PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Herea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vseslav Slav (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Slav is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Волх-векова. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Herea
vs
Slav

186 cm
22
182 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

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, Gabriel Herea!
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, Vseslav Slav!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Valeri Chadov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Herea tries for a takedown but Slav circles away easily

and Slav counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Slav wants to control but Herea is keeping him busy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Vseslav Slav.
Herea swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Slav counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
Slav has a takedown stuffed.
Herea throws a left and a right that both miss

and Slav decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Herea's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Slav trying to control but Herea is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slav prevents Herea from getting back to his feet.
Herea keeping moving, preventing Slav from controlling successfully.
Slav is looking to work some ground and pound but Herea has wrist control.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Vseslav Slav hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Slav tries to clinch up.
Herea misses with a combination

and Slav counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Herea is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Slav is taking a breather. Herea 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.
Slav trying to control from half guard but Herea is working away.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Slav 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.
Slav wants to control but Herea is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slav wants to pass to mount but Herea is defending the position.
Herea knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Slav on the ground.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Vseslav Slav wasn't active enough on the ground.
Slav shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Herea as he jumps to the side.

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.
Herea falls off balance throwing a combination
and Slav counters with a two punch combo.
Slav leaves Herea with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Slav.
Gabriel Herea has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vseslav Slav.
Slav closes this distance looking for a takedown but Herea circles away.
Herea throws a right and a left that both miss.
Herea falls off balance throwing a combination
and Slav counters with a stiff right hand.

Slav shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Slav trying to control but Herea is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Slav throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Herea changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Slav looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Slav tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Herea wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Slav is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Herea off and has taken his back!
Herea has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Slav biding his time, controlling Herea.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Herea prevents Slav from getting a body triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Slav throwing wild punches that miss their target.

Herea preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Slav.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Slav working for a choke but Herea reverses nicely into Slav 's guard.
Vseslav Slav has got the better of the ground game so far.
Slav is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Vseslav Slav.
Herea throws a right and a left that Slav avoids nicely.

Herea shoots in and gets a takedown into Slav's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slav has a closed guard, preventing Herea from standing up.
Slav trying to control the position.
Herea won't allow Slav to get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Herea wanted to stand there but Slav had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Herea dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Herea will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Gabriel Herea seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Herea misses with a wild combination.
Slav shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Herea sprawls well. Herea wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Slav gets slowly back to his feet.
Herea misses with a combination

and Slav counters with a takedown into side control.

Slav is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Herea has escaped the position, nice work there.

Slav is trying to get an arm triangle but Herea is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Herea is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

That's two 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.

Slav decides to stand back up.
No joy there for Herea, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Gabriel Herea is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Slav will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nice takedown defense from Slav. No joy for Herea on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Herea. No joy for Slav on that attempt.
Gabriel Herea has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vseslav Slav.
Herea throws a combination that misses
and Slav counters with a series of strikes. Herea will be more careful next time no doubt.
Slav stuns Herea with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Herea closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Slav tries to buck Herea off but Herea is having none of it.
Slav sneaks back into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slav is looking for a sweep. Herea is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Slav tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Slav wants to get back to full guard.
Slav gets full guard.

Herea decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
No joy there for Herea, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Herea misses with a combination

and Slav counters by clinching up.

Herea breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Herea shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Slav's guard.
Slav is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vseslav Slav.
Well Slav has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vseslav Slav!