PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Orlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takeshi Sendo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Orlov
vs
Sendo

178 cm
25
158 lbs
4 - 8 - 1

176 cm
25
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 8 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexei Orlov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Takeshi Sendo!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sendo misses with a head kick.
Orlov looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Orlov throws a head kick that misses.

Sendo gets a clinch.
Sendo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Sendo avoiding damage as Orlov throws knees to the body.
Sendo is trying to stall.
Sendo managing to block the knees to the body from Orlov.
Orlov tries to land knees in the clinch but Sendo avoids the damage to the body.
Sendo avoiding damage as Orlov throws knees to the body.
Sendo tries to land knees in the clinch but Orlov avoids the damage to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sendo is trying to stall.
Orlov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Sendo blocks it with crossed arms.
Sendo dodges an elbow strike from Orlov.
Sendo wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Orlov tries a body shot but Sendo blocks it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orlov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sendo is defending well for now.
Orlov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sendo is defending well for now.
Sendo looking to stall.
Sendo can't break the clinch.
Sendo dodges an elbow strike from Orlov.
Sendo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Orlov smiles and moves away.

Sendo closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Sendo 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 Orlov's shoulder. That is not cool.
Orlov is working to avoid the ground and pound but Sendo connects with a decent elbow.
Sendo throws a strike aimed at the side of Orlov's head but Orlov avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Sendo seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Sendo stands up and beckons Orlov to his feet.
Sendo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Sendo pushes Orlov up against the cage in a clinch.
Sendo has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Orlov managing to block the knees to the body from Sendo.
Sendo is looking for a takedown.
Alexei Orlov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takeshi Sendo.
Orlov lands a shot to the body.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Orlov tries a body shot but Sendo blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sendo is trying to pull guard but Orlov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Orlov as Sendo tries to tie him up.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Nice elbow from Orlov.
Sendo is trying to pull guard but Orlov has him pressed against the cage.
Orlov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sendo avoids it.
Sendo is looking to control Orlov's arms but Orlov gets an underhook and turns him. Now Sendo has his back to the cage.
Orlov prevents the takedown attempt.
Sendo swings wildly with an uppercut but Orlov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Orlov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Sendo managing to block the knees to the body from Orlov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orlov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Orlov trying to land knees to the body.
Sendo is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Orlov to keep the fight standing.
Sendo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Orlov tries to stall but Sendo uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Sendo wants a takedown.
Orlov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Sendo is looking for a takedown.
Sendo tries to pull guard but Orlov won't allow it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sendo wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Sendo has had enough of the clinch but Orlov keeps him there for the moment.
Sendo avoiding damage as Orlov throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Orlov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sendo fails with the takedown.
Orlov seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Sendo shoots in looking for a takedown. Orlov tries to sprawl out of it but Sendo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Orlov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Orlov tried to score with a low kick but Sendo checks it.
Orlov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Sendo can do to turn this around?
Orlov tries to clinch up.
Sendo feints a counter leg kick.
Sendo misses with a takedown attempt
and Orlov counters with a series of strikes. Sendo will be more careful next time no doubt.
Alexei Orlov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takeshi Sendo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Orlov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Sendo jumps into guard, dragging Orlov to the mat.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Orlov wants to get up but he can't break Sendo's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Orlov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sendo, up you get!

Sendo moves into range and clinches up with Orlov.
Sendo trying to control the position but instead, Orlov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Sendo into the cage.
Sendo jumps guard but Orlov stands there with Sendo around his waist. Sendo gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Sendo tries to pull guard but Orlov holds him up against the cage and eventually Sendo drops back down to his feet.
Orlov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Sendo's elbow.
Sendo tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Orlov smiles and moves away.
Orlov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Sendo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sendo gets a clinch.
Sendo jumps guard but Orlov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Sendo is looking to take this one to the mat.
Orlov missing with knees to the body.
Knees to the body from Orlov.
Orlov is leaning against Sendo and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
I was talking to Orlov's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Orlov tries to land knees in the clinch but Sendo avoids the damage to the body.
Sendo trying to stall but Orlov improves his position.
Sendo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sendo is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Orlov to keep the fight standing.
Orlov trying to land knees to the body.
Sendo jumps guard but Orlov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orlov lands a knee to the body.
Orlov putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Sendo in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Orlov working Sendo over with knees to the body.
Sendo is trying to pull guard but Orlov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Orlov obliges.
Sendo tries to pull guard but Orlov won't allow it.
Orlov prevents a takedown attempt there.
Orlov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Alexei Orlov has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Orlov misses with an elbow strike.
Orlov is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Orlov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Sendo blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Orlov tries to throw a body punch but Sendo avoids it by throwing Orlov back against the cage.
Sendo is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Orlov is defending well for now.
Sendo wants to get back to striking at distance but Orlov won't allow it.
Orlov looking to throw knees to the head but Sendo is blocking nicely.
Sendo is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Orlov pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sendo is trying to pull guard but Orlov has him pressed against the cage.
Orlov tries a body shot but Sendo blocks it.
Orlov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Sendo avoids it.
Orlov tries a body shot but Sendo blocks it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Orlov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Orlov missing with knees to the body.
Orlov prevents a takedown attempt there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Orlov dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

That kick from Orlov tenderised Sendo's leg. Sendo is trying to keep his angry face on.
Sendo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Orlov as he avoids it easily.
Orlov lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Sendo throws a half hearted mid kick.
Orlov appears to be looking for a big counter.

Orlov tries to keep at a distance but Sendo has taken the fight into the clinch.
Orlov misses with a punch to the body.
Sendo changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Orlov fights it off and pushes away nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Sendo closes the distance and clinches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sendo is trying to break free.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Orlov swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Orlov managing to block the knees to the body from Sendo.
Sendo tries to pull guard but Orlov won't allow it.
Alexei Orlov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Takeshi Sendo.
Sendo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sendo avoiding damage as Orlov throws knees to the body.
Sendo tries to land knees in the clinch but Orlov avoids the damage to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Orlov just misses with a elbow thrown towards Sendo's brow.
Sendo tries to land knees in the clinch but Orlov avoids the damage to the body.
Orlov missing with knees to the body.
Orlov taking a breather.
Orlov tries to work over Sendo's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sendo is trying to break the clinch but Orlov is controlling him.
Orlov misses with a knee strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Orlov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sendo is defending well for now.
Orlov gets underhooks to prevent Sendo's takedown attempt.
Sendo avoiding damage as Orlov throws knees to the body.
Sendo tries to score a body lock takedown but Orlov shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sendo wants to take the fight to the mat but Orlov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Orlov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Sendo is trying to stall.
Sendo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Orlov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Sendo.
Orlov missing with knees to the body.
Sendo fails to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Orlov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Sendo.
Sendo is trying to maintain a safe position but Orlov gets an underhook and turns Sendo into the cage.
Orlov unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Sendo avoids the elbow strike from Orlov, against the cage.
Orlov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Sendo is defending well for now.

Sendo pulls guard successfully.

Orlov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sendo, up you get!
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sendo.
Alexei Orlov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Orlov closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sendo is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Sendo fails to pull guard.
Orlov connects with a nasty looking knee right to Sendo's face.
Orlov is pushing Sendo up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Orlov tries to throw a body punch but Sendo avoids it by throwing Orlov back against the cage.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sendo can't get the takedown.
Orlov is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Sendo has Orlov pressed against the cage.
Takeshi Sendo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Alexei Orlov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Orlov blocks a punch to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexei Orlov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Orlov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexei Orlov!