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WP 93 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 85 wins and 55 losses; Bogdan Kersikov! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 48 wins and 65 losses; Boris Balkan!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, James Glass and James Atkins.
The official calls the fighters to the middle and the contest is under way.
Kersikov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Balkan.
Balkan changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kersikov tries to avoid it but Balkan manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kersikov to the ground. Kersikov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Balkan shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kersikov defends it nicely.
Kersikov feinted with a counter takedown.
Bogdan Kersikov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Boris Balkan.
Kersikov gets caught flat footed, as Balkan shoots in with a quick takedown into guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Kersikov (0) vs (2) Balkan
Kersikov trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Balkan trying to control the position from guard on top but Kersikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Balkan pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kersikov is keeping the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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 (2) vs (2) Balkan
That's one minute gone in the round.
Balkan is adopting a defensive guard.
Balkan's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Balkan looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Balkan is pulling down on Kersikov's head. It's preventing any offense from Kersikov, at least for the moment.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kersikov defends it easily.
Balkan can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kersikov controls the pace.
Kersikov stands and throws Balkan's legs to the side, diving into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Kersikov (5) vs (2) Balkan
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is letting Kersikov control him for a moment.
Balkan struggling a bit here.
Kersikov advances nicely into full mount. Score +2 for reaching mount: Kersikov (7) vs (2) Balkan
Kersikov pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Balkan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Balkan sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Balkan is looking for a sweep. Kersikov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Balkan is trying to maintain the position but Kersikov is very close to passing his half guard.
Balkan wants to get back to full guard but Kersikov has mounted him! Score +3 for passing guard: Kersikov (10) vs (2) Balkan
Kersikov looking to control and managing it successfully.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Balkan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kersikov avoids the attempt from Balkan to control.
Balkan is trying to escape the mount.
Balkan tries to hold on but Kersikov postures up.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is desperately trying to improve his position but Kersikov has a good base and remains in mount.
Balkan is squirming around, avoiding Kersikov's attempts to control the action.
Kersikov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Balkan tries to lock up and control but Kersikov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kersikov wants to control the pace but Balkan is squirming around nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kersikov looking to control and managing it successfully.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Balkan wants to get back to full guard.
Kersikov is thwarting Balkan's attempts to control the position.
Balkan wants to improve his position but Kersikov is controlling well.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kersikov in particular looking to stall.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Balkan works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kersikov preventing the sweep.
Kersikov content to stall in guard here.
Balkan manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kersikov manages to get himself to full guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kersikov (10) vs (4) Balkan
Balkan controls from within his opponent's guard.
My spies in Blacktalians MMA II inform me that Balkan has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
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.
Kersikov trying to keep a closed guard but Balkan is proving a slippery customer.
Balkan wants to control from the top but Kersikov keeps moving.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Balkan looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kersikov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Balkan wants to pass the guard but Kersikov is keeping the position.
Balkan not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan passes Kersikov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Balkan prevents Kersikov from improving his position.
Balkan not doing much here.
Balkan works his way into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Kersikov (10) vs (7) Balkan
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Balkan politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Balkan prefers to stall for the moment though.
Kersikov tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Balkan tries to move to mount but Kersikov blocks the move with his legs.
Balkan wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kersikov keeps working.
Balkan tries to move to mount but Kersikov blocks the move with his legs.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan swings around for an armbar but Kersikov sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Balkan's guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kersikov (12) vs (7) Balkan
Balkan looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kersikov is looking to advance position but Balkan has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount! Score +4 for clean sweep to past guard: Kersikov (12) vs (11) Balkan
Kersikov prevents Balkan from taking his back.
Balkan goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Kersikov turns into him and now he's in Balkan's guard.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kersikov (14) vs (11) Balkan
Kersikov stays in close to Balkan's body and controls the position.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kersikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Balkan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kersikov takes the fight on points by 14 to 11.
An out of breath Bogdan Kersikov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career. |
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