PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kerry Larson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rashid Nezhmetdinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Larson
vs
Nezhmetdinov

155 cm
24
279 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

196 cm
25
252 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Very confident

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kerry Larson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rashid Nezhmetdinov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nezhmetdinov uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.

Larson decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Larson could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nezhmetdinov gets full guard.
Nezhmetdinov is trying to keep Larson in close.
Nezhmetdinov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nezhmetdinov pulls Larson in close to prevent any damage.
Nezhmetdinov wants to sweep here but Larson controlling him for the moment.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nezhmetdinov throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Nezhmetdinov can do anything to dispel that myth.
Larson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

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

Larson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Nezhmetdinov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Larson pulls Nezhmetdinov in close to his closed guard and prevents Nezhmetdinov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Nezhmetdinov postures up in Larson's guard and throws a big left but Larson blocks it.
Nezhmetdinov wants to pass the guard but Larson is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nezhmetdinov prevents Larson from getting back to his feet.
Nezhmetdinov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nezhmetdinov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larson keeping moving, preventing Nezhmetdinov from controlling successfully.
Nezhmetdinov throws a strike but Larson rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Nezhmetdinov trying to keep a closed guard but Larson is proving a slippery customer.

Nezhmetdinov looking for subs off his back but Larson has passed one foot through into half guard.
Nezhmetdinov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Larson is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larson prevents Nezhmetdinov from improving his position.

Nezhmetdinov looking for submissions off his back.
Larson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nezhmetdinov defending well though.

That's four 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.
Larson thows a huge punch but Nezhmetdinov dodges it nicely.
Larson lands strikes from half guard.
Nezhmetdinov has a hand on Larson's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Larson takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Nezhmetdinov is bucking up trying to escape but Larson cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nezhmetdinov tries to hold on but Larson pushes him away.
Larson prevents Nezhmetdinov from getting the reversal.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nezhmetdinov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Larson pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Nezhmetdinov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Larson tries to move into range but Nezhmetdinov moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

Larson gets caught napping as Nezhmetdinov dives in and scores a takedown. Larson manages to retain guard.
Nezhmetdinov wants to control from the top but Larson keeps moving.
Nezhmetdinov throwing strikes from guard but Larson blocks nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nezhmetdinov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Nezhmetdinov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nezhmetdinov is in close to Larson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Larson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nezhmetdinov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Larson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Nezhmetdinov is one step ahead there.
Larson is trying to control the position but Nezhmetdinov postures up.
Larson has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Nezhmetdinov prevents Larson from getting back to his feet.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Larson shoots in and gets a takedown into Nezhmetdinov's guard.
Nezhmetdinov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Nezhmetdinov trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nezhmetdinov looking for a sweep. Not yet Nezhmetdinov, not yet.
Nezhmetdinov is looking to sweep but instead, Larson has passed into half guard.
Nezhmetdinov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Larson thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nezhmetdinov's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nezhmetdinov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Larson scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Nezhmetdinov is looking to improve his position.
Nezhmetdinov trying to control from the bottom.

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

Nezhmetdinov shoots in and bounces Larson off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Nezhmetdinov throws a big right hand that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nezhmetdinov is in close to Larson's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Larson wants to stand up but Nezhmetdinov is controlling him.
Nezhmetdinov wants to control from the top but Larson keeps moving.
Larson wants to stand and escape but Nezhmetdinov is having none of it.
Nezhmetdinov looking to sit in guard and control but Larson gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nezhmetdinov 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.
Larson with a flurry of punches that miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rashid Nezhmetdinov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Larson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Nezhmetdinov trying to control but Larson is working from the bottom.
Nezhmetdinov landing some decent shots from guard.
Nezhmetdinov wants to pass the guard but Larson is keeping the position.
Nezhmetdinov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nezhmetdinov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Nezhmetdinov won't allow Larson to get back to his feet.
Nezhmetdinov wants to control from the top but Larson keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nezhmetdinov is working Larson over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Larson keeping full guard, as Nezhmetdinov tries to pass.
Larson keeping moving, preventing Nezhmetdinov from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Nezhmetdinov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Nezhmetdinov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Nezhmetdinov trying to control the position from guard on top but Larson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Larson is trying to keep Nezhmetdinov in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
No luck for Larson with that takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Larson shoots in for a takedown but Nezhmetdinov shows good takedown defense.

Nezhmetdinov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Larson is trying to defend but Nezhmetdinov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Nezhmetdinov. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Larson avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nezhmetdinov.
Nezhmetdinov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nezhmetdinov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Larson looking for submissions off his back.
Nezhmetdinov is nestled in close to Larson, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Larson wants to get back to his feet.
Nezhmetdinov throwing shots but Larson is blocking nicely.
Larson trying to hold on to Nezhmetdinov's head to control him but Nezhmetdinov postures up.
Nezhmetdinov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Nezhmetdinov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Nezhmetdinov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Larson defends it well.
Nezhmetdinov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Nezhmetdinov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Larson defends it well.
Nezhmetdinov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nezhmetdinov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Larson's head.
Larson is refusing to be controlled, as Nezhmetdinov sits in half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Nezhmetdinov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rashid Nezhmetdinov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Nezhmetdinov 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rashid Nezhmetdinov!