PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vasily Demchenkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Oleg Shevchenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Demchenkov
vs
Shevchenko

176 cm
25
237 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
25
220 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Hates pizza

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight 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, Vasily Demchenkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Oleg Shevchenko !
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Ivan Kurochkin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Demchenkov has managed to clinch.

Shevchenko has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Demchenkov is trying to keep an underhook but Shevchenko manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Shevchenko trying to advance position but Demchenkov counters by regaining guard.
Shevchenko stopping the sweep attempt from Demchenkov.
Shevchenko is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Demchenkov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shevchenko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Demchenkov preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Shevchenko looking to sit in guard and control but Demchenkov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shevchenko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Demchenkov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Demchenkov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Demchenkov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Shevchenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Demchenkov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Demchenkov landing some decent shots from guard.
Shevchenko is pulling down on Demchenkov's head to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Demchenkov looking to sit in guard and control but Shevchenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Shevchenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Demchenkov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Shevchenko 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 fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Demchenkov wants to hit a switch here but Shevchenko passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Demchenkov there!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shevchenko with a couple of short strikes.

Shevchenko goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Demchenkov turns into him and now he's in Shevchenko 's guard.
Demchenkov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Shevchenko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shevchenko being controlled here, momentarily.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shevchenko can do anything to dispel that myth.
Demchenkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Shevchenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Demchenkov throws a big right hand that misses.
Shevchenko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Shevchenko is looking to stand up but Demchenkov isn't so interested in that idea.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shevchenko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Shevchenko keeps trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Oleg Shevchenko dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Shevchenko throws a body kick that misses.

Demchenkov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Demchenkov lands in his opponent's guard.
Shevchenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Demchenkov pushing down on Shevchenko 's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Demchenkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shevchenko keeps working.
Demchenkov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Demchenkov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Demchenkov tries to pass to full mount but Shevchenko defends it.
Demchenkov trying to control from half guard but Shevchenko is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shevchenko is trying to maintain the position but Demchenkov is very close to passing his half guard.
Demchenkov trying to control from half guard but Shevchenko is working away.
Demchenkov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Shevchenko misses with some strikes from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Demchenkov fails with the takedown
letting Shevchenko counter with a right hand.

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.
Demchenkov misses with a takedown attempt - Shevchenko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shevchenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Demchenkov.
Demchenkov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shevchenko sprawls well. Shevchenko wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Demchenkov gets slowly back to his feet.
Shevchenko throws a fast counter high kick but Demchenkov manages to duck under it in time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vasily Demchenkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Shevchenko is defended easily by Demchenkov.
Demchenkov half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Demchenkov stuffs the takedown.

Shevchenko scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Demchenkov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Shevchenko in particular looking to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Demchenkov wants to control but Shevchenko is keeping busy.
Shevchenko lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

Shevchenko is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Demchenkov has managed to free his arm - good work.
Shevchenko misses with a head shot. Demchenkov uses the momentum to regain guard.

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.
Demchenkov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Shevchenko wants to control from the top but Demchenkov keeps moving.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shevchenko is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Demchenkov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Oleg Shevchenko will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Demchenkov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Shevchenko will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Shevchenko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Shevchenko has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Demchenkov is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Demchenkov wants to clinch

and Shevchenko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Demchenkov keeps control of the position for the meantime.

Shevchenko is looking for a kimura here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shevchenko is trying to work for a kimura but Demchenkov is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Demchenkov gets full guard.
Shevchenko preventing the sweep.
Shevchenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Demchenkov is keeping the position for now.
Demchenkov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Shevchenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Demchenkov is keeping the position for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Demchenkov keeping moving, preventing Shevchenko from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Demchenkov shoots in and gets a takedown into Shevchenko 's guard.
Demchenkov being controlled here momentarily.

Shevchenko throws his legs up looking for a submission but Demchenkov uses it to pass to side control.
Demchenkov working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Demchenkov working the head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Demchenkov trying to control the action but Shevchenko is working from the bottom.
Demchenkov working the ground and pound but Shevchenko is defending the strikes.
Shevchenko is looking for a sweep.
Demchenkov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Demchenkov is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Check out the look on Demchenkov's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Demchenkov is looking to take a break and control but Shevchenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shevchenko is looking for a sweep.
Shevchenko struggling a bit here.
Shevchenko is looking to regain half guard here but Demchenkov keeps moving and retains side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Shevchenko is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vasily Demchenkov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Shevchenko 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!