PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Fabio Chielanno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Stepka Gusarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Chielanno
vs
Gusarov

225 cm
25
130 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
21
145 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 St Petersburg, Fabio Chielanno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stepka Gusarov!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chielanno throws a low kick, looking for Gusarov's leg but Gusarov calmly moves out of range.
Gusarov slaps away a takedown attempt from Chielanno, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Gusarov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gusarov misses with the ground and pound.
Chielanno is trying to get back to half guard.
Gusarov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Chielanno. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Gusarov grinds an elbow into Chielanno's temple.
Gusarov working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Chielanno tries to improve position but can't.
Chielanno dodges the ground and pound from Gusarov.
Gusarov throws an elbow but Chielanno slips to the side and avoids it well.
You can see the frustration on Chielanno's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Gusarov lands an elbow.
Gusarov throws a strike aimed at the side of Chielanno's head but Chielanno avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chielanno manages to work his way to half guard, despite Gusarov's best efforts.
Gusarov working the head and body with strikes.
Gusarov thows a huge punch but Chielanno dodges it nicely.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gusarov lands a nice short elbow.
Gusarov is nestled in close to Chielanno, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Chielanno is trying to get back to full guard.
Gusarov working over Chielanno with some ground and pound. Chielanno looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gusarov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Chielanno with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Chielanno is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gusarov lands a nice short elbow.
Gusarov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gusarov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gusarov is nestled in close to Chielanno, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Gusarov lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Chielanno keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gusarov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Chielanno defending well though.

Chielanno actively working from the bottom here.
Chielanno is breathing heavily.
Chielanno keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gusarov winds up and cracks Chielanno with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gusarov lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusarov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Chielanno is rocked!
Gusarov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Chielanno's head.
Gusarov winds up and cracks Chielanno with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Oh Chielanno is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Gusarov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Chielanno seems to have got his legs back now.
Gusarov thows a huge punch but Chielanno dodges it nicely.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gusarov lands a nice short elbow.
Chielanno trying to control here.
Gusarov working over Chielanno with some ground and pound. Chielanno looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Gusarov lands a nice short elbow.
Gusarov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Gusarov slips a nice elbow through Chielanno's hands, connecting with Chielanno's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusarov working Chielanno over with strikes.
Gusarov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Gusarov slips a nice elbow through Chielanno's hands, connecting with Chielanno's forehead.
Gusarov working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
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. Gusarov connects with a nice short shot to Chielanno's temple.
Gusarov working over Chielanno with some ground and pound. Chielanno looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Gusarov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gusarov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Chielanno won't allow Gusarov to pass to mount.
Gusarov prevents Chielanno from improving his position.
Gusarov winds up and cracks Chielanno with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stepka Gusarov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Chielanno misses with a few strikes there.

Gusarov closes the distance and pushes Chielanno back into the cage.
Chielanno really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

Gusarov has picked Chielanno up - he's going for a ride! Gusarov dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Ground and pound from Gusarov.
Gusarov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Gusarov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Gusarov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Chielanno keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gusarov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Gusarov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gusarov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gusarov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Chielanno.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Chielanno fails with the takedown

and Gusarov counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusarov working the head with strikes.
Gusarov lands a nice forearm strike.
Gusarov landing a few strikes.
Gusarov cracks Chielanno with a big right hand but Chielanno just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Chielanno takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Gusarov lands a few punches from side control.
Stepka Gusarov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Gusarov scoring with punches and elbows.
Gusarov landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Gusarov working the head with strikes.
Chielanno takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Gusarov scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chielanno on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Gusarov grinds an elbow into Chielanno's temple.
Gusarov is working Chielanno over with some ground and pound from side control.
Gusarov lands an elbow.
Gusarov lands a decent elbow from side control.
Gusarov working the head and body with strikes.
Chielanno manages to get back to half guard.
Chielanno is looking to control Gusarov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Chielanno avoid being mounted?

Chielanno looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Gusarov scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusarov looks to land a strike but Chielanno avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Gusarov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Chielanno controls Gusarov momentarily but Gusarov frees himself.
Gusarov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Gusarov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Gusarov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Gusarov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gusarov scoring with punches to the head and body.
Gusarov throwing strikes but missing.
Gusarov landing with the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusarov with a nice head shot there.
Gusarov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gusarov cracks Chielanno with a solid left hand.
Gusarov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Chielanno working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gusarov.
Gusarov landing some decent shots from guard.
Gusarov stops Chielanno from standing up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gusarov chips away with some ground and pound.
Gusarov distracts Chielanno with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stepka Gusarov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Gusarov takes the fight into the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Gusarov fails to land.

Gusarov lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Gusarov landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Gusarov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gusarov throwing shots but Chielanno is blocking nicely.
Gusarov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gusarov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Chielanno's head.
Gusarov looks to land a strike but Chielanno avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

Gusarov stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Chielanno has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Gusarov manages to get his head free but now Chielanno has transitioned to an armbar! Gusarov grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Chielanno! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Fabio Chielanno!