PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Huber Schlesien (ranked 395 p4p, 384 weight class) and Alexander Rozhkov (ranked 61 p4p, 60 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.

Schlesien
vs
Rozhkov

189 cm
27
263
15 - 9 - 0

195 cm
24
275
9 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Shadow Realm Apparel

Shadow Realm Apparel
Conquer

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 15 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Huber Schlesien!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Rozhkov!
The judges for this bout are Sosuke Kotani, Yukihiro Shimada and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Schlesien gets cracked there but stands up to it.

Rozhkov darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Schlesien keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Schlesien is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Rozhkov connects with a nice short shot to Schlesien's temple.
Rozhkov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rozhkov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Schlesien is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rozhkov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Schlesien is trying to maintain the position but Rozhkov is very close to passing his half guard.
Schlesien is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schlesien is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Rozhkov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Rozhkov is nestled in close to Schlesien, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Rozhkov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Schlesien's head.
Schlesien gets full guard.
Rozhkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Schlesien is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Schlesien working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Rozhkov.
Rozhkov distracts Schlesien with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Rozhkov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rozhkov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Schlesien's head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Schlesien avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Rozhkov distracts Schlesien with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rozhkov trying to control but Schlesien is working from the bottom.
Schlesien controls Rozhkov momentarily but Rozhkov frees himself.
Rozhkov distracts Schlesien with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Rozhkov lands a couple of digs.
Rozhkov wants to control from the top but Schlesien keeps moving.
Schlesien looking for a sweep. Not yet Schlesien, not yet.
Rozhkov trying to control but Schlesien is working from the bottom.
Rozhkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Rozhkov is in close to Schlesien's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rozhkov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rozhkov landing some decent shots from guard.
Rozhkov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Schlesien managing to control the position.
Rozhkov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Schlesien looking for a sweep. Not yet Schlesien, not yet.
Rozhkov throwing strikes but missing.
Rozhkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Rozhkov works over Schlesien with some ground and pound from guard.
Rozhkov throws a big right hand that misses.
Rozhkov is working Schlesien over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Schlesien is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rozhkov throws a big elbow that misses.
Rozhkov won't allow Schlesien to sweep him here.
Rozhkov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Rozhkov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rozhkov lands a couple of elbows.
Rozhkov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Rozhkov trying to control but Schlesien is working from the bottom.
Schlesien utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Rozhkov landing some decent shots from guard.
Rozhkov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Rozhkov distracts Schlesien with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Rozhkov dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

Schlesien misses with a body kick.
Schlesien dodges the punch combination from Rozhkov.
Schlesien looks to clinch
and Rozhkov counters with a stiff right hand.
Schlesien closes the distance but Rozhkov moves to the side
enabling Rozhkov to counter with a crisp jab.
Schlesien takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Rozhkov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rozhkov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rozhkov moves out of range as Schlesien strikes.
A slow jab from Schlesien misses its intended target.
Rozhkov throws out a counter right but Schlesien avoids it with no problem.
Schlesien uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Rozhkov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Schlesien instigates a clinch.
Schlesien is pressed up against the cage. Rozhkov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Schlesien down to the mat. Schlesien avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Rozhkov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Schlesien.
Rozhkov avoids the head kick by Schlesien.
Rozhkov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rozhkov tries to keep at a distance but Schlesien has taken the fight into the clinch.
Schlesien misses with a punch to the body.
Rozhkov is trying to maintain a safe position but Schlesien gets an underhook and turns Rozhkov into the cage.
Schlesien misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Rozhkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Rozhkov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Schlesien was covering up waiting for the punch and Rozhkov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Rozhkov is working Schlesien over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Schlesien looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Schlesien is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Rozhkov looking for submissions off his back.
Rozhkov has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.
Schlesien performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Schlesien is working for an americana but Rozhkov has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Schlesien was thinking about the submission.
Schlesien trying to control but Rozhkov is working from the bottom.
Schlesien pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Rozhkov is keeping the position for now.
Rozhkov lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rozhkov lands a couple of digs.
Rozhkov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Schlesien is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rozhkov landing with the ground and pound.
Schlesien wants to sweep but no luck.
Schlesien controls Rozhkov momentarily but Rozhkov frees himself.
Rozhkov landing some decent shots from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Schlesien controlling the position.
Schlesien 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.
Schlesien wants to improve his position but instead Rozhkov has moved into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rozhkov drops an elbow to the side of Schlesien's head.
Rozhkov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rozhkov lands a nice short elbow.
Rozhkov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Rozhkov is thwarting Schlesien's attempts to control the position.
Schlesien on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Schlesien on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Schlesien is trying to control but can't.
Rozhkov is keen to just control but Schlesien is a slippery customer.
Rozhkov slips a nice elbow through Schlesien's hands, connecting with Schlesien's forehead.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Rozhkov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Schlesien tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
A little jabbing left from Rozhkov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Rozhkov thuds a left hand into Schlesien's body.
Rozhkov on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Schlesien is looking to clinch.
Rozhkov appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Rozhkov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rozhkov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Left hook, right uppercut from Rozhkov.
The fight stays on the outside here - Schlesien looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rozhkov lands with a straight right. Schlesien didn't see that one coming.
Alexander Rozhkov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Schlesien moves in looking to clinch but Rozhkov pushes him off.
Schlesien fails in his attempt to clinch.
Schlesien wants to clinch.
Rozhkov is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Schlesien with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Schlesien slips a jab from Rozhkov.
Rozhkov misses with a two punch combination.
Schlesien tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rozhkov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rozhkov throws out a loose jab but Schlesien uses good head movement to avoid it.
Schlesien tries to clinch up but Rozhkov circles away and keeps his distance.
Schlesien wants to clinch
and Rozhkov counters with a straight right hand.
Schlesien tries to clinch but Rozhkov is having none of it.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Rozhkov! But no joy.
Rozhkov takes a swing at Schlesien's ribcage but misses.
Huber Schlesien seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Rozhkov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Schlesien's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rozhkov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rozhkov postures up and lands a big shot to Schlesien's brow.
Rozhkov tries to free his leg and advance position but Schlesien is retaining full guard.
Rozhkov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Rozhkov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Schlesien is rocked!
Rozhkov landing with the ground and pound.
Oh Schlesien is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Rozhkov gets to his feet and stands over Schlesien, holding his ankles. He dives in with a big left hand that connects! Schlesien felt that one! Rozhkov unloads more punches and elbows and this one is over! The ref has dived in to save Schlesien from any more punishment!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alexander Rozhkov!
A victorious Alexander Rozhkov thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.