PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between George Kelly (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Roman Kersikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kelly comes to the cage accompanied by Jedi Mind Tricks / Retaliation . Kersikov has chosen Iron Maiden - The Wicker Man as his entrance music. Roman Kersikov has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Kelly
vs
Kersikov

179 cm
26
162 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

173 cm
29
158 lbs
17 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin

Perkele!

Conviction
Dissolution Fight Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, George Kelly!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Roman Kersikov!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Richard Clark and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kelly tries to land a leg kick but Kersikov saw it coming and moves away.
Kelly misses with a low kick.
Kelly lands a lovely overhand right.
We've been told by Kelly's head coaches at River's Edge Gym, LOP that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Kelly throws a body kick that misses
and Kersikov counters with a nice uppercut.
Kersikov keeps the fight on the outside.
Kersikov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Kelly stuns Kersikov with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kersikov looks to land a right hand but Kelly moved out of range.
A shot to the liver by Kersikov. Beautiful body shot.
Kelly just misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov connects with a body shot that sends Kelly's belly button to the back.
Kersikov throws a push kick but Kelly slaps the foot to one side.
Kersikov scores with a jab to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Kersikov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kersikov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kersikov counters with a nice body shot.
Kersikov has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
George Kelly is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kelly misses the shot to the body.
Kersikov throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Kelly feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Kelly scores with a push kick.
Kersikov takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kelly throws a leg kick but Kersikov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kelly lands with a good body shot.
Kelly connects with a right hand. Kersikov shakes it off.

Kelly moves into the clinch.
Kelly doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kersikov blocking some punches.
Kelly with a knee to the head.

It looks like Roman Kersikov has been cut.
Kersikov digs a right hand into Kelly's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kelly's gas tank.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kelly scores with an uppercut up the middle.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kersikov misses with a punch on the inside.
Kersikov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Kelly fails to land.

Kersikov manages to break the clinch.
Kelly throws a hook to the side of Kersikov's head but Kersikov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kersikov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Kelly misses with a series of wild punches.
Kersikov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kelly.
Kelly throws a nice head kick!
Kelly misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kersikov.
Kersikov with the counter takedown but Kelly avoids it easily.
Kelly chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kersikov can pounce on him.
Kersikov scores with a jab to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kelly counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kersikov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kersikov moves out of range of the body kick.
Kersikov now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A leg kick checked by Kersikov.
Kersikov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kersikov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kelly sees it coming and avoids it easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Kelly misses the target.
Kersikov takes one on the button.
George Kelly seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Both fighters circling a little - Kelly finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Kelly feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kersikov's calf.
Kersikov bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Kersikov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kelly counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kersikov moves out of range as Kelly throws a body kick.
Kersikov feints the counter takedown.
Kelly misses with a straight left.
Kersikov throws a leg kick
and Kelly counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kersikov's knee momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kersikov lands with a nice body kick.
Kelly throws a head kick that misses

and Kersikov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kelly won't be happy with that.
Kersikov is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Kelly's shoulder. That is not cool.
Kersikov working the ground and pound from side control.
Kelly is trying to get back to half guard.

Kersikov swings around for an armbar but Kelly sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kersikov's guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kelly throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kersikov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that George Kelly will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Roman Kersikov'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.

Kersikov throws the left hand but Kelly avoids the punch easily.
Kelly tries a low kick but Kersikov avoids it.
Kelly throws a half hearted mid kick.
A low kick from Kelly is predictable there

and Kersikov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kelly's guard.
Kersikov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kersikov throws an elbow that misses. Kelly uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kersikov's guard. Nice move by Kelly!

Kersikov working for submissions but it's allowed Kelly to get to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kersikov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kelly pulls his head out easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov is not content to let Kelly control the position.
Roman Kersikov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kersikov trying to get back to full guard but Kelly takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!
Kelly looking to control but Kersikov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kersikov is looking to get to half guard.
Kelly unloads with some shots from mount but Kersikov bucks and avoids them well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Kelly is keen to just control but Kersikov is a slippery customer.
Kelly tries to pass the half guard into mount. Kersikov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Kersikov wants to improve his position but Kelly is controlling well.
Kersikov wants to control but Kelly is keeping busy.
Kelly wants to take a breather but Kersikov is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov works his way to full guard. Good work.

Kersikov is looking for a triangle but Kelly pushes his legs off easily.
Kelly is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kelly is pushing down on Kersikov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kersikov is fighting to maintain full guard but Kelly has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kersikov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kersikov gets full guard.

Kersikov looking for a guillotine here but Kelly defends easily.
Kersikov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kelly manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly keeping moving, preventing Kersikov from controlling successfully.
Kersikov stands and throws Kelly's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kersikov throws an elbow but Kelly slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kersikov throwing ground and pound but whilst doing so, he forgets to control position and Kelly works his way back to half guard. Good composure under pressure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Roman Kersikov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Roman Kersikov's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kersikov misses the shot to the body.
Kelly's corner calls for a 1-2. Kelly obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kelly with a nice cross.
Kersikov misses with a looping left.
Kersikov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kelly.
Kelly takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kersikov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kelly was well out of range. Poor timing from Kersikov.
Kelly misses the shot to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kelly counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Kersikov misses with the body kick
and Kelly counters with an outside leg kick.
Kelly chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kersikov can pounce on him.

Kelly moves into the clinch successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kelly lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kelly throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kersikov blocks it with crossed arms.
Kelly looking to throw knees to the head but Kersikov is blocking nicely.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kersikov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kelly with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Kelly blocking some punches.
A head punch on the inside from Kersikov fails to land.
Kersikov is trying to break the clinch but Kelly is controlling him.
Kelly missing with knees to the body.
Kersikov prevents a body shot from Kelly.
Kelly throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kersikov blocks it with crossed arms.
Kelly goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A nice left hand lands by Kersikov.
Kersikov lands a nice shot to the body.
Kelly connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kersikov's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov avoiding damage as Kelly throws knees to the body.
Kersikov struggles to land a body shot inside as Kelly controls his hands.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kersikov misses with a punch on the inside.
Kersikov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
A short left from Kersikov.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kelly stalling in the clinch.
Kelly throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kersikov blocks it with crossed arms.
Kelly has Kersikov pushed against the cage.
Kersikov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kelly crunches a lovely knee into Kersikov's ribcage.
A head punch on the inside from Kersikov fails to land.
Kelly tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kersikov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kersikov working aggressively here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov just leaning against Kelly, taking a breather.
A short right from Kelly on the inside.
Knees to the body from Kelly.
Kelly tries to land knees in the clinch but Kersikov avoids the damage to the body.
Kelly has a couple of punches blocked by Kersikov.
Kersikov blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
George Kelly has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kersikov stalling in the clinch.
Kersikov works on Kelly's body with a couple of short punches.
Kelly looking to slow down the pace here.
Kelly with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kelly tries to work over Kersikov's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A short right from Kelly on the inside.
Kelly misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kersikov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kelly throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kersikov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Kelly jabs at Kersikov's body.
Kersikov slips under a jab.
Kelly throws a front kick aimed at Kersikov's knee but Kersikov avoids it well.
Kersikov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kelly.
Kelly cracks Kersikov with an open hand slap.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kersikov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kersikov. Kelly does a little dance to reset his feet.
A head kick misses from Kelly.
Kersikov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

George Kelly clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Roman Kersikov'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.

Kelly tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kelly tries to land a front kick but Kersikov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kelly thows a leg kick but Kersikov checks it
and Kersikov counters with an inside leg kick.
Kelly moves out of range as Kersikov throws a body kick.
Kersikov tries to land a front kick but Kelly steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kelly tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kelly moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kersikov blocks a head kick by Kelly.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov blocks a low kick nicely.
Kersikov takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kersikov misses the shot to the body.
It appears Kelly was looking to counter with a kick there.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kersikov checks a leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov lands a head shot.
Kelly fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kersikov.
Kelly slips under a jab.
Kelly throws a head kick but Kersikov moves out of range.
George Kelly is winning the standup battle so far.
Kelly throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
A lazy left from Kelly finds it's target.
Kelly takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Kersikov throws a body shot but no joy.
Kelly throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kersikov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kelly throws a body shot but no joy.
Kelly misses with a hook
and Kersikov counters with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A jab from Kersikov does it's job there.
A head kick misses from Kelly.
Kelly scores with a hook to the body. Kersikov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Kersikov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kelly quickly recovers to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kelly won't allow Kersikov to pass to mount.
Kersikov trying to control the pace.
Kersikov wants to control but Kelly is keeping him busy.
Kersikov working over Kelly with some ground and pound. Kelly looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kelly is not content to let Kersikov control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov works his way into full mount!
The referee warns Kelly that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kersikov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kersikov tries to control but Kelly wriggling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kelly is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

Kersikov has hold of an arm here, looking to extend it. He's committed to the armbar attempt here! Will he get it?! Yes! Kelly is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Roman Kersikov!
Roman Kersikov decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.