PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Phillipe Navarro (ranked 4405 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sasha Pelmenev (ranked 6039 p4p, 0 weight class). Sasha Pelmenev told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Navarro
vs
Pelmenev

186 cm
20
270 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

200 cm
18
265 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Phillipe Navarro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sasha Pelmenev!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Navarro has taken the fight to the clinch.
Navarro has a couple of punches blocked by Pelmenev.
Pelmenev drops down looking for an ankle pick but Navarro pulls his leg out and moves away.

Navarro forces Pelmenev back against the cage and clinches.
I was talking to Navarro's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Navarro lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Navarro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pelmenev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Navarro is defending well.
Pelmenev is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Navarro is defending well.
Phillipe Navarro has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sasha Pelmenev.
Navarro lands a right hand.
A short right from Navarro on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Navarro.
Navarro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Navarro fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Navarro throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Pelmenevs head.
Pelmenev looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Navarro scores with a nice hook to the head.
Navarro lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Navarro gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Pelmenev.
Pelmenev looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Navarro.
Navarro misses with some punches.
Navarro gets underhooks to prevent Pelmenev's takedown attempt.
Navarro working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Pelmenev wants a takedown but no success here.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Navarro.

Pelmenev is rocked!
Navarro swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Navarro lands a nice uppercut.
Pelmenev is still on wobbly legs! Can Navarro finish him?
Navarro misses with a hook from the clinch.
Navarro misses with the head strike.
Pelmenev seems to have recovered his senses.
Navarro lands a shoulder strike.
Navarro lands a right hand that snaps the head of Pelmenev backwards.
Navarro creates a bit of space for himself and rocks Pelmenev with a big uppercut! Pelmenev tries to clinch up but Navarro pushes him back against the cage and lands another monster strike that crumples Pelmenev to the mat! Pelmenev covers up and Navarro unloads with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Phillipe Navarro!
Phillipe Navarro spent the whole post fight interview bigging himself up. It didn't go down that well with the fans after a while as they thought it was a bit arrogant.