PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Florencio Serrano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Damian Scherbakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Florencio Serrano has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Serrano
vs
Scherbakov

219 cm
18
150 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

180 cm
18
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Likes musicals

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Florencio Serrano!
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, Damian Scherbakov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Scherbakov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Serrano looking to score a takedown here. Scherbakov is defending well but Serrano drives through and ends up in Scherbakov's guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Scherbakov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Scherbakov keeps trying to improve his position.
Scherbakov is still trying to improve position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Serrano accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Serrano is fighting to break Scherbakov's control of his arms but Scherbakov is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Serrano really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Scherbakov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Scherbakov throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Scherbakov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Serrano working to try and regain half guard.
Scherbakov thowing shots but they're missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Scherbakov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Let's hope that Scherbakov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Serrano is trying desperately to improve position.
Serrano is working hard here to advance position.
Scherbakov avoids the attempt from Serrano to control.

Scherbakov working for a submission but Serrano is keeping him at bay.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Scherbakov controlling from the full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scherbakov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
It looks like Scherbakov might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Serrano avoids a series of strikes thrown by Scherbakov.
Scherbakov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scherbakov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Scherbakov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Scherbakov throws some wild stikes that Serrano manages to avoid easily.
Scherbakov throws some wild stikes that Serrano manages to avoid easily.
Scherbakov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Serrano is in all sorts of trouble here.
Scherbakov misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scherbakov throwing strikes here but Serrano is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Scherbakov controlling from the full mount.
Scherbakov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Serrano can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Scherbakov cracks Serrano with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Nice sprawl there from Serrano as Scherbakov shoots in.
Serrano stuffs the takedown attempt from Scherbakov. Scherbakov gets slowly back to his feet.
Scherbakov fails with a takedown attempt.
Florencio Serrano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Scherbakov.
Serrano will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Scherbakov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Serrano as he avoids it easily.
Serrano shoots and misses

and Scherbakov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Serrano!
Serrano tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Scherbakov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Scherbakov controls the position from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Serrano's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Serrano tries to buck Scherbakov off but Scherbakov is having none of it.
Scherbakov controlling from side mount.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Scherbakov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Scherbakov just content to control the position.
Scherbakov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sloppy strikes there by Scherbakov.
A lull in the action here as Scherbakov stalls from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Damian Scherbakov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Serrano misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Scherbakov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Serrano swivels and escapes.
Scherbakov shoots in and drives through. Serrano sprawls well.
Scherbakov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Serrano as he avoids it easily.
Scherbakov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Scherbakov shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Serrano's guard.
Scherbakov slips nicely into half guard.
Serrano is trying to maintain the position but Scherbakov is very close to passing his half guard.
Damian Scherbakov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Scherbakov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Serrano slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Serrano preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Scherbakov sitting in guard here, content to control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Scherbakov won't allow Serrano to sweep him here.
Scherbakov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Scherbakov slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Scherbakov slips nicely into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Damian Scherbakov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Scherbakov gets the takedown into side control.
The strikes coming from Scherbakov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Serrano avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Scherbakov.
Scherbakov controlling from side mount.
Scherbakov working the ground and pound but Serrano is defending the strikes.
Scherbakov is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Serrano will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Serrano parries the strikes from Scherbakov easily there. Scherbakov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Serrano to escape.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Serrano is being controlled here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Damian Scherbakov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Scherbakov looking to score a takedown here. Serrano is defending well but Scherbakov drives through and ends up in Serrano's guard.
Scherbakov controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Damian Scherbakov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Scherbakov closes the distance and clinches up with Serrano, looking for a takedown. Scherbakov pushes Serrano against the cage but Serrano circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Scherbakov shoots in but Serrano avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Scherbakov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Serrano as he jumps to the side.
Florencio Serrano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Damian Scherbakov.
Serrano slaps away a takedown attempt from Scherbakov, before circling back to the center of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serrano shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Scherbakov sprawls well. Scherbakov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Serrano gets slowly back to his feet.
Scherbakov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Serrano as he jumps to the side.

Scherbakov scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Scherbakov trying to control the pace.
Scherbakov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Serrano!
Damian Scherbakov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Scherbakov controlling from the full mount.
Serrano is working to get back to half guard.
Scherbakov controlling the pace for now.
Florencio Serrano has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Damian Scherbakov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Scherbakov 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Damian Scherbakov!