PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sage Nopark (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dimitri Kerchev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Nopark
vs
Kerchev

220 cm
25
215 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

188 cm
20
212 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sage Nopark!
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, Dimitri Kerchev!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Dmitry Maklakov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kerchev decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kerchev throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Nopark to regain full guard.

Kerchev decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Kerchev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kerchev tries to clinch but Nopark moves out of range.
Nopark lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.

Kerchev shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Nopark is not content to let Kerchev control the position.
Kerchev working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Nopark's thigh. Nopark counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Nopark pulls Kerchev in close to his closed guard and prevents Kerchev from doing any damage or advancing position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nopark is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Nopark holds on and takes a little breather.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Nopark keeping full guard, as Kerchev tries to pass.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kerchev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Nopark quickly recovers to half guard.
Nopark controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Nopark really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nopark makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Nopark.
Nopark is adopting a defensive guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerchev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Nopark swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nopark pulls Kerchev in close to prevent any damage.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Nopark gets caught flat footed, as Kerchev shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kerchev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Nopark is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kerchev wants to pass the guard but Nopark is keeping the position.
Nopark will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kerchev looks winded!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nopark is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

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

Dimitri Kerchev dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Nopark keeps the fight on the outside.

Kerchev gets caught napping as Nopark dives in and scores a takedown. Kerchev manages to retain guard.
Kerchev wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Nopark manages to pass to side control.

Kerchev wants to improve his position but Nopark is controlling well.
Dimitri Kerchev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kerchev keeps trying to improve his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kerchev wants to get back to full guard but Nopark has mounted him!
Nopark controlling his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Nopark stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Kerchev is breathing heavily.
Kerchev tries to clinch but Nopark moves out of range.
It looked like Nopark was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Kerchev gets a takedown into half guard.
Kerchev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nopark keeps working.
Nopark keeping control of the position.
Kerchev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nopark gets back to full guard.
Nopark is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Nopark gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

Kerchev gets caught flat footed, as Nopark shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kerchev is looking to stand back up but Nopark counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Kerchev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nopark decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Kerchev is looking to clinch but Nopark is avoiding it.

Nopark closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Nopark lands in his opponent's guard.
Kerchev wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Nopark manages to pass to side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Nopark decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
No luck for Nopark with that takedown attempt.
Nopark shoots in but no luck this time.
Nice takedown defense from Kerchev. No joy for Nopark on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sage Nopark. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kerchev misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dimitri Kerchev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nopark throws a nice head kick!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sage Nopark dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Nopark gets caught flat footed, as Kerchev shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Nopark has Kerchev pulled in close to control his posture.
Kerchev wants to control from the top but Nopark keeps moving.
Nopark manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kerchev manages to get himself to full guard.

Nopark stands and steps away. Kerchev gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kerchev closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Nopark to the mat! Nopark manages to get full guard.

Nopark has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Kerchev has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Kerchev takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kerchev pulls guard.
Nopark passes Kerchev's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Well, if Nopark is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

Nopark decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Nopark throws a sloppy head kick and Kerchev moves out of range easily.
A countering left hand to the body from Kerchev misses.
Kerchev pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nopark looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nopark drives through with a takedown into Kerchev's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kerchev is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Nopark dives into side control.

Nopark has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Sage Nopark is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Nopark closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kerchev tries to kick Nopark off in order to stand up. Nopark Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Kerchev is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Nopark is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Nopark looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kerchev is trying to reverse the position but instead Nopark has taken his back - oops!
Kerchev is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
Nopark seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kerchev for as long as he can get away with.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sage Nopark showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Nopark has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sage Nopark!