PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Burenkov (ranked 2128 p4p, 250 weight class) and Pedro Chang (ranked 2130 p4p, 251 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Burenkov
vs
Chang

178 cm
26
170 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

175 cm
25
167 lbs
3 - 4 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Burenkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pedro Chang!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Emerson Jorge and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Burenkov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Chang on his heels. He'll look to pass Chang's guard now, I'm sure.
Burenkov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Chang is keeping the position for now.
Chang pulls Burenkov in close to his closed guard and prevents Burenkov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Chang keeping moving, preventing Burenkov from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chang wants to stand but Burenkov is controlling the position.
Burenkov wants to control from the top but Chang keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chang pulls Burenkov in close to prevent any damage.
Chang wants to get back to his feet but Burenkov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A big left from Chang misses.
No joy there for Chang, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Burenkov moves into the clinch.
Burenkov effectively controlling the action here.
Chang tries to land knees in the clinch but Burenkov avoids the damage to the body.
Burenkov avoids the elbow strike from Chang, against the cage.
Burenkov takes an elbow to the temple.
Chang tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Burenkov avoids it.
Burenkov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Chang.
A bit of stalling here from Burenkov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chang scores with a shot to the side of Burenkov's head.
Chang taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Chang throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Chang working aggressively here.
Burenkov presses Chang against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Chang is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Burenkov is defending well for now.
Chang tries to land a knee to the head but Burenkov blocks with his arms.
Burenkov tries a body shot but Chang blocks it.
Burenkov prevents a body shot from Chang.
Chang misses with a knee to the head.
I was talking to Burenkov's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Chang with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Burenkov stalls.
Chang works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Burenkov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Burenkov is working for takedown but Chang is calmly controlling the position for now.
Burenkov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chang is pressed up against the cage. Burenkov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Chang down to the mat. Chang avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergey Burenkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burenkov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Chang as he avoids it easily.
Burenkov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Burenkov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Chang fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Burenkov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Burenkov connects with a body shot that sends Chang's belly button to the back.

Burenkov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burenkov trying to control the position but Chang is working away.
Chang sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Chang tries to kick Burenkov off but Burenkov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Burenkov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Chang is just riding it out for now. Burenkov eventually gives up the hold.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burenkov content to control rather than advance.

Burenkov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Chang defends it well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Burenkov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Burenkov prevents Chang from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pedro Chang dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Burenkov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

Chang gets tackled into the cage by Burenkov. Burenkov maintains the clinch.

Burenkov gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Chang is trying to escape back to his feet but Burenkov uses the scramble to pass into side control.
Burenkov taking a breather here.
Burenkov lands some shots froms side control.
Burenkov tries to advance to mount but can't.
Chang is looking to regain half guard here but Burenkov keeps moving and retains side control.
Chang is trying to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chang is not content to let Burenkov control the position.
Burenkov tries to advance to mount but Chang denies him.
Chang is trying to get back to his feet.
Burenkov advances to full mount.
Burenkov trying to control but Chang is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Chang sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

Burenkov wants to work for an arm triangle but Chang is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Burenkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Chang keeps working.
Burenkov stops Chang from getting back to his feet.
Burenkov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sergey Burenkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chang won't allow Burenkov to pass to mount.
Chang looks like he's trying to stand up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Burenkov passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burenkov is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Chang is surviving well by controlling Burenkov's body position as best he can.
Chang is squirming around, avoiding Burenkov's attempts to control the action.
Chang has given up his back. Will we see Burenkov going for some submissions?
Chang tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!

Burenkov jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Chang manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Burenkov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burenkov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Chang is looking for a sweep.
Chang is pushing Burenkov's head away, looking to escape. Burenkov manages to hold on to the position though.

Burenkov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Chang has escaped the position, nice work there.
Chang gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Chang is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Burenkov dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Chang lands a lovely overhand right.
A punch combination from Burenkov misses.
Chang lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Nice sprawl there from Chang as Burenkov shoots in.
Burenkov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Chang throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Burenkov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Chang takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Sergey Burenkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Burenkov darts in and clinches Chang up against the cage.
Chang comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Burenkov slows down the pace here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chang doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Burenkov avoids a wild elbow strike from Chang.
Burenkov tries a body shot but Chang blocks it.
Chang has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Burenkov seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Chang can turn it around.
Burenkov blocks a body shot from Chang.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burenkov works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Burenkov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Chang avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Chang using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Burenkov has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Chang tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Burenkov has clasped his hands together around Chang's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Chang pushes Burenkov away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Burenkov gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Burenkov throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Burenkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Chang keeps working.
Burenkov wants to control for a moment but Chang uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Chang is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burenkov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Chang knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Burenkov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Chang has managed to free his arm - good work.

Burenkov is working for a submission of some sort.

Chang is defending against the submission attempts here by Burenkov.
Burenkov stops Chang from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burenkov is looking to take a break and control but Chang is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

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

Burenkov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Chang napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Sloppy strikes there by Burenkov.
Chang wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Chang is not content to let Burenkov control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chang stops Burenkov from passing to mount.
Chang wants to get back to his feet but Burenkov drags him back down.

Burenkov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Chang knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

Burenkov tries for a kimura but Chang is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Chang tries to bench press Burenkov off him but Burenkov keeps the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Burenkov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Burenkov 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 Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Emerson Jorge scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Burenkov!
A very excited looking Sergey Burenkov made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.