PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rio Serrano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dimitri Kerchev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Serrano comes to the cage accompanied by IT'S A LONG WAY TO THE TOP (IF YOU WANNA ROCK 'N' ROLL) . This should be fireworks!

Serrano
vs
Kerchev

209 cm
19
230 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

188 cm
20
212 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rio Serrano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dimitri Kerchev!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksandr Martynov and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kerchev decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Serrano trying to control from the bottom.
Serrano is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Kerchev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Serrano does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kerchev is controlling the pace.
Serrano blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kerchev.
Kerchev looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kerchev lands a nice short elbow.
Kerchev controlling the action here.
Kerchev is stalling here. Serrano is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kerchev seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Serrano has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Kerchev looks winded!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerchev tries to bench press Serrano off him but Serrano keeps the position.
Kerchev sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Kerchev looking for submissions off his back.
Kerchev on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Serrano slows the pace down in half guard.

Kerchev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Serrano pulls his head out easily.
Serrano prevents Kerchev from improving his position.

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.

Serrano seems to be working for a kimura but Kerchev defends the submission attempt.
Kerchev has hold of Serrano's hands but Serrano slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

Kerchev looking for submissions off his back.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kerchev can do anything to dispel that myth.
Serrano prevents Kerchev from improving his position.
Serrano has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kerchev working to try and regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Serrano controlling from the full mount.
Serrano has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Kerchev can't escape the 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.
Serrano working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kerchev is wriggling around trying to escape.
Serrano sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Serrano will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kerchev is looking to improve his position but Serrano isn't that keen on the idea.
Serrano takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kerchev manages to regain half guard. Good work.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rio Serrano dominated that round.
That's time! Serrano's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Serrano rushes Kerchev and presses him up against the cage.
Nice body punch from Serrano - that landed with a thud.

Serrano pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Serrano with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.

Serrano drops Kerchev with a right and a left! Serrano comes rushing in but Kerchev regains his composure and manages to keep Serrano in guard.

It looks like Dimitri Kerchev has been cut.
Serrano chips away with some ground and pound.
Serrano is working Kerchev over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Serrano stands up and waves to Kerchev to follow him.
Serrano throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Kerchev is rocked!
Rio Serrano is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Serrano lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kerchev is still on wobbly legs! Can Serrano finish him?
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Serrano lands a high kick!
Kerchev shoots in for a takedown but Serrano shows good takedown defense.
Kerchev seems to have recovered his senses.
Serrano fails to land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Serrano lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
We've been told by Serrano's head coaches at Komplete MMA Gym that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Serrano falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kerchev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Kerchev shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Serrano manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kerchev is stalling in the full guard.
Kerchev trying to control the position from guard on top but Serrano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Serrano has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerchev is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Serrano is controlling Kerchev's posture.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kerchev content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Serrano is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerchev trying to control the position from guard on top but Serrano is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kerchev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Serrano defends well and Kerchev ends up having to push Serrano into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kerchev looks for a takedown but Serrano sprawls well.
Rio Serrano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dimitri Kerchev.

Serrano fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kerchev, pushing him back against the cage.
Kerchev tries to score a body lock takedown but Serrano shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Serrano lands an elbow that stopped Kerchev in his tracks for a moment.
Serrano creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kerchev's defenses.

Serrano breaks the clinch.
Serrano throws a shot to the body.
Kerchev shoots in and drives through. Serrano sprawls well.
Kerchev closes the distance and clinches up with Serrano, looking for a takedown. Kerchev pushes Serrano against the cage but Serrano circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kerchev shoots in looking for a takedown. Serrano tries to sprawl out of it but Kerchev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Serrano manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Serrano throws a big counter combination but Kerchev scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice takedown defense from Serrano. No joy for Kerchev on that attempt.
Serrano throws a combination that misses
and Kerchev counters with a straight right hand.
Kerchev darts in looking for a takedown but Serrano gets double underhooks and turns Kerchev into the cage.
No luck for Kerchev with that takedown attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Serrano misses the target.
Serrano scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Serrano is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kerchev can do to turn this around?
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Serrano closes the distance and pushes Kerchev back into the cage.
Kerchev is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Kerchev stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

Kerchev jumps guard.

Serrano got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kerchev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Serrano has managed to get both his arms back between Kerchev's legs - danger averted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rio Serrano dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Dimitri Kerchev's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kerchev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Serrano counters with a two punch combo.
Kerchev takes a head kick and keeps coming.

Serrano darts in and clinches Kerchev up against the cage.
Serrano lands a good knee to the midsection. Kerchev won't want to take too many of those.
Kerchev has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Serrano avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Serrano stops a takedown attempt from Kerchev.
Rio Serrano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dimitri Kerchev.
Serrano gets through Kerchev's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kerchev tries to score a body lock takedown but Serrano shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Serrano is leaning against Kerchev and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Serrano lands an elbow that stopped Kerchev in his tracks for a moment.
Serrano tries to work over Kerchev's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Serrano lands a shoulder strike.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kerchev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kerchev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Serrano lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kerchev drops down looking for an ankle pick but Serrano pulls his leg out and moves away.
Serrano throws a right hand that Kerchev ducks under and follows up with a left that Kerchev also avoids with ease.
A little jabbing left from Kerchev on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Serrano gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kerchev engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Serrano keeping moving, preventing Kerchev from controlling successfully.
Rio Serrano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Serrano is looking to stand up but Kerchev isn't so interested in that idea.
Kerchev controlling from the top position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerchev wants to control from the top but Serrano keeps moving.
Kerchev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kerchev sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kerchev trying to control but Serrano is working from the bottom.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kerchev shoots for a double leg takedown but Serrano sprawls well. He's pushed Kerchev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kerchev or perhaps it was just good defense by Serrano, which made it look bad.
Rio Serrano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Serrano lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kerchev at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Serrano clinches up against the cage.
Kerchev tries for a takedown. No joy.

Serrano breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kerchev shoots in but Serrano avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kerchev blocks a head kick by Serrano.
Kerchev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Serrano as he jumps to the side.
Serrano turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kerchev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Serrano but Serrano pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kerchev misses with a takedown
and Serrano counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Serrano lands a head kick!
Kerchev looks for a takedown but Serrano sprawls well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerchev tries for a takedown but Serrano sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kerchev tries to score a power double leg takedown but Serrano sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kerchev somewhat.
Serrano goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kerchev.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Serrano throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kerchev tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Serrano is in Kerchev's guard.

Serrano avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Serrano is working Kerchev over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rio Serrano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Serrano has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rio Serrano!
After winning the bout, Rio Serrano thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
In defeat, Dimitri Kerchev stepped up to the mic, saying 'My opponent is gay!'.