PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Bob Dam (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dimitri Kerchev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dam kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Bullet with a name on it. Dam has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. Bob Dam had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Dam
vs
Kerchev

188 cm
24
245 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

188 cm
20
212 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

KnockOut
EVOLUTION Clothing

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, Bob Dam!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dimitri Kerchev!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kerchev closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kerchev looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
The referee asks Kerchev politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Kerchev prefers to stall for the moment though.
It looks like Kerchev might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Kerchev is continuing to stall.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dam tries to bench press Kerchev off him but Kerchev keeps the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kerchev controlling from side mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerchev scores with punches from side control.
Dam is looking to reverse the position.
Kerchev landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Kerchev in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Kerchev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Dam. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's two 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.
You can see the frustration on Dam's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kerchev just content to control the position.
Kerchev misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Dam is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kerchev's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Kerchev is looking to take a break and control but Dam is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dam is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Kerchev drives through with a takedown into guard.
Dam can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kerchev controls the pace.
Dam seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Kerchev looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kerchev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kerchev must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dam is trying to control the position but Kerchev postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dam 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.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Kerchev is stalling in the full guard.
The adventures of Kerchev the control monster continue. Boring.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Dam shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kerchev pinned against the cage. Kerchev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
A little jabbing left from Kerchev on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dimitri Kerchev dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Bob Dam's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dam stuffs the takedown.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Dam.
Kerchev fails with a takedown attempt.
Kerchev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

Kerchev shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kerchev showed some decent athleticism there.
Kerchev is thwarting Dam's attempts to control the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kerchev has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Dam tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dam tries to hold on but Kerchev pushes him away.
Kerchev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Dam is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kerchev landing strikes from the mount.
Kerchev trying to control but Dam is having none of it.
Dam is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerchev trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Dam is desperately trying to improve his position but Kerchev has a good base and remains in mount.
Dam tries to hold on but Kerchev pushes him away.
Dam is looking to improve his position but Kerchev isn't that keen on the idea.
Kerchev trying to control but Dam is having none of it.
Kerchev looking to control and managing it successfully.
Dam is squirming around, avoiding Kerchev's attempts to control the action.
Kerchev sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerchev can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Dam is looking to escape.
Dam has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Kerchev's lack of action.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kerchev in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kerchev trying to control from half guard but Dam is working away.
Dam manages to get to full guard.
Dam working a defensive guard here.
Kerchev is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kerchev trying to control the position from guard on top but Dam is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dimitri Kerchev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Bob Dam's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Kerchev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Dam's waist but Dam gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kerchev off to one side.

Kerchev closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kerchev lands in his opponent's guard.
Kerchev trying to control but Dam is working from the bottom.
Kerchev engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kerchev connects with a couple of short punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dam keeping moving, preventing Kerchev from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kerchev looking to sit in guard and control but Dam gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kerchev working for submissions but it's allowed Dam to get to half guard.
Dam wants to free his trapped foot but Kerchev is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Kerchev makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Kerchev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dam but Dam pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kerchev misses with a takedown attempt - Dam sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bob Dam has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dimitri Kerchev.
Kerchev closes the distance and clinches up with Dam, looking for a takedown. Kerchev pushes Dam against the cage but Dam circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bob Dam is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dam displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kerchev.
Dam swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Kerchev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dam defends it nicely.
A slapping body kick lands there for Dam.
Dam keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kerchev shoots and misses
and Dam counters with a nice body shot.
Dam throws a head kick that misses.

Dam moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kerchev gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Kerchev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Dam keeps working.
Kerchev is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Kerchev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dam does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Dam is trying to stand.
Kerchev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Dam missing with punches from the bottom.
Kerchev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kerchev shoots in for a double leg but Dam sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dam leaves Kerchev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Dam shoots in for a takedown but Kerchev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Kerchev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kerchev fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Kerchev feints and as Dam raises his hands in defense, Kerchev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Dam escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kerchev gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kerchev distracts Dam with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bob Dam showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kerchev 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 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dimitri Kerchev!
Dimitri Kerchev bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.
Bob Dam spoke after the fight, saying 'Good fight '.