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WP 97 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 87 wins and 57 losses; Bogdan Kersikov! And in the blue corner, fighting out of New York, with a TWGC record of 49 wins and 68 losses; Boris Balkan!
The judges for this bout are Donald Grub, Andrew Berry and Daniel Bishop.
The fighters connect hands in the middle of the mat and we are under way.
Kersikov shoots for a takedown but Balkan saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nice takedown defense from Kersikov. No joy for Balkan on that attempt.
Kersikov gets a double leg takedown into Balkan's guard. Score +2 for takedown into guard / half guard: Kersikov (2) vs (0) Balkan
Kersikov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Balkan looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Kersikov advances position into side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Kersikov (5) vs (0) Balkan
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Balkan can't do much from the bottom here.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov gets to mount! Balkan was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly. Score +2 for reaching mount: Kersikov (7) vs (0) Balkan
Kersikov tries to push Balkan's head away but Balkan is holding on tight.
Balkan is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Balkan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kersikov has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Balkan tries to hold on but Kersikov postures up.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is controlling an arm, preventing Kersikov from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Balkan tries to hold on but Kersikov postures up.
Balkan really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov avoids the attempt from Balkan to control.
Balkan is trying desperately to improve position.
Kersikov content just to control the position here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kersikov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Balkan tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kersikov avoids the attempt from Balkan to control.
That's five minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov tries to control but Balkan wriggling away.
Balkan is working to get back to half guard.
Balkan reaches up to try and control the position but Kersikov seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Balkan rolls and tries to escape and now Kersikov has his back!
Score +3 for taking back: Kersikov (10) vs (0) Balkan
Kersikov has the hooks in. Balkan is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kersikov controlling the position well here. Balkan rolled but Kersikov kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's six minutes gone in the round.
Balkan manages to reverse the position and now he's in Kersikov's guard. Nice work there by Balkan.
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kersikov (10) vs (2) Balkan
Balkan trying to control the position from guard on top but Kersikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is looking to pass into half guard but Kersikov pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kersikov is in guard. Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kersikov (12) vs (2) Balkan
Kersikov wants to control from the top but Balkan keeps moving.
Balkan has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov stopping the sweep attempt from Balkan.
Balkan looking to control but Kersikov passes into half guard.
Balkan is looking for a sweep. Kersikov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kersikov works his way into side control. Score +3 for passing guard: Kersikov (15) vs (2) Balkan
That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Balkan tries to buck Kersikov off but Kersikov is having none of it.
Kersikov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Balkan keeps working.
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 (15) vs (6) Balkan
Balkan keeps control of the position easily here as Kersikov tries to buck him off.
Kersikov is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
That's ten minutes gone in the round.
Balkan tries to get the hooks in deep but Kersikov pushed the leg off.
Kersikov is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Balkan is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Kersikov has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Balkan has got his arm under Kersikov's chin working for the choke… has he got it? It looks pretty tight! Oh! Kersikov has spun round into Balkan's guard beautifully! Well done that man!
Score +2 for sweep to guard / half guard: Kersikov (17) vs (6) Balkan
That's eleven minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov stopping the sweep attempt from Balkan.
Balkan is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kersikov preventing the sweep.
Balkan looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kersikov has picked Balkan up and slammed him! Balkan can't keep hold of the triangle and Kersikov manages to pass to side control! Score +3 for passing guard: Kersikov (20) vs (6) Balkan
Kersikov wants to control but Balkan is keeping him busy.
Balkan can't do much from the bottom here.
That's twelve minutes gone in the round.
Balkan tries to buck Kersikov off but Kersikov is having none of it.
Balkan is the more experienced fighter here and he's going to need to draw on some of that experience if he's going to pull this one out the bag.
Balkan seems a little lost for a moment, as Kersikov dominates the positioning.
Balkan can't do much from the bottom here.
Balkan is looking for a sweep.
That's thirteen minutes gone in the round.
Balkan is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Balkan is trying to control Kersikov's posture but Kersikov avoids it.
Balkan is looking to reverse the position.
Balkan is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Balkan is looking to improve his position.
Balkan trying to control here.
That's fourteen minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov controlling the pace.
Kersikov tries to pass the half guard into mount. Balkan knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Balkan is trying to control but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Balkan looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kersikov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
And that's the end of the fight!
Kersikov takes the fight on points by 20 to 6.
Bogdan Kersikov thanked the fans post fight for their support. |
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