cannon manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Slemenko manages to get himself to full guard.

Cannon drops back, looking for a kneebar! Slemenko looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Slemenko looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Slemenko!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slemenko is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Slemenko tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Cannon is looking for a sweep.

Slemenko goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Cannon rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Slemenko's guard! Nice work there by Cannon!
Slemenko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Cannon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alexsandr Slemenko.
I think Slemenko 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Renato Cannon!