PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Burenkov (ranked 1531 p4p, 1612 weight class) and Vlad Darko (ranked 219 p4p, 225 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Darko's choice of entrance music: Ominous Drumming. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Burenkov
vs
Darko

178 cm
33
170
13 - 13 - 0

178 cm
38
180
20 - 13 - 2

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 13 - 13 - 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 20 - 13 - 2, fighting out of New York, Vlad Darko!
The judges for this bout are Paulo Santos, Mauricio Rocha and Seu Braga.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Darko blocks a jab.
Darko raises up his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Burenkov misses with a looping left.
Darko shoots in for a double leg but Burenkov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Darko ducks under a wild hook from Burenkov.
Burenkov fails with a takedown attempt.
Burenkov backing away here, and Darko unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Burenkov misses with a hook. Darko ducked under it nicely.
Burenkov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Darko circles away quickly and effectively.
Darko was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burenkov shoots in for a double leg but Darko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Darko looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

Burenkov rushes Darko and presses him up against the cage.
Burenkov stalling in the clinch.
Burenkov looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergey Burenkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burenkov tries a body shot but Darko blocks it.
Darko blocking some punches.

Burenkov lands a takedown into guard.
We've been hearing that Burenkov has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Darko wants to sweep but no luck.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Burenkov is fighting to break Darko's control of his arms but Darko is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Darko is trying to control the position but Burenkov postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Burenkov lands a couple of digs.
Burenkov stays in close to Darko's body and controls the position.
Burenkov working some strikes from top position.
Burenkov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Burenkov throws a big elbow that misses.
Darko pulls Burenkov in close to prevent any damage.
Burenkov is looking to advance position but Darko has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Darko working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Burenkov tries to hold on but Darko postures up.
Darko looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Burenkov gets back to half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Darko in particular looking to stall.
Darko prevents Burenkov from improving his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Darko is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Burenkov desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Burenkov is looking to improve his position.
Burenkov is not content to let Darko control the position.

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.
Burenkov trying to control but Darko postures up.
Darko trying to mount his opponent but Burenkov defends it.
Darko trying to control from Burenkov's half guard. Burenkov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Burenkov keeping moving, preventing Darko from controlling successfully.
Burenkov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Burenkov working for a triangle but Darko defends it easily.
Burenkov looking for a sweep. Not yet Burenkov, not yet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Burenkov dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Burenkov fails with the takedown.
Burenkov waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Darko.
Burenkov looks for a takedown but Darko sprawls well.
Burenkov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergey Burenkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Darko throws a good cross that connects.

It looks like Sergey Burenkov has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A punch combination from Burenkov misses.
Darko follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.

Burenkov gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Darko stalling.
The referee calls for Darko to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burenkov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Burenkov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Darko can do to turn this around?
Burenkov is looking to control Darko's arms but Darko gets an underhook and turns him. Now Burenkov has his back to the cage.
A shot in the inside from Burenkov.

Burenkov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Burenkov misses with a hook.
Darko takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

Burenkov has managed to clinch.
Darko content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Darko gets underhooks to prevent Burenkov's takedown attempt.
Darko has Burenkov pushed against the cage.
Burenkov has Darko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Darko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Darko pressing his opponent against the cage.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Burenkov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Darko taking a breather.
Nice body punch from Burenkov.
Burenkov has Darko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Darko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Burenkov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Burenkov misses with a punch on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burenkov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Darko gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Burenkov tries a body shot but Darko blocks it.
Burenkov can't get the takedown.
Burenkov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Darko will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Burenkov up against the cage.
Burenkov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Burenkov struggles to land a body shot inside as Darko controls his hands.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Burenkov swings wildly with an uppercut but Darko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Burenkov has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Darko avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Darko - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Burenkov is looking for a takedown.
Burenkov is working for takedown but Darko is calmly controlling the position for now.
Burenkov has Darko pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Darko manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Burenkov swings wildly with an uppercut but Darko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Darko just leaning against Burenkov, taking a breather.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sergey Burenkov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Sergey Burenkov's cut.
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!

Burenkov wants to clinch
and Darko counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Darko displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Burenkov throws out the jab.
Sergey Burenkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burenkov lands a nice hook to Darko's body. Darko takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Burenkov misses with a hook to the body
and Burenkov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Burenkov fails to land with a series of punches.
A combination from Burenkov does no damage.
Horrible takedown attempt by Darko or perhaps it was just good defense by Burenkov, which made it look bad.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Darko darts in trying to clinch
and Burenkov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burenkov dives in and grabs Darko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Darko pushes down on Burenkov's head and hops out.
Burenkov misses with a takedown attempt
and Darko counters with a stiff right hand.
Darko has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Burenkov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Darko counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Darko wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Burenkov with a lazy takedown attempt
and Darko counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergey Burenkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Burenkov swings widly with a right hand
and Darko counters with a crisp right that sends Burenkov to the canvas! Darko follows up with punches from the mount and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:45 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vlad Darko!
Vlad Darko gave a mention to Conviction in his post fight interview. That will please them (and hopefully generate some sales).