PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Alexsandr Slemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akira Toushikama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Slemenko kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Небо Славян. Alexsandr Slemenko has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Slemenko
vs
Toushikama

180 cm
26
180 lbs
5 - 4 - 1

179 cm
25
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Cripplers Corner

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 5 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexsandr Slemenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Akira Toushikama !
The judges for this bout are Jorge Garcia, David Schapiro and John Kavanagh.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No luck with that takedown attempt from Toushikama .

Toushikama closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Slemenko did well to prevent Toushikama getting side control.
Toushikama controlling the action here.
Let's hope that Toushikama 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
We're seeing a lot of stalling here from Toushikama .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Toushikama thows a huge punch but Slemenko dodges it nicely.
Toushikama is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Toushikama shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Slemenko manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Toushikama looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toushikama seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Toushikama is looking to work some ground and pound but Slemenko has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toushikama advances to half guard.
Slemenko trying to control from the bottom.
Toushikama controlling the action here.
Toushikama working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Slemenko's thigh. Slemenko counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Toushikama loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

Toushikama drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Slemenko dives on top into guard.

Toushikama is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Toushikama is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Toushikama not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Toushikama not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Toushikama keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Toushikama is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Toushikama controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Toushikama dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Toushikama shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Slemenko as he avoids it easily.

Toushikama feints and as Slemenko raises his hands in defense, Toushikama changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Toushikama is pushing down on Slemenko's leg trying to pass to half guard. Slemenko is fighting to maintain full guard but Toushikama has managed to sneak the leg through.
Toushikama controlling the action here.
Slemenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toushikama throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Toushikama thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Slemenko's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Toushikama in particular looking to stall.
Slemenko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Toushikama .
Akira Toushikama has got the better of the ground game so far.
Toushikama landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Slemenko pushes Toushikama off looking to stand but Toushikama dives back in and keeps control.
Toushikama throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Toushikama missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Toushikama keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Toushikama fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Slemenko to the ground. Toushikama is now in Slemenko's guard.
Toushikama has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Toushikama controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toushikama pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Slemenko is keeping the position for now.
Toushikama is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toushikama throwing strikes but missing.
Toushikama is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Toushikama misses with a combination

and Slemenko counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Slemenko.
Toushikama is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Slemenko gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Toushikama has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Slemenko clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Toushikama slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Toushikama missing with strikes.
Toushikama throwing damaging strikes from the back! Slemenko could be in trouble here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Toushikama misses with punches from the back.
Toushikama is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Akira Toushikama showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Toushikama shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Slemenko napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Toushikama controlling the position.
Toushikama throwing shots but missing, from side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Toushikama controls the position.
Slemenko parries the strikes from Toushikama easily there. Toushikama is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Slemenko to escape.
Toushikama controls the position.

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

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Toushikama looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Slemenko!
Toushikama in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Slemenko dodges the ground and pound from Toushikama .

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Toushikama content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Toushikama landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Toushikama is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Slemenko's shoulder. That is not cool.
Toushikama working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Toushikama content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Alexsandr Slemenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Toushikama feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Toushikama 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Slemenko working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Toushikama .
Toushikama is stalling in the full guard.
Toushikama slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Toushikama controls the position.
Akira Toushikama is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Akira Toushikama comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Toushikama winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Jorge Garcia scores the fight 26:30
Judge David Schapiro scores the fight 26:30
Judge John Kavanagh scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Akira Toushikama !
A victorious Akira Toushikama thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.