PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rodney Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Chernokov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chernokov has chosen Disaster strikes - Mushroom cloud as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Smith
vs
Chernokov

173 cm
24
147 lbs
15 - 3 - 0

174 cm
24
159 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Aspire Clothing

Aspire Nutrition

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 15 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rodney Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexei Chernokov!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Don Winkell and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smith scores with a nice strike.
Smith throws a hook but Chernokov avoids it easily.
Smith gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Chernokov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Chernokov throws a head kick that half lands.
Smith connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Chernokov misses with a hook to the body
and Smith connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Chernokov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Smith throws a sloppy head kick and Chernokov moves out of range easily.
Rodney Smith seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Chernokov throws a looping overhand right but Smith ducks down to avoid it.
Smith throws a body punch but Chernokov moves out of range.
Chernokov with a nice cross.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Smith throws the left hand but Chernokov avoids the punch easily.
Smith slips under a jab.
Smith looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.

Smith has Chernokov up against the cage in a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smith lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Smith has a couple of punches blocked by Chernokov.
Chernokov wants a takedown.
Smith swings wildly with an uppercut but Chernokov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Smith throws a head punch that misses.

Chernokov has clasped his hands together around Smith's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Chernokov in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Chernokov tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Smith tries to bench press Chernokov off him but Chernokov keeps the position.
Smith can't do much from the bottom here.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chernokov throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Smith tries to bench press Chernokov off him but Chernokov keeps the position.
Chernokov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Chernokov working the ground and pound from side control.
Smith is trying to control Chernokov's posture but Chernokov avoids it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Chernokov tries for a kimura but Smith is defending well.
Smith struggling a bit here.
Chernokov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Smith keeps working.
Smith wants to control but Chernokov postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smith tries to improve position but can't.
Chernokov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Smith is trying to improve his position.
Chernokov trying to control the position but Smith is working away.
Smith is looking to reverse the position.
Smith is working to avoid the ground and pound but Chernokov connects with a decent elbow.
Smith struggling a bit here.
Smith sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smith looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Chernokov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Smith is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Chernokov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Smith trying to control but Chernokov postures up.
Chernokov winds up and cracks Smith with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Chernokov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Smith is rocked!
Chernokov wants to take a breather but Smith is having none of it.
Oh Smith is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Chernokov is nestled in close to Smith, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Chernokov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Chernokov lands a big elbow from half guard. That looks like it's hurt Smith quite badly. Smith pulls Chernokov in close trying to recover. Chernokov postures up and lands two really hard shots that put Smith on queer street! The ref takes a look and decides to call an end to the fight! Possibly an early stoppage but Smith doesn't seem to be complaining too much.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alexei Chernokov!
After winning the bout, Alexei Chernokov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.