PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Royal Halsti (ranked 162 p4p, 232 weight class) and Vitali Kersikov I I (ranked 25 p4p, 37 weight class). Kersikov I I has chosen Sefa & Mr. Ivex - LSD Problem as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Halsti
vs
Kersikov I I

190 cm
33
205
27 - 12 - 1

188 cm
31
209
18 - 9 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

NARCOS

Shadow Realm Apparel
Bondi MMA ðŸï¸

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 27 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Royal Halsti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 9 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vitali Kersikov I I!
The judges for this bout are Francis DeMontford, Ben Watson and Eliza Hachem.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Halsti misses with an uppercut. Kersikov I I saw that one coming.
Kersikov I I throws a fast counter high kick but Halsti manages to duck under it in time.
Halsti tries for a takedown but Kersikov I I sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kersikov I I throws a big counter head kick but Halsti avoids it with no problem.
Kersikov I I slips under a jab.
A little jabbing left from Kersikov I I on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kersikov I I walks into a left hand.

It looks like Vitali Kersikov I I has been cut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halsti misses the jab.
Kersikov I I uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Halsti.
Vitali Kersikov I I is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halsti clobbers Kersikov I I with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Halsti lands with a hook. Kersikov I I tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Halsti misses with an uppercut.
Kersikov I I swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Good standup being displayed there by Halsti as he connects with a hook.
Kersikov I I gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Halsti.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Halsti gets the takedown into side control.
Halsti advances nicely into full mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kersikov I I keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Halsti has control of Kersikov I I's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Kersikov I I regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Kersikov I I is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halsti controlling from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kersikov I I is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kersikov I I is trying desperately to improve position.
Halsti throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Kersikov I I is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Kersikov I I bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Kersikov I I pushing down on Halsti's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov I I wants to pass to mount but Halsti is defending the position.
Halsti wants to control but Kersikov I I is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kersikov I I seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kersikov I I tries to stand and escape but Halsti is controlling the position.

Halsti looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Halsti is trying to get back to full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kersikov I I stalling.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Royal Halsti dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Vitali Kersikov I I's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Halsti changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kersikov I I tries to avoid it but Halsti manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kersikov I I to the ground. Kersikov I I escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kersikov I I steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Halsti.
Kersikov I I is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Halsti with a body shot.
Halsti's corner calls for a 1-2. Halsti obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Halsti looks to land a left hand but Kersikov I I moved out of range nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Halsti connects with a right hand. Kersikov I I shakes it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Halsti scores with a shot to the body.
Halsti throws a shot from downtown. Kersikov I I moves away and avoids it.
Kersikov I I is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
Kersikov I I moves out of range of the strikes.
It seemed like Kersikov I I was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Halsti goes for a double leg but Kersikov I I avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kersikov I I continues to drive forward.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Kersikov I I! But no joy.
Halsti fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Royal Halsti. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Halsti pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Halsti misses with a straight left.
Kersikov I I throws out a counter right but Halsti avoids it with no problem.
Halsti throws an overhand right that lands on Kersikov I I's shoulder, as Kersikov I I tries to avoid the shot.
As Halsti backs off Kersikov I I throws a huge counter combo but Halsti manages to avoid it all.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Halsti looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Halsti trying to control but Kersikov I I is working from the bottom.

Halsti drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Halsti jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Halsti preventing the sweep.
Kersikov I I looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Halsti is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kersikov I I can do to turn this around?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halsti postures up.
Kersikov I I is trying to hold Halsti in close to prevent damage but Halsti has managed to pass into half guard.
Kersikov I I is holding on to half guard well.

Halsti seems to be working for a kimura but Kersikov I I defends the submission attempt.
Kersikov I I wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Halsti thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Halsti is working for a submission of some sort.
Halsti thows a huge punch but Kersikov I I dodges it nicely.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kersikov I I is controlling Halsti's trapped leg to prevent Halsti from advancing to side control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Halsti is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Halsti misses with a hook.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Royal Halsti dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Vitali Kersikov I I's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Halsti misses with a two punch combination.
Kersikov I I shapes to counter with a head kick.
Vitali Kersikov I I has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Halsti catches Kersikov I I with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Halsti misses with a hook
and Kersikov I I counters with a three punch combo that has Halsti backing up. Halsti nods at Kersikov I I to acknowledge the strikes.
Halsti connects with a jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov I I takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov I I steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Halsti.
It seemed like Kersikov I I was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Halsti lands with a straight right. Kersikov I I didn't see that one coming.
Kersikov I I leaves Halsti with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kersikov I I throws out a counter right but Halsti avoids it with no problem.
Halsti closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Royal Halsti is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Halsti scores with a jab. Kersikov I I acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Halsti thows a left - swing and a miss!
Halsti throws a right and a left that Kersikov I I avoids nicely.
A combination from Halsti does no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Halsti jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kersikov I I looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Kersikov I I takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Halsti.

That has opened up Vitali Kersikov I I's cut even more.
Halsti misses with a body shot.
Halsti shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kersikov I I as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Halsti pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Halsti misses with a right hand
and Kersikov I I counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

It looks like Royal Halsti has been cut.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sloppy strikes from Halsti. Those never looked like landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Royal Halsti showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Halsti 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 Francis DeMontford scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Watson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Eliza Hachem scores the fight 30:27

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