PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Finbar McLennan (ranked 2386 p4p, 4504 weight class) and Victor Sherkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

McLennan
vs
Sherkov

185 cm
20
255
5 - 3 - 0

198 cm
25
265
4 - 3 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite 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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Finbar McLennan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of New York, Victor Sherkov!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Franklyn Lucas and David Schapiro.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sherkov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. McLennan sprawls well initially but Sherkov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

McLennan looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
McLennan is refusing to be controlled, as Sherkov sits in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McLennan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sherkov looking to sit in guard and control but McLennan gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sherkov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. McLennan gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McLennan trying to control the position from guard on top but Sherkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McLennan slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
McLennan might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McLennan trying to control but Sherkov is working from the bottom.
McLennan wants to pass the guard but Sherkov is keeping the position.
McLennan is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

McLennan drops back looking for a leg! Sherkov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sherkov manages to kick McLennan off! McLennan jumps back into Sherkov's guard.
McLennan postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
McLennan trying to control but Sherkov is working from the bottom.
Sherkov is striking from the bottom but McLennan uses the opportunity to pass into half guard.
Sherkov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McLennan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
McLennan moves into full mount! Sherkov won't be happy about that!
McLennan fails to advance to Sherkov's back.

McLennan jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Sherkov is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Sherkov and McLennan has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
McLennan controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLennan trying to control the position but Sherkov is working away.
McLennan advances to mount.
McLennan wants to control but Sherkov has made it back to half guard. Nice work.
Sherkov wants to improve his position but McLennan is controlling well.

That's four 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.

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

McLennan is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Sherkov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Sherkov is looking to improve his position.

McLennan is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sherkov defends it well.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
McLennan slows the pace down in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Finbar McLennan dominated that round.
That's time! McLennan's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

McLennan shoots in and drives through. Sherkov sprawls well.
McLennan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
And Sherkov tries to counter it with a takedown but McLennan pushes his down on his head and steps out.
McLennan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Sherkov swivels and escapes.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Finbar McLennan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McLennan closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sherkov circles away.
Sherkov slaps away a takedown attempt from McLennan, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sherkov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Sherkov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An elbow from Sherkov crashes against the mat.
Sherkov is looking to take a break and control but McLennan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
McLennan wants to control but Sherkov postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherkov is chipping away with strikes.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Sherkov working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Sherkov grinds an elbow into McLennan's temple.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sherkov working the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on McLennan's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Sherkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but McLennan keeps working.
McLennan prevents Sherkov from moving into mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McLennan is not content to let Sherkov control the position.

Sherkov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
McLennan gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
McLennan regains full guard. Nicely done.
We've been hearing good reports from McLennan's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLennan looking to control.
Sherkov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
McLennan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sherkov slips nicely into half guard.
Victor Sherkov has got the better of the ground game so far.
McLennan makes his way to full guard. A much better position for McLennan.
Sherkov preventing the sweep.
McLennan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
McLennan is pulling down on Sherkov's head. It's preventing any offense from Sherkov, at least for the moment.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

McLennan looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Sherkov is looking to work some ground and pound but McLennan has wrist control.
McLennan keeping moving, preventing Sherkov from controlling successfully.
Sherkov advances to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sherkov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Sherkov trying to control the action but McLennan is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Victor Sherkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

McLennan fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
McLennan ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Sherkov moves away.
Sherkov feints the counter takedown.
Victor Sherkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sherkov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from McLennan.
Sherkov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but McLennan defends it well.
McLennan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Sherkov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Finbar McLennan. That's going to take a lot out of him.

McLennan gets caught napping as Sherkov dives in and scores a takedown. McLennan manages to retain guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sherkov wants to control from the top but McLennan keeps moving.
McLennan preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sherkov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sherkov trying to control but McLennan is working from the bottom.
Sherkov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sherkov postures up.
Sherkov trying to control but McLennan is working from the bottom.
Sherkov won't allow McLennan to sweep him here.
Sherkov throwing strikes from guard but McLennan blocks nicely.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
McLennan shoots in and drives through. Sherkov sprawls well.
Sherkov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

Sherkov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sherkov showed some decent athleticism there.
Sherkov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sherkov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The fighters are battling for position here. McLennan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Sherkov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. McLennan swivels though and keeps the full guard.
McLennan lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

McLennan wants to control from the top but Sherkov keeps moving.

Sherkov working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because McLennan has passed into half guard!
Sherkov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McLennan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sherkov keeps working.

Sherkov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but McLennan pulls his head out easily.

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

McLennan is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McLennan is trying for a kimura here. Sherkov looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! McLennan wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:21 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Finbar McLennan!
After the fight, Finbar McLennan was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.