PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Reggie Anderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artem Bessmertin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Anderson's entrance music is The Champ is Here. A fine choice. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Anderson
vs
Bessmertin

180 cm
30
185 lbs
22 - 7 - 2

189 cm
29
183 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conquer

GREEN!160
Fury Nutrition Inc.

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 7 - 2, fighting out of New York, Reggie Anderson!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Artem Bessmertin!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Bessmertin, as that shot connected.
Anderson misses with a hook.
Bessmertin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Anderson lands a leg kick that knocks Bessmertin off balance momentarily.
Bessmertin throws a leg kick which misses Anderson's front leg but catches the back leg as Anderson tries to avoid it.
Bessmertin 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.
Bessmertin misses with a straight right.
Anderson avoids the body shot from Bessmertin.
Anderson throws a front kick that sends Bessmertin stumbling back into the cage.
Bessmertin checks a low kick from Anderson.
Bessmertin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Anderson.
Bessmertin finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
An inside leg kick lands from Bessmertin.
Bessmertin avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Bessmertin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A bone on bone clash there as Bessmertin blocks the leg kick.
Bessmertin with the counter takedown but Anderson avoids it easily.
Bessmertin scores with a hook to the body. Anderson takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Nice body kick there by Anderson.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bessmertin takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
A nice leg kick lands there from Anderson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bessmertin tries to close the distance and clinch but Anderson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Anderson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Anderson on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Bessmertin lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Anderson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bessmertin defends it nicely.
Anderson lands with an uppercut that bounces Bessmertin off the cage and back into range.
A jab lands there for Bessmertin.

Anderson closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Bessmertin to the mat! Bessmertin manages to get full guard.
Bessmertin looking to control.
Anderson seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Bessmertin has his hands on Anderson's head, controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Bessmertin is on top in guard.

Bessmertin passes Anderson's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Bessmertin is controlling the pace.
Bessmertin wants to pass to mount but Anderson is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Anderson trying to control but Bessmertin postures up.

Anderson looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Anderson is trying to get back to full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Bessmertin takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Anderson tries to get to full guard but Bessmertin has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Anderson trying to control from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Anderson shoots for a double leg takedown but Bessmertin sprawls well. He's pushed Anderson's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Bessmertin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Reggie Anderson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anderson slaps away a takedown attempt from Bessmertin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Anderson misses with a low kick.
Bessmertin misses with a hook to the body
and Anderson counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Anderson on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Bessmertin misses with a wild body shot.
Anderson throws a hook but Bessmertin blocks it.
A chopping leg kick lands by Anderson.
Nice cross by Bessmertin.
Bessmertin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Artem Bessmertin will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nice shot by Bessmertin.
Anderson takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Anderson connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Bessmertin momentarily.
Some bone on bone action there as Anderson checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Anderson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Anderson misses with a low kick.
Anderson moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Anderson avoids the body shot from Bessmertin.
Bessmertin moves out of range of the leg kick from Anderson.
Bessmertin connects with a crisp jab.
Bessmertin uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Anderson.
Bessmertin tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Anderson misses with a jab, cross combination.
Anderson avoids the body shot from Bessmertin.
Anderson finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Anderson swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Bessmertin swings widly with a right hand
and Anderson counters with a nice leg kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Bessmertin lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bessmertin sprawls well. Bessmertin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Anderson gets slowly back to his feet.
Bessmertin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Anderson was well out of range. Poor timing from Bessmertin.
Bessmertin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Anderson looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Anderson goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Anderson works the jab nicely.
Bessmertin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Anderson.
Bessmertin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Anderson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Anderson works Bessmertin's body with a nice hook.
Anderson connects with an inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Anderson changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Bessmertin tries to avoid it but Anderson manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Bessmertin to the ground. Bessmertin escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
A jab from Anderson misses.
Bessmertin is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Anderson misses with a leg kick.
Bessmertin has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson stalks Bessmertin and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Bessmertin's face. Bessmertin staggers backwards, shaken.
Reggie Anderson is winning the standup battle so far.
Anderson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bessmertin throws out the jab.
Anderson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bessmertin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Anderson bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Bessmertin's head.
Bessmertin throws a hook but Anderson blocks it.
Bessmertin misses with a straight right.
Anderson tries a low kick but Bessmertin avoids it.
Bessmertin has a takedown stuffed.
Anderson takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Decent striking displayed by Bessmertin there.
Bessmertin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Anderson pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Anderson avoids the body shot from Bessmertin.
Anderson throws a nice outside leg kick.
It looks like Anderson has been trying to sharpen up his punching technique, as it looks crisper than last time we saw him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anderson lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Bessmertin throws an overhand right that lands on Anderson's shoulder, as Anderson tries to avoid the shot.
Anderson avoids the body shot from Bessmertin.
Bessmertin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bessmertin throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Bessmertin takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
A head kick misses from Anderson.
Bessmertin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Anderson throws out the jab.
Bessmertin throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Anderson stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Bessmertin moves out of range of the strikes.
Anderson throws a hook but Bessmertin avoids it easily.
Anderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Bessmertin moves away.
Anderson misses with a low kick.
Bessmertin shoots for a takedown but Anderson saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Anderson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Bessmertin checks a leg kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Bessmertin was well out of range. Poor timing from Anderson.
Bessmertin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Anderson defends it well.
A clash of legs there as Bessmertin blocks the low kick.
And Bessmertin tries to counter it with a takedown but Anderson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Anderson throws a leg kick that misses.
Bessmertin shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Anderson sprawls well. Anderson wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Bessmertin gets slowly back to his feet.
Reggie Anderson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Artem Bessmertin.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Bessmertin.
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!
Anderson takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Bessmertin just misses with a punch to the body.
Anderson scores with a nice head shot.
Anderson swings for the body but Bessmertin moves out of range.
Anderson swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Bessmertin lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Anderson backs up against the cage.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Anderson darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
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 Reggie Anderson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Bessmertin thumps Anderson with a low kick.
Anderson throws a hook to the side of Bessmertin's head but Bessmertin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Anderson ducks under a wild hook from Bessmertin.
Nice uppercut there from Bessmertin.
Anderson misses with a wild combination.
Anderson throws an overhand right that lands on Bessmertin's shoulder, as Bessmertin tries to avoid the shot.
Anderson misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bessmertin lands a nice shot to the body.
Anderson lands a really nice looking cross but Bessmertin seems unphased.
Anderson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Anderson moves away from the strike by Bessmertin.
Bessmertin tries to clinch but Anderson is having none of it.
Bessmertin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Anderson throws out the jab.
Anderson stuns Bessmertin with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Anderson avoids the body shot from Bessmertin.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bessmertin lands with a thumping leg kick.
Anderson lands with a thumping leg kick.
Bessmertin has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Anderson finds it's way round the side to connect with Bessmertin's head.
Bessmertin goes for a double leg but Anderson avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Anderson continues to drive forward.
Anderson attempts a counter takedown but Bessmertin avoids it well and moves away.
Anderson ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Anderson misses with a low kick.
Anderson misses with an uppercut. Bessmertin saw that one coming.
A head kick misses from Anderson.
Bessmertin misses with a straight left.
Anderson scores with a decent looking hook.
Anderson tries to bum rush Bessmertin with a series of wild strikes but Bessmertin uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Bessmertin changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Bessmertin closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Bessmertin is trying to control the action in half guard but Anderson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Bessmertin might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Anderson haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Bessmertin not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Anderson does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Bessmertin trying to mount his opponent but Anderson defends it.
Bessmertin drops an elbow to the side of Anderson's head.
Anderson trying to control but Bessmertin postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anderson tries to get to full guard but Bessmertin has control of the leg.
Bessmertin sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Anderson defending well though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Anderson looks to land a right hand but Bessmertin moved out of range.
Anderson pivots, looking for a leg kick but Bessmertin is out of range and Anderson settles back down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Bessmertin moves out of range of the body kick from Anderson.
Bessmertin walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Anderson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bessmertin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Bessmertin jabs at Anderson's body.
Anderson takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A swing and a miss from Anderson.
Anderson misses with a low kick as Bessmertin jumps back.
Bessmertin lands a jab.
Anderson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bessmertin.
Anderson is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Bessmertin cracks Anderson with an open hand slap.
Bessmertin on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Anderson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bessmertin checks a leg kick nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Anderson.
Anderson throws a shot from downtown. Bessmertin moves away and avoids it.
Anderson throws a hook but Bessmertin blocks it.
Bessmertin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nice defenses there by Bessmertin.
Anderson attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Bessmertin feints the counter takedown.
Anderson throws a head kick that half lands.
Anderson showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bessmertin.
Anderson tries to counter with a takedown but Bessmertin is quick to defend against it.
Anderson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Bessmertin dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Anderson. That did some damage!
Anderson lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Anderson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Anderson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Bessmertin connects with a right hand. Anderson shakes it off.
A big left from Anderson misses.
And Bessmertin tries to counter it with a takedown but Anderson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reggie Anderson clearly takes that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Anderson fails with a takedown attempt.
Bessmertin on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Anderson. Anderson obviously looking to wear him down.
Anderson looks to throw the jab but Bessmertin is out of range.
Bessmertin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Anderson needs to keep his hands up - Bessmertin had a free shot at his head there.
Bessmertin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Anderson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bessmertin looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Anderson has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Bessmertin finds it's way round the side to connect with Anderson's head.
Anderson's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Anderson duly obliges.
Bessmertin chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Bessmertin cracks Anderson with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Anderson gets cracked there but stands up to it.
A cross from Bessmertin lands.
Nice straight punches there by Bessmertin. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Bessmertin.
A good leg kick by Bessmertin.
Bessmertin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Anderson was well out of range. Poor timing from Bessmertin.
Bessmertin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Anderson.
Anderson uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Bessmertin.
Bessmertin comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
A left lands for Anderson.
Bessmertin has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Bessmertin scores with a body shot.
Anderson fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Bessmertin is out of range.
Bessmertin shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Anderson throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bessmertin swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Anderson.
Bessmertin's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Bessmertin throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Anderson throws a nice outside leg kick.
Anderson with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Bessmertin to score with a decent uppercut.
Jab, jab by Bessmertin - just one landing.
Nice takedown defense from Bessmertin. No joy for Anderson on that attempt.
Bessmertin scores with a leg kick.
Bessmertin checks the leg kick nicely there.
Anderson takes a jab right on the kisser.
Bessmertin lands with a straight right. Anderson didn't see that one coming.
Anderson throws a right and a left that Bessmertin avoids nicely.
Anderson takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Bessmertin looks to land a right hand but Anderson moved out of range.
Anderson swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Bessmertin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Anderson manages to avoid it.
Good leg kick by Anderson there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Anderson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
And Bessmertin tries to counter it with a takedown but Anderson pushes his down on his head and steps out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin lands a right hook to the body.
Bessmertin gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Anderson is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bessmertin sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Reggie Anderson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Bessmertin scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Anderson looks to throw the jab but Bessmertin is out of range.
Bessmertin scores with a jab to the jaw.
Anderson checks the leg kick.
Anderson throws a shot from downtown. Bessmertin moves away and avoids it.
Bessmertin looks to throw the jab but Anderson is out of range.
Bessmertin misses with a hook.
Bessmertin throws a hook but Anderson blocks it.
Anderson changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Bessmertin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Anderson.
Bessmertin misses with a low kick as Anderson jumps back.

Bessmertin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Anderson is refusing to be controlled, as Bessmertin sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anderson is pressing down on Bessmertin's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Anderson keeping moving, preventing Bessmertin from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bessmertin won't allow Anderson to sweep him here.
Bessmertin sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Anderson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Bessmertin dominated that fourth round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're 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.

Anderson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Anderson swats away the attempt to clinch by Bessmertin.
Bessmertin shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Anderson defends it nicely.
Bessmertin tries to clinch there but Anderson circles away.
Anderson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Anderson shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Anderson lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Bessmertin has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Bessmertin and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anderson walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Bessmertin checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Anderson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Bessmertin.
Bessmertin tests Anderson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Anderson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anderson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Bessmertin avoids it really well and circles away.
Bessmertin drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Anderson defends it well.
Anderson misses with a head kick.
And Bessmertin tries to counter it with a takedown but Anderson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Anderson takes one on the button.

Bessmertin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Bessmertin lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Bessmertin trying to control but Anderson is working from the bottom.
Bessmertin not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Anderson keeping moving, preventing Bessmertin from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anderson trying to control the position.
Bessmertin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Anderson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bessmertin's guard.

Anderson stopping the sweep attempt from Bessmertin.
Bessmertin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Bessmertin controlling the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Anderson trying to control the position from guard on top but Bessmertin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Anderson digs a good hook to Bessmertin's body.
Anderson chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Bessmertin lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Anderson is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bessmertin.
Bessmertin misses with a leg kick
and Anderson counters with a nice uppercut.
Bessmertin fails to land with a series of punches.
Bessmertin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Anderson throws an overhand right that lands on Bessmertin's shoulder, as Bessmertin tries to avoid the shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bessmertin blocks a low kick nicely.
Anderson misses with a looping left.
Anderson displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bessmertin throws out the jab.
Anderson tries to counter with a takedown but Bessmertin is quick to defend against it.
Anderson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Anderson throws a chopping leg kick but Bessmertin manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Anderson throws out a leg kick but Bessmertin moves out of range and Anderson only half commits.
Anderson bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Bessmertin loads up on a big right hand but Anderson slips the punch.
Anderson half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Anderson throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Bessmertin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed right hand from Anderson misses the target.
And Bessmertin tries to counter it with a takedown but Anderson pushes his down on his head and steps out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nice defenses there by Bessmertin.
Anderson misses with a series of wild punches.
Bessmertin misses with a low kick.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Artem Bessmertin.
Well Bessmertin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 49:48
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 46:49
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Reggie Anderson!
Reggie Anderson is the new welterweight champion!
Reggie Anderson thanked the fans post fight for their support.