PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Shlemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johnny Grind (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Shlemenko
vs
Grind

187 cm
25
193 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

189 cm
25
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vladimir Shlemenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Johnny Grind!
The judges for this bout are Bart Greer, Santiago Holmes and Dirk Anderson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shlemenko closes the distance and clinches.
Shlemenko lands an elbow that stopped Grind in his tracks for a moment.
Grind goes for a takedown attempt but Shlemenko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Grind gets tackled into the cage by Shlemenko. Shlemenko maintains the clinch.
Shlemenko lands an elbow inside.
Shlemenko is pressed up against the cage. Grind has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Shlemenko down to the mat. Shlemenko avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Shlemenko clinches up against the cage.
Shlemenko creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Grind's defenses.

It looks like Johnny Grind has been cut.
Shlemenko prevents a body shot from Grind.
Grind blocks an elbow strike from Shlemenko.
Shlemenko throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shlemenko keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Grind's efforts to push away.
Grind is trying to drag Shlemenko to the mat but Shlemenko just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Vladimir Shlemenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Grind.
Grind lands a nice uppercut.
Shlemenko stops a takedown attempt from Grind.
Shlemenko makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Shlemenko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Grind avoids the elbow strike from Shlemenko, against the cage.
Shlemenko lands an elbow inside that Grind shrugs off.
Shlemenko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Grind has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Shlemenko blocking some punches.
Shlemenko creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Grind's defenses.
Grind blocks an elbow strike.
Grind dodges an elbow strike from Shlemenko.
Shlemenko blocks a body shot from Grind.
Shlemenko lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Grind takes an elbow to the temple.
Grind changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Shlemenko fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Shlemenko rushes Grind and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Grind blocks the elbow strike.
Shlemenko lands an elbow that stopped Grind in his tracks for a moment.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Shlemenko just misses with a elbow thrown towards Grind's brow.
Grind avoids the elbow strike from Shlemenko, against the cage.
Shlemenko throws an elbow but it misses.
Shlemenko lands an elbow just above Grind 's eye.
Shlemenko lands a nice elbow.
Shlemenko throws an elbow that misses.
Shlemenko lands an elbow inside that Grind shrugs off.
Shlemenko pushes off an throws an elbow but Grind leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Grind has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Shlemenko after a bit of a struggle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Grind misses with a punch to the body.
Grind tries for a takedown but Shlemenko manages to get underhooks.
Shlemenko lands a damaging elbow.
Shlemenko lands an elbow that stopped Grind in his tracks for a moment.
Grind tries to score a body lock takedown but Shlemenko shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Grind takes an elbow to the temple.

That has opened up Johnny Grind's cut even more.
Shlemenko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Grind tries to score a body lock takedown but Shlemenko shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Shlemenko misses with an elbow over the top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Grind goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Grind goes for a takedown in the clinch but Shlemenko prevents it.
Shlemenko prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Shlemenko dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Johnny Grind's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Shlemenko moves into the clinch.
Shlemenko pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Shlemenko lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Shlemenko is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Grind has had enough of the clinch but Shlemenko keeps him there for the moment.
Shlemenko misses with an elbow strike.
Shlemenko lands an elbow inside that Grind shrugs off.
Grind looking to slow down the pace here.
Grind dodges an elbow strike from Shlemenko.
Shlemenko creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Grind's defenses.
Shlemenko throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Grind avoids the elbow strike from Shlemenko, against the cage.
Nice elbow from Shlemenko.
Grind takes an elbow to the temple.
Grind can't get the takedown.
Shlemenko throws an elbow but it misses.
Grind misses with a hook to the ribs.
Shlemenko looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Shlemenko lands a damaging elbow.

The cut above Johnny Grind's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Shlemenko lands an elbow inside that Grind shrugs off.
Shlemenko throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Shlemenko prevents the takedown attempt.
Vladimir Shlemenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johnny Grind.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Grind effectively controlling the action here.
Grind takes an elbow to the forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Grind's defenses.
Grind blocks the elbow strike.
Shlemenko lands a nice elbow.
Shlemenko throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Shlemenko comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.

Johnny Grind's cut is absolute horrible now. This looks like something out of a horror film with blood covering both fighters.
Shlemenko lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Shlemenko prevents a takedown attempt there.
Shlemenko comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Shlemenko gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

The referee calls the doctor in to look at Johnny Grind's cut. Oh no, the doctor has called an end to the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:08 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Cut). Vladimir Shlemenko!
An out of breath Vladimir Shlemenko thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.