PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Zues Egan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steven Semenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Semenko has chosen Sure Fire Winners as his entrance music. Zues Egan had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Egan
vs
Semenko

167 cm
25
143 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

150 cm
25
145 lbs
4 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Zues Egan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Steven Semenko!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Robert Douchet and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crunch! Egan slams his shin into Semenko's torso.

Egan clinches.

Egan gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Semenko regains guard.
Semenko throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Semenko preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Egan with a flurry of punches that miss.
Semenko will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Semenko throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Egan escapes and throws Semenko's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Semenko tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Egan wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Egan tries to move into full mount but can't pass Semenko's legs.

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

Semenko shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Egan is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Semenko is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Egan wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Semenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Egan is keeping the position for now.
Egan 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.
Semenko slips nicely into half guard.
Semenko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Semenko is looking to take a break and control but Egan is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Semenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Semenko is taking a breather. Egan says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Semenko throws a strike but Egan avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Egan manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Egan looking to control but Semenko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Semenko is trying desperately to improve position.
Egan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Semenko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Egan throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Semenko avoids a series of strikes thrown by Egan.
Egan lands a heavy elbow.
Egan looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Semenko is looking to get to half guard.
Semenko tries to hold on but Egan pushes him away.
Semenko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Semenko looks gassed!

Egan wants to finish this one by submission but Semenko is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Egan.
Egan throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Egan misses with a head shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Semenko throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Egan dominating with strikes here.
Semenko tries to hold on but Egan postures up.
Semenko can't escape the position.
Semenko sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Semenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Egan blocks the strikes from Semenko.
Semenko is trying to get back to full guard.
Well, if Egan is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zues Egan dominated that 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.

A telegraphed takedown attempt from Semenko is defended easily by Egan.
Egan stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Egan wants it to stay on the feet.
Egan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Nice sprawl there from Egan as Semenko shoots in.
Zues Egan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Semenko.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Semenko.
Semenko on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Egan throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Egan pushes Semenko away with a front kick.

Egan decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Egan content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Egan connects with a nice short shot to Semenko's temple.
Semenko is breathing heavily.
Egan wants to take a breather but Semenko is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Egan looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Egan not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Egan stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Some wild striking there from Egan.
Semenko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Egan counters with an outside leg kick.
Semenko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Egan counters with a solid body kick.
Nice body kick from Egan.
A head kick from Egan lands but Semenko takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Egan has taken the fight to the clinch.
Egan cracks Semenko with a nice body shot.
Egan lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.

Egan breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Egan scores with a one two! Semenko had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Egan throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Semenko's head.

Egan moves into range and clinches up with Semenko.

Egan breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zues Egan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Egan takes the fight into the clinch.

Egan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Semenko has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Egan finds it's way round the side to connect with Semenko's head.
Semenko doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Egan counters by moving into the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Egan.
Semenko tries to pull guard but Egan won't allow it.

Egan manages to break the clinch.
Semenko doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Egan counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Egan tries to move to mount but Semenko blocks the move with his legs.
Egan sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Semenko is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Semenko avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Egan.

Egan wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Semenko, who protects the arm well.

Egan is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Semenko is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Semenko is looking to regain half guard here but Egan keeps moving and retains side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Egan moves into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Egan thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Semenko can't escape the position.
Semenko blocking the ground and pound.
Egan trying to control but Semenko is having none of it.
Egan content just to control the position here.
Semenko is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Semenko is trying to escape the mount.
A nice elbow there by Egan.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zues Egan dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Egan bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Semenko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Egan makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Semenko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Egan counters with a good low kick that Semenko was not able to check.

Egan moves into the clinch.
Egan wants a takedown but no success here.
Egan tries to stall but Semenko uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Egan pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Egan gets a takedown into half guard.
Egan content to control rather than advance.
Egan is thwarting Semenko's attempts to control the position.
Semenko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Egan stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Semenko to get to his feet.
Egan lands a nice looking body kick.
Egan keeps Semenko at a distance using the push kick.

Egan closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Egan decides to stand up.
Egan lands a glancing blow to the side of Semenko's head.
Semenko has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Semenko has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Egan.
Egan throws a nice inside leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Egan, right into the meat.

Egan has managed to clinch.

Egan escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Semenko with a poor takedown

and Egan counters by clinching up.
Zues Egan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Steven Semenko.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Egan takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Egan's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Egan scores with a decent looking hook.
Egan lets loose with a powerful body kick. Semenko will feel that in the morning.
Egan lands with a slapping head kick.
Semenko is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Semenko drops his hands momentarily and Egan takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Egan connects with a high kick.

Semenko shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Egan manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Egan tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Semenko throws a big right hand that misses.
Egan trying to control the position here.
Steven Semenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Egan bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Semenko's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Egan decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Semenko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Egan counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Semenko is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Egan throws a leg kick which misses Semenko's front leg but catches the back leg as Semenko tries to avoid it.
Egan lands a head kick. Semenko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Egan is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Egan gets caught flat footed, as Semenko shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Zues Egan is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Semenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Egan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Semenko working some strikes from top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Semenko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Egan has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Egan keeping moving, preventing Semenko from controlling successfully.
Egan wants to sweep but no luck.
Semenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Egan works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Semenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Egan is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Egan lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.

Egan has taken the fight to the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zues Egan showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Egan has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Ian Loll scores the fight 30:26
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 30:26
Judge Trevor Gratis scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zues Egan!