PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Avipriya Santharam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Semenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Semenko's choice of entrance music: Sure Fire Winners. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Santharam
vs
Semenko

172 cm
18
143 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

150 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Avipriya Santharam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steven Semenko!
The judges for this bout are Trevor Gratis, Alec Ball and Yves DeLean.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santharam tries to clinch but Semenko is having none of it.
Semenko fails with a takedown attempt.
Santharam wants to clinch up but Semenko keeps it at a distance.
Semenko has a takedown stuffed.
Santharam will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Semenko takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Semenko has eaten all the pies!

Semenko feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Santharam wants to sweep but no luck.
Santharam is pulling down on Semenko's head. It's preventing any offense from Semenko, at least for the moment.
Santharam wants to sweep here but Semenko controlling him for the moment.
Semenko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Santharam will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Semenko prevents Santharam from getting back to his feet.

Semenko is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Santharam is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Santharam has escaped and now he's on top!
Santharam trying to control the position from guard on top but Semenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Santharam with a flurry of punches that miss.
Semenko doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Santharam postures up in Semenko's guard and throws a big left but Semenko blocks it.
Semenko wants to sweep but no luck.
Santharam has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Santharam with a flurry of punches that miss.
Santharam trying to control the position from guard on top but Semenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Santharam misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Santharam. Semenko shrugs it off though.
Santharam is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Santharam moves in looking to clinch but Semenko pushes him off.
Semenko misses with a takedown
and Santharam counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Avipriya Santharam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Semenko.
Semenko looks gassed!
Santharam lands with a nice combination. Semenko backs away looking to recover.
Santharam tries to clinch up.

Santharam pushes Semenko up against the cage in a clinch.

Semenko gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Semenko passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Santharam!
Santharam tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Semenko putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Santharam tries to hold on but Semenko postures up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Santharam tries to reverse the position but Semenko maintains control.
Santharam tries to hold on but Semenko postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Santharam is trying desperately to improve position.
Semenko pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Santharam is desperately trying to improve his position but Semenko has a good base and remains in mount.
Semenko is landing with some decent strikes but Santharam is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Santharam really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Santharam on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Santharam tries to get out of the position.
Poor strikes thrown by Semenko there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Semenko avoids the attempt from Santharam to control.
Semenko in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Santharam keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Santharam tries to lock up and control but Semenko gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steven Semenko will probably get the nod.
That's time! Santharam's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Semenko avoids the head kick by Santharam.
Semenko on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Semenko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Santharam counters by clinching up.
Santharam throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Semenko blocks it with crossed arms.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Santharam.
Semenko on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Santharam is pressed up against the cage. Semenko has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Santharam down to the mat. Santharam avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Semenko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Santharam counters with an inside leg kick.
Avipriya Santharam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Semenko.
Santharam wants to clinch up but Semenko keeps it at a distance.
Semenko shoots and misses
and Santharam counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Santharam lands with a shot to the body.
Santharam tries to clinch but Semenko is having none of it.

Santharam forces Semenko back against the cage and clinches.
Santharam connects with a nasty looking knee right to Semenko's face.
Semenko is breathing heavily.
Santharam lands an elbow that stopped Semenko in his tracks for a moment.
Semenko has Santharam pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Santharam manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santharam stalling against the cage.
Santharam lands a knee to the head.
Santharam is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Semenko avoiding damage as Santharam throws knees to the body.
Santharam throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Semenko blocks it with crossed arms.
Santharam creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Semenko changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Santharam fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Santharam has closed the distance and engaged Semenko in a clinch.
Semenko has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Santharam avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Semenko takes a knee right on the jaw!
Santharam misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Semenko.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Santharam obliges.
A knee to the head by Santharam.
Santharam misses with a knee strike.
Semenko tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Semenko takes a knee to the side of the body.
Semenko changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Santharam fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Semenko circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santharam throws a nice outside leg kick.
Santharam fails with an attempt to clinch.

Santharam takes the fight into the clinch.
Santharam throws a knee to the head but misses.
Santharam scores with a knee to the head.
Santharam missing with knees to the body.
A right handed body shot lands from Semenko.
Semenko taking a breather.

Semenko has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Santharam is trying to keep an underhook but Semenko manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Semenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Semenko trying to control from half guard but Santharam is working away.
Santharam wants to control but Semenko is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Semenko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Semenko is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Santharam defends it well.
Santharam is trying to maintain the position but Semenko is very close to passing his half guard.
Santharam is trying to stand back up but Semenko is controlling him
Semenko trying to mount his opponent but Santharam defends it.
Semenko throwing shots but Santharam is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Semenko has his takedown stuffed
and Santharam counters with a head kick.

Santharam fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Semenko, pushing him back against the cage.
Santharam working Semenko over with knees to the body.
Santharam tries to land a knee to the head but Semenko blocks with his arms.
Santharam landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Semenko takes a knee to the side of the body.
Santharam landing knees to the head.
Santharam misses with a knee to the head.
Semenko is trying to drag Santharam to the mat but Santharam just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Semenko avoiding damage as Santharam throws knees to the body.
Santharam is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Semenko has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Santharam avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Semenko managing to block the knees to the body from Santharam.
Santharam lands an elbow inside.
A knee to the head by Santharam.

Semenko gets control of Santharam's arms and successfully pulls guard. Semenko will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Santharam trying to control the position from guard on top but Semenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Avipriya Santharam dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Semenko has managed to clinch.
Santharam unloads a knee to the mid-section. Semenko lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Semenko is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Semenko can't get the takedown.
Santharam with a knee to the head.
Santharam lands a nice elbow.
Santharam tries to land knees in the clinch but Semenko avoids the damage to the body.
Santharam gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Semenko has picked Santharam up - he's going for a ride! Semenko dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Semenko is trying to control the action in half guard but Santharam is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Semenko tries to pass the half guard into mount. Santharam knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Semenko prevents Santharam from improving his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Santharam works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santharam looking for a sweep. Not yet Santharam, not yet.
Semenko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Santharam looking to hit a scissor sweep but Semenko is one step ahead there.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Semenko circles away from the clinch attempt

and Semenko counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Steven Semenko has got the better of the ground game so far.

Santharam pushes Semenko off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Santharam tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Semenko counters with a nice double leg into side control. Santharam won't be happy with that.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Semenko decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Semenko drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Semenko postures up in Santharam's guard and throws a big left but Santharam blocks it.
Semenko being controlled here momentarily.
Santharam keeping full guard, as Semenko tries to pass.
Semenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Santharam has wrist control.
Santharam wants to stand and escape but Semenko is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Semenko wants to control from the top but Santharam keeps moving.
Santharam looking for a sweep. Not yet Santharam, not yet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Santharam doesn't succeed with the takedown

so Semenko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Santharam knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Semenko on the ground.
Semenko wants to control from the top but Santharam keeps moving.
Semenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Semenko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Santharam keeping full guard, as Semenko tries to pass.
Semenko cracks Santharam with a solid left hand.
Santharam keeping moving, preventing Semenko from controlling successfully.

Semenko drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Santharam dives on top into guard.
Santharam is working Semenko over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Semenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Semenko, not yet.
Santharam not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Steven Semenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Semenko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Trevor Gratis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Alec Ball scores the fight 28:29
Judge Yves DeLean scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Steven Semenko!