PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Argivas Kerenzikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arvydas Sabonis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sabonis has chosen James Brown - Superbad as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Both fighters look pumped up here. Let's hope this is a good fight!

Kerenzikov
vs
Sabonis

185 cm
33
255 lbs
17 - 9 - 0

210 cm
38
289 lbs
38 - 24 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

GREEN!160

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Argivas Kerenzikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 38 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arvydas Sabonis!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kerenzikov swings for the body but Sabonis moves out of range.
Kerenzikov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sabonis momentarily.
Kerenzikov misses with an uppercut.
Sabonis scores with a head kick. Kerenzikov tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kerenzikov slips a jab and a cross from Sabonis.
Sabonis throws a head kick that half lands.
Argivas Kerenzikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kerenzikov misses with an uppercut.
Sabonis wants to slow Kerenzikov down by chopping away at his legs.
Sabonis defending well as Kerenzikov loads up on a big left hand.
Sabonis ducks under a wild hook from Kerenzikov.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kerenzikov lands a body shot.
Sabonis 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.

Kerenzikov lands a big shot that drops Sabonis! Can he finish him?

It looks like Arvydas Sabonis has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kerenzikov tries to free his leg and advance position but Sabonis is retaining full guard.
Kerenzikov is pushing down on Sabonis's leg trying to pass to half guard. Sabonis is fighting to maintain full guard but Kerenzikov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Sabonis avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kerenzikov.
We've been hearing good reports from Kerenzikov's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kerenzikov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kerenzikov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sabonis keeps working.
Kerenzikov is stalling here. Sabonis is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kerenzikov seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Sabonis has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerenzikov is looking to regain half guard here but Sabonis keeps moving and retains side control.
Kerenzikov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kerenzikov tries to get to full guard but Sabonis has control of the leg.
Kerenzikov is controlling Sabonis's trapped leg to prevent Sabonis from advancing to side control.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kerenzikov looks to score with a jab to the body but Sabonis is just out of range.
Kerenzikov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Sabonis was well out of range. Poor timing from Kerenzikov.
Kerenzikov misses with a straight left.
Sabonis is trying to counter with his kicks.
Sabonis takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kerenzikov misses the jab.
Sabonis keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Sabonis flicks out a counter leg kick but Kerenzikov steps away.
Sabonis lands a really nice looking cross but Kerenzikov seems unphased.
Kerenzikov looks to throw the jab but Sabonis is out of range.
Kerenzikov throws a hook but Sabonis avoids it easily.
Kerenzikov misses with an uppercut. Sabonis saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabonis pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kerenzikov throws a quick counter kick to the body but Sabonis avoids it.
Good leg kick by Kerenzikov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kerenzikov scores with a body shot.
A big right from Kerenzikov misses.
Sabonis misses the shot to the body.

Sabonis darts in and clinches Kerenzikov up against the cage.
Kerenzikov is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Sabonis's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Kerenzikov gets through Sabonis's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kerenzikov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kerenzikov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Sabonis misses with a punch on the inside.
Kerenzikov lands a shot to the body.
Sabonis keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kerenzikov's efforts to push away.
Sabonis blocking some punches.
Kerenzikov lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sabonis backwards.
Kerenzikov tries to throw a body punch but Sabonis avoids it by throwing Kerenzikov back against the cage.

Kerenzikov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kerenzikov throws a predictable looking body shot
and Sabonis counters with a nice uppercut.
A jab from Kerenzikov finds it's way through Sabonis's defenses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sabonis misses with a two punch combination.
Kerenzikov swings for the body but Sabonis moves out of range.
Kerenzikov misses with a body shot.
Sabonis bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Sabonis moves out of range as Kerenzikov strikes.
Kerenzikov looks to land a right hand but Sabonis moved out of range.
Sabonis connects with a single shot there.
Kerenzikov needs to keep his hands up - Sabonis had a free shot at his head there.
Kerenzikov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Sabonis.
A big left from Kerenzikov misses.
Sabonis cracks Kerenzikov with a right hand to the side of the head.
Sabonis misses with a body kick.
Sabonis with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kerenzikov to score with a decent uppercut.
Sabonis looks to land a right hand but Kerenzikov moved out of range.
An inside leg kick lands from Sabonis.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kerenzikov shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Some bone on bone action there as Sabonis checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kerenzikov misses with a looping right.
Sabonis defending well as Kerenzikov loads up on a big left hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sabonis misses with a head kick.
Kerenzikov quickly followed up with a counter body kick but doesn't connect.
Kerenzikov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sabonis.
Kerenzikov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sabonis.
Kerenzikov walks into a left hand.
Kerenzikov swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Sabonis counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Sabonis uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kerenzikov.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Sabonis. Kerenzikov shrugs it off though.
Kerenzikov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sabonis on the side of the head.
Kerenzikov jabs at Sabonis's body.
Sabonis bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kerenzikov chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Sabonis can pounce on him.
Sabonis scores with a jab.
Sabonis takes a body punch but keeps moving.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed right hand from Kerenzikov misses the target.
Sabonis lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kerenzikov throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Sabonis looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Kerenzikov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Kerenzikov duly obliges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Argivas Kerenzikov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Arvydas Sabonis's cut.
That's time! Kerenzikov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Sabonis dodges the punch combination from Kerenzikov.
Kerenzikov throws a body punch but Sabonis moves out of range.
Kerenzikov throws a leg kick
and Sabonis counters with a nice uppercut.
Kerenzikov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Argivas Kerenzikov is winning the standup battle so far.
Sabonis connects with a single shot there.
Sabonis moves out of range as Kerenzikov strikes.
Kerenzikov misses with an uppercut.
Kerenzikov looks to land a body kick but Sabonis moved away.
Kerenzikov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Sabonis.
Sabonis is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Nice straight punches there by Sabonis. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Sabonis.
Sabonis avoids a kick to the body.
Kerenzikov throws a right and a left that Sabonis avoids nicely.
Sabonis checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kerenzikov misses with a right hand
and Sabonis counters with a slapping leg kick.
Sabonis slips under a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kerenzikov slips a straight right by Sabonis.
Kerenzikov loads up on a big right hand but Sabonis slips the punch.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Kerenzikov here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Sabonis goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerenzikov scores with a sloppy right hand. Sabonis should have avoided that one.
Sabonis has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Sabonis connects with a solid leg kick.
Sabonis slips under a jab from Kerenzikov.
Kerenzikov throws the left hand but Sabonis avoids the punch easily.
Kerenzikov misses the body punch
and Sabonis counters with a straight right hand.
Sabonis works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Sabonis ducks under a wild hook from Kerenzikov.
Kerenzikov looks to land a combination but Sabonis avoids it well.
Sabonis looks to land a body kick but Kerenzikov moved away.
Kerenzikov motions for Sabonis to come forward. Kerenzikov throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kerenzikov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sabonis can do to turn this around?
Kerenzikov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sabonis manages to avoid it.
Sabonis keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Kerenzikov swings for the body but Sabonis moves out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Sabonis. That's going to slow Kerenzikov down.
A slow jab from Sabonis misses its intended target.
Sabonis avoids the body shot from Kerenzikov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Sabonis walks forward, straight into a front kick from Kerenzikov.
Kerenzikov throws a body punch but Sabonis moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sabonis changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
A head kick misses from Sabonis.
As Sabonis backs away, Kerenzikov returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Sabonis is breathing heavily.
Kerenzikov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Sabonis at a distance.
Kerenzikov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kerenzikov connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Sabonis momentarily.
Kerenzikov throws out a loose jab but Sabonis uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sabonis dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kerenzikov. That did some damage!
Kerenzikov misses the shot to the body.
Kerenzikov throws a jab but it's blocked by Sabonis.
Sabonis takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Kerenzikov throws an overhand right that lands on Sabonis's shoulder, as Sabonis tries to avoid the shot.
Sabonis takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kerenzikov tests Sabonis's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kerenzikov connects with a body shot.
Kerenzikov lands a nice looking kick to the body. Sabonis takes a step back to recover.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kerenzikov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kerenzikov cracks Sabonis with an uppercut from hell and Sabonis crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Kerenzikov's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!

Sabonis is rocked!
Kerenzikov works over Sabonis with some ground and pound from guard.
Sabonis is still in real trouble! Can Kerenzikov finish him?
Kerenzikov forces his way into half guard.
Kerenzikov lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Sabonis quite badly. Sabonis pulls Kerenzikov in close trying to recover. Kerenzikov postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Sabonis on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Sabonis doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:33 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Argivas Kerenzikov!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Argivas Kerenzikov made sure he mentioned PRODUCT OF CHAMPIONS , along with how happy he was to win his fight.