PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Burenkov (ranked 1519 p4p, 2747 weight class) and Jorginho Marcelo (ranked 181 p4p, 314 weight class). Sergey Burenkov is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Burenkov
vs
Marcelo

178 cm
30
170
10 - 9 - 0

175 cm
31
162
19 - 20 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Core Combat

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 10 - 9 - 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 19 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jorginho Marcelo!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Don Winkell and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Marcelo shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Burenkov is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at St Petersburg MMA Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Marcelo is looking to advance position but Burenkov won't allow it.
Marcelo looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Burenkov tries to get to full guard but Marcelo has control of the leg.
Marcelo content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Marcelo prevents Burenkov from improving his position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burenkov is working hard here to advance position.
Marcelo trying to control the action but Burenkov is working from the bottom.
Marcelo trying to pass the guard but Burenkov defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcelo is looking to take a break and control but Burenkov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Burenkov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Marcelo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Burenkov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Marcelo.
Burenkov gets full guard.
Burenkov looking for a sweep. Not yet Burenkov, not yet.
Marcelo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burenkov is keeping the position for now.
Burenkov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Marcelo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Marcelo trying to control but Burenkov is working from the bottom.
Burenkov 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.
Marcelo wants to control from the top but Burenkov keeps moving.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
No luck for Marcelo with that takedown attempt.

Marcelo closes the distance and clinches.

Marcelo breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Marcelo gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Marcelo working a defensive guard here.
Marcelo seems keen to control Burenkov's posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burenkov landing with the ground and pound.
Burenkov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Burenkov lands a couple of elbows.
Burenkov is working Marcelo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Burenkov won't allow Marcelo to sweep him here.
Marcelo keeping moving, preventing Burenkov from controlling successfully.
Marcelo keeping full guard, as Burenkov tries to pass.

Burenkov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Marcelo has Burenkov pulled in close to control his posture.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marcelo is trying to keep Burenkov in close.
Burenkov stopping the sweep attempt from Marcelo.

Marcelo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Burenkov defends well.
Marcelo trying to keep a closed guard but Burenkov is proving a slippery customer.
Marcelo 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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Marcelo seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Sergey Burenkov will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Burenkov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Marcelos jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

Burenkov shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Marcelo wants to get back to full guard.
Burenkov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Marcelo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Burenkov is thwarting Marcelo's attempts to control the position.
Burenkov moves nicely into side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burenkov passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Marcelo!
Burenkov wants to control the pace but Marcelo is squirming around nicely.
Burenkov landing shots from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burenkov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Marcelo hang on?
Burenkov working the ground and pound effectively.
Marcelo slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Marcelo wants to control but Burenkov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Burenkov prevents Marcelo from improving his position.
Marcelo is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Burenkov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Burenkov working over Marcelo with some ground and pound. Marcelo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Burenkov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Burenkov drops an elbow to the side of Marcelo's head.
Burenkov slips a nice elbow through Marcelo's hands, connecting with Marcelo's forehead.
Marcelo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sergey Burenkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marcelo has hold of Burenkov's hands but Burenkov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Marcelo trying to control but Burenkov postures up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burenkov working the head and body with strikes.
Burenkov is nestled in close to Marcelo, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Burenkov is looking to advance position but Marcelo won't allow it.
Burenkov throwing shots but Marcelo is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burenkov is thwarting Marcelo's attempts to control the position.

Burenkov wants to work for an arm triangle but Marcelo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Nice strikes from Burenkov there.
Burenkov trying to control from half guard but Marcelo is working away.

Marcelo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Burenkov pulls his head out easily.
Marcelo trying to control here.

Burenkov is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Burenkov is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Burenkov prevents Marcelo from improving his position.
Burenkov throwing shots but Marcelo is blocking nicely.

Burenkov wants to work for an arm triangle but Marcelo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are battling for position here. Marcelo manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Burenkov trying to control but Marcelo is working from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Marcelo looking to control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Burenkov dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Burenkov lands with a straight right. Marcelo didn't see that one coming.
No joy there for Marcelo, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Burenkov avoids the body shot from Marcelo.
Burenkov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Burenkov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Marcelo controlling the position.
Marcelo wants to sweep but no luck.
Burenkov connects with a couple of short punches.
Burenkov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Marcelo has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Marcelo keeping full guard, as Burenkov tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marcelo is trying to control the position but Burenkov postures up.
Burenkov landing with the ground and pound.
Marcelo is trying to keep Burenkov in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Marcelo has his foot on Burenkov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Burenkov works his way back into a safe position though.
Marcelo is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Burenkov cracks Marcelo with a solid left hand.
Burenkov pushing down on Marcelo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Marcelo is trying to control but can't.
Marcelo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Burenkov.
Sergey Burenkov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Burenkov seems to be working for a kimura but Marcelo defends the submission attempt.
Burenkov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Marcelo with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Marcelo is controlling Burenkov's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Jorginho Marcelo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Marcelo is looking for a sweep. Burenkov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Burenkov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Marcelo has managed to free his arm - good work.
Burenkov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Marcelo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burenkov uses his free foot to push down on Marcelo's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Marcelo.
Burenkov is trying to control here but Marcelo has managed to regain half guard.
Burenkov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Marcelo is looking for a sweep. Burenkov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Burenkov is keen to just control but Marcelo is a slippery customer.
Burenkov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burenkov lands strikes from half guard.

Marcelo actively working from the bottom here.
Burenkov trying to pass the guard but Marcelo defending well.
Burenkov working the head and body with strikes.

Burenkov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Burenkov performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Burenkov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Burenkov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 30:27
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Burenkov!
A victorious Sergey Burenkov thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.