PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Ermolenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iosif Khruschev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ermolenko comes into the arena with Mushroomhead-kill tommorow blaring out of the sound system. Iosif Khruschev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Ermolenko
vs
Khruschev

180 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

181 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Ermolenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Iosif Khruschev !
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Khruschev misses.
Ermolenko tries to clinch but Khruschev moves out of range.
Khruschev misses with a straight right.
Khruschev waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ermolenko.
Khruschev throws a series of punches but Ermolenko moves out of range.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Khruschev working hard to break the clinch.
Khruschev tries to circle away but Ermolenko has him pinned against the cage.
A hook to the body from Khruschev .
Khruschev is looking to break free of the clinch but Ermolenko has double underhooks.
Ermolenko wants a takedown.
Ermolenko lands an elbow just above Khruschev 's eye.
A short uppercut from Khruschev .
Khruschev is trying to break the clinch but Ermolenko is controlling him.
Khruschev tries to break free but Ermolenko pushes him back against the cage.
Khruschev tries to break the clinch but Ermolenko is controlling the position.
Ermolenko blocking some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ermolenko is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Khruschev gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Khruschev is looking to break free of the clinch but Ermolenko has double underhooks.
Khruschev wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Ermolenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Iosif Khruschev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Khruschev misses with a series of wild punches.
Khruschev throws a series of punches but Ermolenko moves out of range.
Khruschev throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Ermolenko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ermolenko looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Khruschev is fending him off so far but Ermolenko persists. Nope, Khruschev circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Ermolenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khruschev 's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Khruschev duly obliges.
Nice shot by Khruschev .
Khruschev throws the left hand but Ermolenko avoids the punch easily.
Khruschev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Khruschev looks gassed!

Ermolenko clinches up against the cage.
Ermolenko just leaning against Khruschev , taking a breather.
Khruschev prevents a takedown attempt there.
A frustrated look appears on Khruschev 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Khruschev working hard to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Khruschev 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Khruschev wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ermolenko drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ermolenko has Khruschev pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Khruschev manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Khruschev wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ermolenko can't seem to implement his control oriented gameplan at the moment. That's no bad thing of course, for those of us who want to see a good fight.
Ermolenko is working for takedown but Khruschev is calmly controlling the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Khruschev 's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Ermolenko tries for a takedown but Khruschev manages to get underhooks.
Ermolenko can't get the takedown.
Khruschev is trying to break the clinch but Ermolenko has him pressed against the cage.
Ermolenko crunches a lovely knee into Khruschev 's ribcage.
Khruschev working hard to break the clinch.
Khruschev lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ermolenko misses with a short punch on the inside.
Khruschev is trying to force a seperation but Ermolenko has the dominant position.
A shot in the inside from Khruschev .
Khruschev working hard to break the clinch.
Khruschev content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Ermolenko keeps control of Khruschev as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Khruschev working hard to break the clinch.
Ermolenko keeps control of Khruschev as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Khruschev prevents the takedown attempt.

Ermolenko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ermolenko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Khruschev throws a hook but Ermolenko blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khruschev throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ermolenko misses with a wild combination.
Nice cross by Khruschev .
Khruschev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Khruschev misses with a double jab.
Ermolenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Khruschev circles away.
Ermolenko displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Ermolenko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Khruschev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ermolenko somewhat.
Khruschev misses the shot to the body.

Ermolenko moves into the clinch.
Ermolenko drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Khruschev gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Khruschev tries to break free but Ermolenko pushes him back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khruschev wants to break free but Ermolenko has control.
Khruschev is pressed up against the cage. Ermolenko has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Khruschev down to the mat. Khruschev avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Ermolenko walks into a left hand.
Khruschev swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ermolenko counters with a shoot takedown. Khruschev fights it but they end up in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ermolenko wants to pass the guard but Khruschev is keeping the position.
Ermolenko won't allow Khruschev to sweep him here.
Khruschev keeping moving, preventing Ermolenko from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Ermolenko dominated that round.
That's time! Ermolenko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Khruschev throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ermolenko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ermolenko wants to take a breather but Khruschev is having none of it.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ermolenko is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Ermolenko trying to control from half guard but Khruschev is working away.

Khruschev manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khruschev falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ermolenko counters with a straight right hand.
Khruschev takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Ermolenko clinches.
Ermolenko prevents Khruschev from breaking the clinch.
Ermolenko drops down looking for an ankle pick but Khruschev pulls his leg out and moves away.
Khruschev throws a combination. Ermolenko tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Khruschev misses with a double jab.
Khruschev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ermolenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Khruschev thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ermolenko defending well as Khruschev loads up on a big left hand.
Khruschev lands with a nice combination. Ermolenko backs away looking to recover.
Ermolenko wants to clinch up but Khruschev keeps it at a distance.

Ermolenko shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Ermolenko thows a huge punch but Khruschev dodges it nicely.

Ermolenko decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ermolenko takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Khruschev lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Khruschev .
Khruschev might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Khruschev misses with a series of wild punches.

Ermolenko pushes Khruschev up against the cage in a clinch.
Ermolenko tries for a takedown. No joy.
Ermolenko prevents Khruschev from breaking the clinch.
Ermolenko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Khruschev 's efforts to push away.
Khruschev wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ermolenko has him pressed against the cage.
Khruschev tries to stall but Ermolenko uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Ermolenko goes for a takedown attempt but Khruschev pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sergei Ermolenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khruschev fails to land with a series of punches.
Khruschev misses with an uppercut. Ermolenko saw that one coming.
Ermolenko bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ermolenko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Khruschev 's waist but Khruschev gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ermolenko off to one side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Khruschev sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Khruschev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Khruschev misses with a double jab.
Khruschev clinches but Ermolenko breaks the clinch

and Ermolenko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Khruschev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ermolenko.
Ermolenko trying to control the action but Khruschev is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Ermolenko dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Khruschev misses with a double jab

so Ermolenko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Khruschev is looking to stand up but Ermolenko isn't so interested in that idea.
Khruschev preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ermolenko trying to control but Khruschev is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Ermolenko gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khruschev misses with a hook. Ermolenko ducked under it nicely.
Ermolenko tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ermolenko slips a straight right by Khruschev .
Khruschev throws a hook but Ermolenko blocks it.
Khruschev throws a body punch but Ermolenko moves out of range.
Ermolenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Khruschev cracks Ermolenko with a good jab.
Khruschev throws a left and a right that both miss

and Ermolenko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Ermolenko stands up out of the half guard.
Ermolenko staying out of range there.
Sergei Ermolenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Khruschev tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ermolenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Khruschev .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khruschev throws a right hand that Ermolenko ducks under and follows up with a left that Ermolenko also avoids with ease.

Ermolenko closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Khruschev did well to prevent Ermolenko getting side control.
Khruschev wants to get back to his feet.
Ermolenko thows a huge punch but Khruschev dodges it nicely.
Ermolenko trying to control from half guard but Khruschev is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khruschev is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Khruschev is trying to stand back up but Ermolenko is controlling him

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Khruschev closes the distance and clinches.
Khruschev lands with a right to the head.
Ermolenko wants a takedown.
Khruschev has had enough of the clinch but Ermolenko keeps him there for the moment.
Khruschev looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Khruschev wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Iosif Khruschev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Khruschev tries to circle away but Ermolenko has him pinned against the cage.
Khruschev doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Ermolenko breaks the clinch.
The fighters circling - Khruschev throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Khruschev swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergei Ermolenko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ermolenko, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergei Ermolenko!