PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vitor Gracie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexsandr Slemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Gracie might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to The Pitbull is back! . Slemenko has chosen Небо Славян as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gracie
vs
Slemenko

187 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
180 lbs
4 - 4 - 1

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Vitor Gracie!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexsandr Slemenko!
The judges for this bout are Joseph Jones, Steve Montenegro and Russell Pearce.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gracie shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Slemenko defends it nicely.

Slemenko gets caught napping as Gracie dives in and scores a takedown. Slemenko manages to retain guard.
Gracie in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Slemenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracie postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Slemenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Gracie definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Gracie throws an elbow that misses. Slemenko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Slemenko!

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gracie is pulling down on Slemenko's head to control his posture.
Gracie has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gracie controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gracie is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Gracie controlling the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Gracie misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gracie shoots in for a double leg but Slemenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Gracie shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Slemenko but Slemenko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitor Gracie. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gracie dives in and scores a takedown into Slemenko's guard.
Gracie throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Slemenko works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gracie won't allow Slemenko to get back to his feet.
Gracie throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slemenko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Gracie is one step ahead there.
Gracie throws an elbow that misses. Slemenko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Slemenko!

Gracie keeping moving, preventing Slemenko from controlling successfully.
Slemenko is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Slemenko won't allow Gracie to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Gracie trying to control the position here.
Gracie is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Slemenko is controlling him.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Slemenko wants to control from the top but Gracie keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Slemenko's waist but Slemenko gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Gracie off to one side.

Gracie moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vitor Gracie dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Gracie shoots in but no luck this time.
Gracie has his takedown stuffed

and Slemenko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Gracie wants to get back to full guard.
Gracie is trying to maintain the position but Slemenko is very close to passing his half guard.
Gracie wants to get back to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Slemenko manages to mount him!
Slemenko won't let Gracie get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Gracie on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Gracie tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie tries to reverse the position but Slemenko maintains control.
Gracie is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Gracie is trying desperately to improve position.
Gracie gets back to half guard.
Gracie is looking for a sweep. Slemenko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Gracie is staying active underneath Slemenko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Slemenko manages to move to mount!
Slemenko tries to control but Gracie wriggling away.
Gracie is trying to stand but he's not in a good position to be doing that! Slemenko has taken his back!
Gracie wants to get back to his feet.
Slemenko is hanging on to Gracie's back as he tries to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Gracie manages to reverse the position and now he's in Slemenko's guard. Nice work there by Gracie.
Gracie stands up over Slemenko, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Gracie lands a couple of digs.

Gracie has gone for a leg lock! Slemenko slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gracie's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gracie looking to hit a scissor sweep but Slemenko is one step ahead there.
Gracie is working hard here to advance position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexsandr Slemenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Gracie with a lazy takedown attempt

and Slemenko counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Slemenko won't allow Gracie to get back to his feet.
Gracie 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gracie is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gracie not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Slemenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gracie missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Slemenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Gracie.
Gracie missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gracie not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Slemenko is looking to improve his position.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Slemenko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Gracie.
Gracie throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Slemenko regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Gracie.
Gracie throws an elbow that misses. Slemenko uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gracie's guard. Nice move by Slemenko!

Alexsandr Slemenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Slemenko trying to control but Gracie is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gracie trying to keep a closed guard but Slemenko is proving a slippery customer.
Slemenko preventing the sweep.
Gracie lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Gracie has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Gracie trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slemenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gracie.
Gracie with a flurry of punches that miss.

Gracie 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!

Gracie wants to control but Slemenko postures up.
Gracie tries to control but end up mounted... ooooh, that's bad.
Gracie has given up his back here.
Gracie tries to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slemenko gets his hands free as Gracie looks to control.
Gracie rolls, trying to escape but Slemenko keeps control of the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gracie wants to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexsandr Slemenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
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 Joseph Jones scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Montenegro scores the fight 28:29
Judge Russell Pearce scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexsandr Slemenko!
Alexsandr Slemenko took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.