PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vadim Halikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denis Chornya (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Halikov
vs
Chornya

174 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

192 cm
25
187 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

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, Vadim Halikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Denis Chornya!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Chornya.
Chornya tries to score a power double leg takedown but Halikov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chornya somewhat.
Chornya tries to score a power double leg takedown but Halikov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chornya somewhat.
Vadim Halikov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Denis Chornya.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Chornya.
Chornya shoots in but no luck this time.
Chornya will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A looping hook to the body misses from Chornya. Halikov does a little dance to reset his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chornya shoots in and drives through. Halikov sprawls well.
Chornya shoots in for a double leg but Halikov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Chornya looks gassed!
Chornya shoots in but Halikov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Chornya shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Halikov defends it nicely.
Halikov tries to close the distance and clinch but Chornya swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Halikov - just one landing.

Halikov darts in and clinches Chornya up against the cage.
Halikov has Chornya pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Chornya manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Halikov.
Halikov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Halikov misses with a punch to the body.
Halikov looking to slow down the pace here.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Halikov.
Halikov drops down looking for an ankle pick but Chornya pulls his leg out and moves away.

Halikov feints and as Chornya raises his hands in defense, Halikov changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Halikov wants to control from the top but Chornya keeps moving.
Chornya is trying to keep Halikov in close.

Halikov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Halikov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Chornya steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Halikov. That one must have hurt.

Halikov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Halikov lands in his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Halikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Chornya is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Halikov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Halikov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Chornya swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Chornya being controlled here, momentarily.
Chornya keeping moving, preventing Halikov from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Chornya wants to get back to his feet but Halikov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

Chornya has an active guard here but Halikov has managed to pass into half guard.
Halikov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Chornya won't allow Halikov to pass to mount.
Chornya misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Halikov passes the guard and advances to mount!
Chornya wants to control but Halikov is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Chornya is squirming around, avoiding Halikov's attempts to control the action.
Chornya swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Chornya throwing hammer fists to the chest of Halikov. What's that going to do exactly?

Halikov working for a guillotine from mount but Chornya is in no mood to give up.
Chornya is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Chornya is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vadim Halikov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Halikov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Chornya has his takedown stuffed

and Halikov counters by clinching up.
Chornya goes for a takedown in the clinch but Halikov prevents it.
Halikov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Chornya's efforts to push away.

Halikov gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Halikov has gone for a leg lock! Chornya slips out almost immediately though and dives into Halikov's guard.
Chornya trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Chornya drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Halikov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Chornya has Halikov in his guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Halikov stands up over Chornya, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Chornya isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Halikov stacks Chornya on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Halikov!
Halikov working away.
Check out the look on Halikov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

Halikov tries for a kimura but Chornya is defending well.
Halikov could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Chornya trying to control but Halikov flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Chornya trying to control the hands but Halikov won't let him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Chornya looking very determined here, making life difficult for Halikov.

Chornya showing good submission defense here.
Halikov tries to keep control of the position but Chornya is staying busy.
Chornya trying to control the hands but Halikov breaks the grip.
Halikov trying to control.

Halikov looking for the choke from the back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chornya is really stuck here.
Chornya looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Chornya staying busy and making it hard for Halikov to control.
Halikov is not going to allow Chornya to sit and survive in this position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Halikov looking for the RNC.
I really don't envy Chornya right now.

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.
Halikov wants to control but Chornya is keeping busy.
Chornya looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Chornya tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Chornya wants to hold on but Halikov pushes him away.

Halikov working for a guillotine from mount but Chornya is in no mood to give up.
Chornya is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Halikov looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vadim Halikov 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!

Chornya with a lazy takedown attempt

and Halikov counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Chornya!
Halikov landing shots from mount.
Halikov looking to control but Chornya is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Chornya tries to hold on but Halikov pushes him away.

Halikov working for a submission but Chornya is keeping him at bay.
Vadim Halikov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chornya is wriggling around trying to escape.
Halikov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Chornya is working to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Chornya is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chornya is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Halikov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Chornya?
Halikov manages to capitalize on a mistake by Chornya to take his back!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Chornya is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Halikov gets his way!
Chornya trying to get back to his feet but Halikov is in full control for now.
Halikov gets his hands free as Chornya looks to control.
Chornya wants to get back to his feet.
Halikov tries to get the hooks in deep but Chornya pushed the leg off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Halikov is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Chornya turns into Halikov and is now in his guard.
Chornya landing some decent shots from guard.
Halikov is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Chornya throws and elbow that misses. Halikov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Chornya's guard. Nice move by Halikov!
Denis Chornya has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Chornya throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Chornya looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chornya wants to hit a switch here but Halikov passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Chornya there!
Chornya wants to control but Halikov is having none of it.
Halikov landing strikes, looking to finish!
Chornya wants to hold on but Halikov pushes him away.
Chornya is looking to improve his position but Halikov isn't that keen on the idea.
Chornya wants to hold on but Halikov pushes him away.

Halikov looking to secure an arm triangle but Chornya defends it well.
Halikov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Chornya can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

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.
Chornya tries to lock up and control but Halikov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Chornya looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Halikov lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Chornya.
Halikov is trying to stick to Chornya's back but Chornya is turning into Halikov. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Halikov's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Chornya.
Chornya trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Halikov manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Chornya is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vadim Halikov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Chornya with a couple of shots from the bottom there - nothing Halikov can't handle though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vadim Halikov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Halikov 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vadim Halikov!