PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hyun Tae Kang (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexsandr Slemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Slemenko is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Небо Славян. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Tae Kang
vs
Slemenko

183 cm
25
190 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Hyun Tae Kang!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexsandr Slemenko!
The judges for this bout are Steve Montenegro, David Schapiro and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Slemenko circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kang gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Slemenko counters by moving into the clinch.
Kang is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Slemenko is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Slemenko wants a takedown but no success here.
Kang goes for a takedown attempt but Slemenko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kang tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kang.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hyun Tae Kang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kang shoots in looking for a takedown but Slemenko manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kang's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kang shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kang misses with the combination.
Hyun Tae Kang seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kang fails with the takedown

and Slemenko counters by clinching up.
Kang pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Slemenko has picked Kang up - he's going for a ride! Slemenko dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Kang wants to get back to his feet.
Kang trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slemenko prevents Kang from improving his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Slemenko stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Slemenko wants it to stay on the feet.
Kang darts in trying to clinch

and Slemenko moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kang breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kang shoots in but no luck this time.
Kang misses with a takedown attempt

and Slemenko counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kang working hard to break the clinch.
Kang throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Slemenko jumps guard but Kang stands there with Slemenko around his waist. Slemenko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Slemenko manages to pull guard.
Kang trying to control but Slemenko is working from the bottom.
Kang in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kang trying to control but Slemenko is working from the bottom.
Kang being controlled here momentarily.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Hyun Tae Kang wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kang tries to close the distance and clinch but Slemenko swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kang tries to clinch but Slemenko is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kang lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kang tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Slemenko counters with a shoot takedown. Kang fights it but they end up in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexsandr Slemenko will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Slemenko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kang closes the distance looking to clinch

and Slemenko moves into the clinch.
Kang with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kang tries to break free but Slemenko pushes him back against the cage.
Slemenko takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kang has Slemenko pushed against the cage.
Kang is looking to break free of the clinch but Slemenko has double underhooks.
Slemenko tries to pull guard but Kang forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Kang fails to land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slemenko stops a takedown attempt from Kang.
Kang struggles to land a body shot inside as Slemenko controls his hands.
A frustrated look appears on Kang's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Kang jumps guard and drags Slemenko to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kang can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Slemenko controls the pace.

Alexsandr Slemenko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Slemenko moves out of range of the body kick.
Kang closes the distance looking to clinch

and Slemenko moves into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Slemenko has Kang pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Slemenko pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Kang tumbling to the mat - Slemenko dives into Kang's guard.
Slemenko's corner is telling him to maintain position.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alexsandr Slemenko hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kang will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Kang goes for a double leg but Slemenko avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Slemenko continues to drive forward.
Kang trying to land knees to the body.

Slemenko pulls Kang into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kang stops Slemenko from standing up.
Kang is looking to stand up but Slemenko won't let him.
Kang trying to control but Slemenko is working from the bottom.
Kang trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Hyun Tae Kang just wasn't active enough.
Nice shot by Kang.
Kang doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Slemenko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hyun Tae Kang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slemenko takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Kang misses with some strikes from the bottom.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alexsandr Slemenko wasn't active enough on the ground.

Kang has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kang is trying to stall.

Kang pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Slemenko circles away from the clinch attempt

and Slemenko counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kang's guard now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kang lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Alexsandr Slemenko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Kang tries to clinch

so Slemenko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Kang had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Slemenko defends it easily.
Kang trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Slemenko sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Alexsandr Slemenko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kang fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kang wants to clinch but Slemenko slips to the side

and Slemenko counters with a shoot takedown. Kang fights it but they end up in guard.
Kang can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Slemenko controls the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alexsandr Slemenko hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kang looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kang works Slemenko's body with a nice hook.
Kang moves to clinch but Slemenko breaks away

and Slemenko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kang is looking to escape.
Slemenko performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Alexsandr Slemenko hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kang shoots for a takedown but Slemenko saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kang lands with a nice combination. Slemenko backs away looking to recover.
Good leg kick by Kang there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kang tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Slemenko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kang has a takedown stuffed.
Slemenko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hyun Tae Kang. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kang tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Slemenko counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kang is trying to break free.

Slemenko breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kang moves to clinch but Slemenko breaks away

and Slemenko counters by moving into the clinch.
Kang tries to score a body lock takedown but Slemenko shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Kang has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Slemenko pulls Kang into guard.
Kang is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kang wants to get up but he can't break Slemenko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kang throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hyun Tae Kang has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alexsandr Slemenko is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Slemenko avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexsandr Slemenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Slemenko 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 Steve Montenegro scores the fight 29:28
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 27:30
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Alexsandr Slemenko!
Alexsandr Slemenko opened up his post fight interview with a scream to camera that he wants a title shot! Whether he deserves the shot will be up to the management of the organization, so I guess he'll have to wait and see.