PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Bradly Cleveland (ranked 7333 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Kerzhakov (ranked 4712 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Cleveland
vs
Kerzhakov

193 cm
21
177 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

176 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bradly Cleveland!
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, Alexander Kerzhakov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Igor Prikhodko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kerzhakov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kerzhakov moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kerzhakov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Cleveland walks into a straight right hand from Kerzhakov.
Kerzhakov throws a combination. Cleveland tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Cleveland is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Cleveland rushes Kerzhakov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Cleveland lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

Kerzhakov gets control of Cleveland's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kerzhakov will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cleveland is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Cleveland throws a big elbow that misses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Cleveland avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kerzhakov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerzhakov trying to strike off his back.
Cleveland is stalling in the full guard.

Kerzhakov working for submissions but it's allowed Cleveland to get to half guard.
Kerzhakov punching from the bottom.
Kerzhakov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Kerzhakov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cleveland pulls his head out easily.

That's two 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.
Cleveland slows the pace down in half guard.
Ground and pound from Cleveland.
Cleveland looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Cleveland knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kerzhakov on the ground.
Kerzhakov is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kerzhakov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cleveland pulls his head out easily.
Kerzhakov looks winded!
Cleveland is thwarting Kerzhakov's attempts to control the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Alexander Kerzhakov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Cleveland drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kerzhakov being controlled here, momentarily.
Cleveland makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Cleveland not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Kerzhakov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Cleveland gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Cleveland keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kerzhakov's head.
Kerzhakov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cleveland controls the pace.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cleveland with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Cleveland really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Cleveland avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexander Kerzhakov will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Cleveland throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kerzhakov throws a looping overhand right but Cleveland ducks down to avoid it.
Nice shot lands for Kerzhakov.
Kerzhakov connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kerzhakov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Cleveland throws a head kick but Kerzhakov moves out of range.
Kerzhakov misses the jab.
Cleveland appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Kerzhakov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Kerzhakov tries to sprawl but Cleveland drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Cleveland is taking a breather. Kerzhakov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Kerzhakov looking for submissions off his back.
Kerzhakov is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cleveland throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Kerzhakov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Kerzhakov looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Cleveland tries to stand and escape but Kerzhakov is controlling the position.
Cleveland slows the pace down in half guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kerzhakov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

so Cleveland counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Bradly Cleveland overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Cleveland lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Cleveland is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Cleveland is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Cleveland controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kerzhakov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cleveland controls the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Kerzhakov gets a clinch.

Cleveland breaks from the clinch.

Cleveland closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kerzhakov quickly recovers to half guard.
Cleveland winds up and cracks Kerzhakov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Cleveland works his way into full mount!
Kerzhakov tries to lock up and control but Cleveland gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland looking to control and managing it successfully.
BOOM! Cleveland connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Cleveland tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Cleveland lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cleveland controlling from mount.
Cleveland putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bradly Cleveland dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Kerzhakov connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kerzhakov moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Alexander Kerzhakov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Cleveland takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kerzhakov dodges the punch combination from Cleveland.
A cross from Kerzhakov lands.
Kerzhakov bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Cleveland's head backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kerzhakov tests Cleveland's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kerzhakov lands with an overhand left.

Cleveland gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cleveland has picked Kerzhakov up - he's going for a ride! Cleveland dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Kerzhakov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Cleveland content to control rather than advance.
Cleveland looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kerzhakov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Kerzhakov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cleveland pulls his head out easily.
Kerzhakov trying to hold on to Cleveland's head to control him but Cleveland postures up.
Kerzhakov taking some punishment here, with Cleveland in his half guard.

Kerzhakov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Cleveland landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cleveland content to control rather than advance.
Kerzhakov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Cleveland lands a nice short elbow.
Still in half guard, Cleveland seems content to control.
Cleveland is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Cleveland takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerzhakov scores with a punch to the head.

Kerzhakov takes the fight into the clinch.

Cleveland has picked Kerzhakov up - he's going for a ride! Cleveland dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Kerzhakov taking some punishment here, with Cleveland in his half guard.
Cleveland content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Kerzhakov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Cleveland pulls his head out easily.
Cleveland sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerzhakov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Cleveland is working away from the top position though.
Cleveland controlling the action here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Cleveland landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Bradly Cleveland.
I think Cleveland 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bradly Cleveland!