PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alex Shlemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Skellington (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shlemenko's entrance music is Rolex. A fine choice. Skellington has chosen Eye of the Tiger as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Shlemenko
vs
Skellington

175 cm
22
177 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

182 cm
18
173 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alex Shlemenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jack Skellington!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Yasuomi Hirokawa and Shigeki Sano.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shlemenko clinches up against the cage.
Skellington has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Shlemenko is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Shlemenko's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Shlemenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Nice takedown defense from Skellington. No joy for Shlemenko on that attempt.
Shlemenko misses with a double jab.
Skellington avoids the head kick by Shlemenko.
Skellington shoots in for a takedown but Shlemenko shows good takedown defense.
Shlemenko tries to clinch up but Skellington circles away and keeps his distance.
Shlemenko seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Skellington shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Skellington seems to be looking for submissions.
Shlemenko slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Skellington must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Shlemenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skellington throws a strike but Shlemenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Skellington wants to stand but Shlemenko is controlling the position.

Shlemenko stands up from Skellington's guard - Shlemenko perhaps looking for a knockout.
Skellington lands with a straight right. Shlemenko didn't see that one coming.
Skellington fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Shlemenko avoids it really well and circles away.
Skellington looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Alex Shlemenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Skellington.
Shlemenko thuds a left hand into Skellington's body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko misses with the combination.
Shlemenko throws a head kick that misses.

Shlemenko darts in and clinches Skellington up against the cage.

Shlemenko manages to break the clinch.

Skellington drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Skellington looking to sit in guard and control but Shlemenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Skellington pushes Shlemenko off and scrambles back to his feet.
Skellington misses with a takedown attempt - Shlemenko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Shlemenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shlemenko stalks Skellington and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Skellington's face. Skellington staggers backwards, shaken.
Shlemenko attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Shlemenko closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Skellington is trying to drag Shlemenko to the mat but Shlemenko just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shlemenko breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Skellington shoots in looking for a takedown but Shlemenko manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Skellington's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Shlemenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Skellington blocks a head kick by Shlemenko.
Shlemenko tries a head kick but it misses.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Skellington.
Shlemenko throws a big counter combination but Skellington scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Skellington avoids the head kick by Shlemenko.
Skellington doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Shlemenko throws a sloppy head kick and Skellington moves out of range easily.
Shlemenko is breathing heavily.
Skellington goes for a double leg but Shlemenko avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shlemenko continues to drive forward.
Shlemenko throws a leg kick
and Skellington counters with a nice uppercut.
Shlemenko tries to close the distance and clinch up but Skellington swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Shlemenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Shlemenko looks for the body kick but Skellington saw that one coming.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko fails with the takedown
and Skellington cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Skellington scores with a decent looking hook.
Alex Shlemenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shlemenko throws a series of punches but Skellington avoids them all with ease.
Shlemenko throws a head kick but Skellington moves out of range.
Shlemenko throws a head kick that misses
and Skellington counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Skellington lands a jab to the head.
Nice takedown defense from Shlemenko. No joy for Skellington on that attempt.
Shlemenko tries to clinch up but Skellington circles away and keeps his distance.
Skellington jabs Shlemenko to the body, keeping him at a distance.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A thudding body kick lands there by Shlemenko!
Shlemenko fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Skellington with the counter takedown but Shlemenko avoids it easily.
Shlemenko throws a leg kick that is checked

and Skellington counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Shlemenko!
Skellington is looking to take a break and control but Shlemenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Skellington works to advance to full mount. Shlemenko defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Shlemenko dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Skellington lands a slapping body shot.
Shlemenko tries to clinch but Skellington moves out of range.
Nice takedown defense from Shlemenko. No joy for Skellington on that attempt.
Shlemenko doesn't manage to clinch there - Skellington circles away.
Skellington tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Shlemenko defends well and Skellington ends up having to push Shlemenko into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Shlemenko throws a counter high kick but Skellington was just alert enough to avoid it.
Shlemenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nice takedown defense from Shlemenko. No joy for Skellington on that attempt.
Alex Shlemenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Skellington.
Skellington avoids the head kick by Shlemenko.
Skellington drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Shlemenko defends it well.
Skellington takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Skellington changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shlemenko tries to avoid it but Skellington manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shlemenko to the ground. Shlemenko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shlemenko shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Skellington but Skellington pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Shlemenko will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Skellington looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shlemenko is fending him off so far but Skellington persists. Nope, Shlemenko circles away and we're back to standing.

Skellington gets the takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skellington throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Skellington wants to control but Shlemenko is keeping him busy.

Skellington tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Shlemenko tries to buck Skellington off but Skellington is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shlemenko manages to get back to half guard.
Shlemenko is not content to let Skellington control the position.
Skellington thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Shlemenko's head.

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.
Skellington thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Skellington thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Shlemenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Skellington.
Skellington drops an elbow to the side of Shlemenko's head.
Skellington working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Skellington wants to lay and pray for a moment but Shlemenko keeps working.
Skellington is nestled in close to Shlemenko, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Skellington throwing shots but Shlemenko is blocking nicely.
Shlemenko trying to control from the bottom.
Shlemenko wants to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Shlemenko throws a head kick that misses.
Decent striking displayed by Skellington there.
Shlemenko scores with a head kick.
Skellington tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Shlemenko swivels and escapes.
Skellington changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Shlemenko tries to avoid it but Skellington manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Shlemenko to the ground. Shlemenko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Skellington will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Skellington has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Skellington crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Shlemenko - the referee stops the clock and Skellington gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Shlemenko. Skellington manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Skellington catches Shlemenko with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Shlemenko tries to clinch but Skellington moves out of range.
Shlemenko throws a head kick that misses.
Shlemenko lands a nice looking body kick.

Skellington closes the distance and pushes Shlemenko back into the cage.
Shlemenko misses with the head strike.
Shlemenko with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Skellington is keeping busy.

Skellington breaks the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shlemenko slaps away a takedown attempt from Skellington, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Shlemenko lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Shlemenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Alex Shlemenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Skellington darts in looking for a takedown but Shlemenko gets double underhooks and turns Skellington into the cage.
Shlemenko throws a nice looking combination but Skellington bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
A jab from Shlemenko misses.
Shlemenko closes the distance and clinches up with Skellington, looking for a takedown. Shlemenko pushes Skellington against the cage but Skellington circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Skellington rushes Shlemenko and presses him up against the cage.

Skellington has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Shlemenko is trying to keep an underhook but Skellington manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Skellington looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Shlemenko with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Alex Shlemenko will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Shlemenko takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Skellington fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Shlemenko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Skellington closes the distance and clinches up with Shlemenko, looking for a takedown. Skellington pushes Shlemenko against the cage but Shlemenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A head kick misses from Shlemenko.
Skellington shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Shlemenko but Shlemenko pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Alex Shlemenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jack Skellington.
Shlemenko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Skellington's waist but Skellington gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shlemenko off to one side.
Skellington blocks a head kick by Shlemenko.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Skellington misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Skellington gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Shlemenko to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Shlemenko trying to control but Skellington is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Skellington is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Shlemenko is controlling him.
Shlemenko 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.

Skellington has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Shlemenko has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Shlemenko has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Shlemenko jumps guard but Skellington stands there with Shlemenko around his waist. Shlemenko gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Skellington drops down looking for an ankle pick but Shlemenko pulls his leg out and moves away.
Skellington closes the distance and clinches up with Shlemenko, looking for a takedown. Skellington pushes Shlemenko against the cage but Shlemenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shlemenko looked to counter with a high kick but didn't commit.
Horrible takedown attempt by Skellington or perhaps it was just good defense by Shlemenko, which made it look bad.
Skellington throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Shlemenko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko misses with a head kick.
A head kick misses from Shlemenko.
Shlemenko throws a sloppy head kick and Skellington moves out of range easily.
Shlemenko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

Skellington takes the fight into the clinch.
Skellington drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Shlemenko gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Skellington goes for a takedown attempt but Shlemenko pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Shlemenko misses with a head kick.
Skellington needs to keep his hands up - Shlemenko had a free shot at his head there.
Shlemenko lands a head kick. Skellington smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Alex Shlemenko is winning the standup battle so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shlemenko displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Skellington.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Skellington shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Skellington throws a strike but Shlemenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Shlemenko throwing strikes from guard but Skellington blocks nicely.

Skellington has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Shlemenko has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Shlemenko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Shlemenko.
Skellington looking for a takedown.
Skellington is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Shlemenko jumps guard.
Skellington with a flurry of punches that miss.
Skellington throws a strike but Shlemenko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Shlemenko's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Skellington wants to stand and escape but Shlemenko is having none of it.

Shlemenko decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Shlemenko connects with a high kick.
Shlemenko leaves Skellington with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Skellington takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Jack Skellington has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Shlemenko throws a right and a left that Skellington avoids nicely.
Alex Shlemenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Shlemenko throws a one two combo.
Shlemenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Skellington tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Shlemenko was well out of range. Poor timing from Skellington.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alex Shlemenko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Shlemenko, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight for Alex Shlemenko!
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight for Alex Shlemenko!
Judge Shigeki Sano scores the fight for Alex Shlemenko!

Alex Shlemenko wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath Alex Shlemenko thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.