PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kittichai Bangkok (ranked 9525 p4p, 870 weight class) and Alex Shlemenko (ranked 9862 p4p, 880 weight class). Shlemenko is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Rolex. Alex Shlemenko is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Bangkok
vs
Shlemenko

185 cm
18
179 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
23
177 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Knockout power

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Kittichai Bangkok!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of New York, Alex Shlemenko!
The judges for this bout are Kenichi Hosakawa, Taro Takaoka and Yukihiro Yamamoto.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shlemenko does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Bangkok displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Shlemenko.
Bangkok tries to clinch but Shlemenko moves out of range.
Shlemenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Bangkok tries to clinch up but Shlemenko circles away and keeps his distance.
Bangkok is looking to clinch but Shlemenko is avoiding it.
Shlemenko fails with the takedown.
Shlemenko scores with a head kick. Bangkok tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Shlemenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Bangkok instigates a clinch.

Shlemenko breaks the clinch.

Bangkok moves into range and clinches up with Shlemenko.
Bangkok tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Shlemenko smiles and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bangkok cracks the inside of Shlemenko's front leg.
Bangkok looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Shlemenko is fending him off so far but Bangkok persists. Nope, Shlemenko circles away and we're back to standing.
Bangkok has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick misses from Shlemenko.
Shlemenko tries to land a front kick but Bangkok steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shlemenko throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Shlemenko closes the distance and clinches up with Bangkok, looking for a takedown. Shlemenko pushes Bangkok against the cage but Bangkok circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kittichai Bangkok has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alex Shlemenko.
Shlemenko throws a sloppy head kick and Bangkok moves out of range easily.
Bangkok blocks a head kick by Shlemenko.
Bangkok ducks right into an uppercut from Shlemenko.
Shlemenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Bangkok darts in and clinches Shlemenko up against the cage.
Shlemenko tries to circle away but Bangkok has him pinned against the cage.

Shlemenko pulls Bangkok into guard.
Shlemenko thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Shlemenko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Bangkok trying to control the position from guard on top but Shlemenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Shlemenko pushes Bangkok off and gets back to his feet.
Shlemenko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bangkok as he jumps to the side.
Bangkok seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Bangkok moves in looking to clinch but Shlemenko pushes him off.
Shlemenko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Bangkok tries to clinch up.
Bangkok avoids the head kick by Shlemenko.
Bangkok is looking to clinch.
A head kick misses from Shlemenko.
Bangkok misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Shlemenko throws a counter combo.

Bangkok gets a clinch.

Shlemenko jumps guard and drags Bangkok to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Shlemenko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bangkok gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Shlemenko looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Shlemenko is trying to keep Bangkok in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Shlemenko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Shlemenko looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

Shlemenko is looking for a triangle but Bangkok pushes his legs off easily.
Shlemenko looking to hit a scissor sweep but Bangkok is one step ahead there.
Bangkok has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Shlemenko striking off his back but it's not causing Bangkok any problems.

Shlemenko is looking for a triangle but Bangkok pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Shlemenko seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Bangkok tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Shlemenko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Shlemenko throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Bangkok's head.
Bangkok tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Shlemenko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shlemenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Alex Shlemenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Shlemenko tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Bangkok swivels and escapes.
Shlemenko throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bangkok's waist but Bangkok gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Shlemenko off to one side.
Bangkok tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shlemenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bangkok wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alex Shlemenko dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Bangkok shoots for a double leg takedown but Shlemenko sprawls well. He's pushed Bangkok's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alex Shlemenko seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Shlemenko blocks a head kick by Bangkok.
Shlemenko throws a head kick that misses.
Shlemenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
A head kick from Shlemenko lands but Bangkok takes it in his stride.
Bangkok tries to close the distance and clinch up but Shlemenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Bangkok stuffs the takedown.
Shlemenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Bangkok.

Bangkok clinches up against the cage.

Bangkok has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Shlemenko uses from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shlemenko lands a couple of digs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Shlemenko stands and steps away. Bangkok gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Shlemenko takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Shlemenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Shlemenko throws a head kick that misses.
Bangkok doesn't manage to clinch there - Shlemenko circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shlemenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bangkok half committed to a counter leg kick.

Shlemenko darts in and clinches Bangkok up against the cage.
Bangkok utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Shlemenko is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Bangkok to keep the fight standing.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Bangkok.
Shlemenko avoiding damage as Bangkok throws knees to the body.
Bangkok looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Bangkok misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bangkok trying to land knees to the body.

Shlemenko ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Shlemenko no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Shlemenko has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Shlemenko is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Bangkok is looking for a sweep. Shlemenko is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Bangkok has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Shlemenko lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Shlemenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Bangkok is defending against the submission attempts here by Shlemenko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko throwing shots but Bangkok is blocking nicely.

Shlemenko is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Shlemenko is looking for a kimura but Bangkok is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Shlemenko to get the leverage.
Alex Shlemenko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Shlemenko not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shlemenko drops an elbow to the side of Bangkok's head.

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.
Shlemenko working Bangkok over with strikes.
Nice strikes from Shlemenko there.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Shlemenko connects with a nice short shot to Bangkok's temple.
Shlemenko is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Shlemenko is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Bangkok!
Shlemenko fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Bangkok is rocked!
Shlemenko has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Shlemenko postures up and throws a big right hand. BOOM! Right on the button! Bangkok is out cold - huge knockout for Shlemenko!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Alex Shlemenko!
After winning the bout, Alex Shlemenko thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.