PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Lavrov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexsandr Slemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Slemenko has chosen Небо Славян as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Lavrov
vs
Slemenko

180 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

180 cm
25
180 lbs
2 - 2 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Lavrov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexsandr Slemenko!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksandr Martynov and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lavrov shoots in and drives through. Slemenko sprawls well.
Lavrov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Slemenko defends well and Lavrov ends up having to push Slemenko into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Slemenko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Slemenko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lavrov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Lavrov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lavrov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Slemenko sprawls well. Slemenko wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Lavrov gets slowly back to his feet.
Yuri Lavrov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lavrov shoots in looking for a takedown. Slemenko tries to sprawl out of it but Lavrov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Slemenko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lavrov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Slemenko moves away.
Lavrov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Slemenko sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Slemenko stuffs the takedown attempt from Lavrov. Lavrov gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lavrov throws a body punch but Slemenko moves out of range.
Lavrov doesn't manage to clinch there - Slemenko circles away.
Lavrov works over Slemenko's head and body with a nice combination.

Lavrov rushes Slemenko and presses him up against the cage.
Lavrov avoiding damage as Slemenko throws knees to the body.
Slemenko is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

Slemenko has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Lavrov regains guard immediately.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Lavrov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Slemenko must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Yuri Lavrov just wasn't active enough.
Slemenko avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lavrov misses with a takedown

and Slemenko counters with a takedown into side control.
Lavrov is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lavrov is looking for a sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lavrov is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Lavrov is looking to regain half guard here but Slemenko keeps moving and retains side control.
Slemenko controls the position from side control.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alexsandr Slemenko wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lavrov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Lavrov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lavrov with a poor takedown

and Slemenko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Slemenko is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Alexsandr Slemenko wasn't active enough on the ground.
Lavrov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Slemenko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Slemenko.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Slemenko engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexsandr Slemenko 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.

Lavrov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Lavrov lands in his opponent's guard.
Slemenko has his hands on Lavrov's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Alexsandr Slemenko has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Slemenko slaps away a takedown attempt from Lavrov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Lavrov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Lavrov punishes Slemenko's body with a nice straight punch.
Lavrov thows a body shot but no joy.
Lavrov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Slemenko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Lavrov.
Nice shot by Lavrov.
Slemenko circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lavrov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Slemenko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Slemenko on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Lavrov. Lavrov obviously looking to wear him down.
Lavrov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Slemenko counters with a shoot takedown. Lavrov fights it but they end up in guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Lavrov trying to control the position.
Lavrov wants to stand up but Slemenko is controlling him.

Yuri Lavrov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Lavrov shoots in but Slemenko avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Lavrov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Slemenko moves out of range of the body kick from Lavrov.
Lavrov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Slemenko keeps the fight on the outside.
Lavrov misses with a body shot

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
and Slemenko holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Slemenko manages to break the clinch.
Lavrov misses with a wild combination.
Lavrov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Slemenko circles away from the clinch attempt

and Slemenko counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lavrov is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Slemenko jumps into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Lavrov being controlled for a moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexsandr Slemenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Slemenko moves out of range of the leg kick from Lavrov.
Horrible takedown by Lavrov or perhaps it was just good defense by Slemenko which made him look bad.
Lavrov jabs at Slemenko's body.
Lavrov looks to score with a jab to the body but Slemenko is just out of range.

Lavrov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Slemenko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Lavrov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Lavrov is looking to take a break and control but Slemenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Lavrov working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lavrov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Lavrov tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Lavrov trying to control the position but Slemenko is working away.
A bit of a lull in the action here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Yuri Lavrov just wasn't active enough.
Lavrov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Lavrov misses with a jab, cross combination.
A head kick misses from Lavrov.

Slemenko tries to sprawl but Lavrov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lavrov wants to take a breather but Slemenko is having none of it.
Slemenko desperately trying to maintain half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Yuri Lavrov.
Slemenko defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lavrov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lavrov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Slemenko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Slemenko.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Lavrov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Slemenko lands a shot to the body.
Slemenko jumps guard but Lavrov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

Slemenko ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Slemenko no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Lavrov looking to sit in guard and control but Slemenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Slemenko's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Lavrov had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Slemenko defends it easily.
Lavrov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yuri Lavrov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Slemenko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexsandr Slemenko!
A pretty intense looking Alexsandr Slemenko took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.