PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jason Anders (ranked 4574 p4p, 4479 weight class) and Nykolai Kersikov (ranked 469 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Anders
vs
Kersikov

185 cm
22
162
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
159
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jason Anders!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Nykolai Kersikov!
The judges for this bout are John Mangel, Topper Green and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kersikov shoots in and gets a takedown into Anders's guard.
Kersikov is looking to advance position but Anders has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Anders has hold of Kersikov's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Kersikov manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Kersikov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kersikov swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Kersikov is looking to improve his position but Anders isn't that keen on the idea.
Anders trying to control but Kersikov is having none of it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anders throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Kersikov can't escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anders thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anders sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kersikov really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Anders misses with a head shot.
Anders looking to control but Kersikov is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Anders thowing shots but they're missing.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kersikov can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov 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.

Anders gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Anders tries to close the distance and clinch but Kersikov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Anders wants to clinch up but Kersikov keeps it at a distance.
Kersikov is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Kersikov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Anders tries for a takedown. No joy.
Anders is trying to drag Kersikov to the mat but Kersikov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Anders using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kersikov looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Anders looking to slow down the pace here.
Anders trying to control the position but instead, Kersikov has worked for underhooks and has pushed Anders into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Anders.

Kersikov has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Anders clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Kersikov avoiding Anders 's attempts to control his hands.
Kersikov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Anders. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kersikov is landing with strikes from the back.
Kersikov looking to hold on to the position here but Anders rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Anders keeping moving, preventing Kersikov from controlling successfully.
Kersikov scoring with some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov trying to control but Anders is working from the bottom.
Kersikov looking to pass the guard.
Kersikov lands a couple of digs.
Kersikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Anders is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Anders wants to sweep here but Kersikov controlling him for the moment.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kersikov wants to control from the top but Anders keeps moving.
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 Jason Anders will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The crowd cheers as Anders lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kersikov doesn't seem phased though.
Kersikov misses the shot to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Anders looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kersikov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Kersikov closes the distance and clinches.
Anders fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A right hook to the body lands for Anders.
Kersikov is looking to take this one to the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Kersikov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Kersikov fails to land.
Stalling in the clinch from Kersikov.
Kersikov has Anders pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Anders manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anders is looking to break free of the clinch but Kersikov has double underhooks.
Anders tries to throw a body punch but Kersikov avoids it by throwing Anders back against the cage.
Kersikov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Anders after a bit of a struggle.
Jason Anders has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nykolai Kersikov.
Anders lands a good knee to the midsection. Kersikov won't want to take too many of those.
Anders tries to pull guard but Kersikov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Anders's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kersikov is trying to push Anders away but Anders has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Kersikov lands a takedown into guard.

Anders has managed to wall walk up one of the corner posts to get back to his feet. Kersikov is pushing him up against the cage, looking to control the position.
Anders using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Anders is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Kersikov jumps into guard, dragging Anders to the mat.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kersikov working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kersikov is trying to control the position but Anders postures up.

Anders gets to his feet - Kersikov follows without any prompting.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Anders!
Kersikov tries to clinch but Anders is having none of it.
Kersikov dives in for a single leg takedown but Anders sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Anders changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Anders shoots in for a double leg but Kersikov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kersikov fails with a takedown attempt.
Kersikov tries to land a leg kick but Anders saw it coming and moves away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kersikov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kersikov lands in his opponent's guard.
Anders wants to stand but Kersikov is controlling the position.
Kersikov wants to stand but Anders is controlling his posture from full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kersikov trying to move into half guard but instead Anders has managed to sweep!

Kersikov wants to improve his position but instead Anders has moved into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Kersikov is looking for a triangle but Anders pushes his legs off easily.

Anders gets to his feet - Kersikov follows without any prompting.
Anders fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kersikov slaps away a takedown attempt from Anders, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kersikov is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Kersikov slaps away a takedown attempt from Anders, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Anders lands a head kick!
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jason Anders 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!

Anders tries to clinch up.
Anders changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kersikov tries to avoid it but Anders manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kersikov to the ground. Kersikov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Kersikov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kersikov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Anders does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kersikov tries to stand but can't do so whilst Anders controls his leg.
Anders is holding on to half guard well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Anders is trying to maintain the position but Kersikov is very close to passing his half guard.
Kersikov wants to take a breather but Anders is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anders gets full guard.
Kersikov wants to stand and escape but instead Anders has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

Anders postures up.
Anders wants to control from the top but Kersikov keeps moving.
Kersikov is trying to keep Anders in close.
Anders looking to pass the guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kersikov holds on and takes a little breather.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anders wants to control from the top but Kersikov keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kersikov is pulling down on Anders's head. It's preventing any offense from Anders, at least for the moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Jason Anders is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kersikov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Anders defends well and Kersikov ends up having to push Anders into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Anders lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Kersikov backs up against the cage.
Kersikov with a poor takedown
and Anders counters with a left and a right that stings Kersikov.
Jason Anders is winning the standup battle so far.
Anders tries to clinch but Kersikov is having none of it.
Kersikov keeps the fight on the outside.
Anders wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kersikov rushes Anders and presses him up against the cage.
Anders lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Kersikov is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Anders is defending well for now.

Kersikov manages to pull guard.

Kersikov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Anders can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kersikov looking to control.
Kersikov wants to control the position but Anders says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Anders controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov is not content to let Anders control the position.
Kersikov trying to control from the bottom.

Kersikov actively working from the bottom here.
Anders is thwarting Kersikov's attempts to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kersikov wants to get back to full guard but Anders has mounted him!

And that's the end of the fight!
Jason Anders showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Anders has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 John Mangel scores the fight 30:27
Judge Topper Green scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jason Anders!
Jason Anders thanked the fans post fight for their support.