PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gustav Swift (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dave Semenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Swift
vs
Semenko

184 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
213 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Gustav Swift!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Dave Semenko!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Edson Gomes and Emerson Jorge.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swift slips a jab and a cross from Semenko.
Semenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
A big right from Semenko misses.
Semenko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Semenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Swift avoids the head kick by Semenko.
A head kick misses from Semenko.
Semenko throws a head kick but Swift moves out of range.
Semenko throws and low kick but Swift moves out of range easily.
The fight stays on the outside here - Semenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Swift shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Semenko pinned against the cage. Semenko gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Semenko tries to clinch but Swift moves out of range.
Swift attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Swift fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Semenko is out of range.
Dave Semenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Semenko scores with a kick to the body.
Semenko throws a head kick that misses.

Semenko has Swift up against the cage in a clinch.
Swift is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Semenko misses with a knee to the head.
Swift is trying to break the clinch but Semenko has him pressed against the cage.
Semenko lands an elbow that stopped Swift in his tracks for a moment.
Semenko lands a nice elbow.

It looks like Gustav Swift has been cut.
Swift takes an elbow to the temple.
Semenko misses with a knee strike.
Semenko stops a takedown attempt from Swift.
Swift is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Semenko connects with a nasty looking knee right to Swift's face.
Semenko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Semenko missing with knees to the body.
Swift is trying to break the clinch but Semenko has him pressed against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Semenko misses with a knee to the head.
Semenko tries to land knees in the clinch but Swift avoids the damage to the body.
Semenko prevents Swift from breaking the clinch.
Semenko stalling the fight.
Swift stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Semenko prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gustav Swift. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Swift is breathing heavily.
Swift wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Swift is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Semenko gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Semenko lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Swift wants to break the clinch but can't.
Semenko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Swift wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Semenko with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Swift is trying to drag Semenko to the mat but Semenko just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Semenko lands an elbow inside that Swift shrugs off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Semenko is pushing Swift up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Semenko scores with a knee to the head.
Swift is trying to break free.
Swift looking to slow down the pace here.
Semenko is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Swift is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Semenko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Semenko lands a damaging elbow.
Semenko using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Swift has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Semenko tries to land a knee to the head but Swift blocks with his arms.
Semenko misses with a knee strike.
Semenko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Semenko scores with a knee to the head.
Swift tries to break the clinch but Semenko is controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Semenko connects with a knee to the head.
Semenko landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Semenko looking to throw knees to the head but Swift is blocking nicely.
Semenko tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Semenko landing knees to the head.
Semenko landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Semenko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Swift can't get the takedown.
Semenko lands a knee to the head.
Semenko throws a knee to the head but misses.
Swift is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Knees to the body from Semenko.
Semenko throws a knee to the head but misses.
Semenko will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Swift up against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Semenko.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dave Semenko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Gustav Swift's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Semenko takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Semenko misses with a low kick.
Semenko throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Swift tries to work over Semenko's front leg with a kick but Semenko checks it.
Semenko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Semenko throws a leg kick

and Swift counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Semenko!

Swift is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Semenko can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Swift can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Semenko is looking to escape.
Semenko is trying desperately to improve position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Swift goes for an armbar but Semenko turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Semenko.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Semenko is stalling in the full guard.

Swift looking for a guillotine here but Semenko defends easily.
Semenko pushing down on Swift's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swift is trying to get back to full guard.
Semenko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Swift. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Swift wants to get back to full guard but Semenko has passed into side control.
Swift is desperately trying to improve his position but Semenko has a good base and remains in mount.
Semenko in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Semenko controlling the position easily from mount.
Semenko prevents Swift from getting the reversal.
Semenko looking to control and managing it successfully.
Swift working to try and regain half guard.
Semenko looking to control and managing it successfully.
Swift is looking to improve his position but Semenko isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Semenko trying to control but Swift is having none of it.
Semenko might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Swift kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

Semenko wants to finish this one by submission but Swift is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Semenko.
Semenko controlling from the full mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dave Semenko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Gustav Swift's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Semenko tries to close the distance and clinch but Swift swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Swift does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Swift circles away from the clinch attempt.
Swift avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Swift checks a low kick from Semenko.
Semenko lands with a slapping head kick.
Semenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Semenko.
Semenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Semenko throws out a loose jab but Swift uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Semenko tries to clinch but Swift moves out of range.
Swift takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Semenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Swift paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Swift misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Semenko.
Semenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Semenko is looking to land body kicks.
Semenko throws a leg kick

and Swift counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Semenko wants to sweep here but Swift controlling him for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Semenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Swift drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Semenko dives on top into guard.

Swift had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Semenko is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Swift Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Semenko's back instead.
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.
Swift is trying to stick to Semenko's back but Semenko is turning into Swift. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Swift's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Semenko.
Semenko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Semenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Swift is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Swift looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Semenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Swift is retaining full guard.

Swift looking for subs off his back but Semenko has passed one foot through into half guard.
Semenko controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Swift looking for submissions off his back.
Well, if Semenko is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's four 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.
Semenko moves into full mount! Swift won't be happy about that!
Dave Semenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Semenko content just to control the position here.
Swift working to try and regain half guard.
Swift gets back to half guard.
Gustav Swift has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Swift throws a strike from the bottom but Semenko passes into side control!

And that's the end of the fight!
Dave Semenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Semenko winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 26:30
Judge Edson Gomes scores the fight 27:30
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dave Semenko!