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WP 89 PBP Commentary |
This TWGC bout is 1 fifteen minute round in the super heavyweight division. Introducing today's competitors. In the red corner, competing out of New York, with a TWGC record of 83 wins and 53 losses; Bogdan Kersikov! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 47 wins and 63 losses; Boris Balkan!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Daniel Bishop and Sam Margolis.
The fighters bow as they face eachother in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Kersikov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Kersikov (2) vs (0) Balkan
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balkan is trying is best to control the position here.
We've been hearing good reports from Kersikov'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.
Balkan wants to improve his position but Kersikov is controlling well.
Kersikov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Balkan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balkan wants to control but Kersikov is keeping busy.
That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Balkan manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Balkan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kersikov defends it easily.
Balkan is trying to control the position but Kersikov postures up.
Balkan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kersikov is one step ahead there.
Kersikov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is trying to keep Kersikov in close.
Kersikov passes easily into side control. Nice work. Score +3 for passing guard: Kersikov (5) vs (0) Balkan
Kersikov working away.
Kersikov tries to advance to mount but can't.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kersikov off and has taken his back! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Kersikov (5) vs (4) Balkan
Balkan tries to get the hooks in deep but Kersikov pushed the leg off.
Kersikov defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Balkan's arms.
Balkan is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Kersikov is defending well though. Balkan let's go of the attempt for now.
Kersikov prevents Balkan from getting a body triangle.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looking for the choke from the back.
Balkan gets his hands free as Kersikov looks to control.
Balkan trying to control.
Kersikov just trying to survive but Balkan is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Kersikov is keeping busy.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan controlling the position well here. Kersikov rolled but Balkan kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Balkan wants to control but Kersikov manages to buck him off and is now in Balkan's guard! Nice work there by Kersikov! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kersikov (7) vs (4) Balkan
Balkan is trying to keep Kersikov in close.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kersikov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Balkan keeping moving, preventing Kersikov from controlling successfully.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kersikov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Kersikov postures up.
Balkan 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.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balkan throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kersikov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Balkan trying to control the position here.
Balkan looking to control.
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Balkan keeping moving, preventing Kersikov from controlling successfully.
Balkan has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Balkan keeping full guard, as Kersikov tries to pass.
Balkan looking for a sweep. Not yet Balkan, not yet.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Balkan working a defensive guard here.
Kersikov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kersikov stands and throws Balkan's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Kersikov (10) vs (4) Balkan
Balkan tries to improve position but can't.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov controlling from side mount.
Balkan tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Kersikov easily slips into full mount! Score +2 for reaching mount: Kersikov (12) vs (4) Balkan
Balkan is trying desperately to improve position.
Kersikov avoids the attempt from Balkan to control.
Balkan bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done! Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kersikov (12) vs (6) Balkan
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looking to sit in guard and control but Kersikov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kersikov (14) vs (6) Balkan
Balkan 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.
Kersikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balkan has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Balkan is keeping the position for now.
Balkan looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kersikov is one step ahead there.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov is fighting to break Balkan's control of his arms but Balkan is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kersikov looking to pass the guard.
Balkan trying to keep a closed guard but Kersikov is proving a slippery customer.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kersikov won't allow Balkan to sweep him here.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kersikov takes the fight on points by 14 to 6.
During a confident post fight interview, Bogdan Kersikov thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him. |
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