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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Sklemin (ranked 213 p4p, 30 weight class) and Mack Branco (ranked 196 p4p, 28 weight class). Branco has chosen Stranglehold as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!
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| 187 cm
28
200 lbs
18 - 11 - 0 |
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184 cm
31
190 lbs
22 - 8 - 2 |
Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible |
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Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Granite chin |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
18 - 11 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Sklemin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
22 - 8 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mack Branco!
The judges for this bout are Andrew Berry, Paul Tew and Donald Grub.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Branco doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Sklemin counters with a nice uppercut.
Sklemin misses the jab.
Sklemin connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Sklemin displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
It looks like Mack Branco has been cut.
Branco ducks under a wild hook from Sklemin.
Branco has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Sklemin misses with a hook. Branco ducked under it nicely.
Branco gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Sklemin throws the left hand but Branco avoids the punch easily.
Branco appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Sklemin throws a good cross that connects.
A jab from Sklemin misses.
A decent looking cross lands there for Sklemin.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sklemin connects with a crisp jab.
Sklemin throws a shot from downtown. Branco moves away and avoids it.
Sklemin is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Branco slips under a jab from Sklemin.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sklemin misses with a jab, cross combination.
Sklemin throws a shot from downtown. Branco moves away and avoids it.
Branco appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Sklemin closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Branco working aggressively here.
Branco tries a body shot but Sklemin blocks it.
Branco takes a shot to the head.
Branco can't get the takedown.
Sklemin looking to throw knees to the head but Branco is blocking nicely.
Branco misses with a hook from the clinch.
Branco lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Sklemin backwards.
Sklemin misses with some punches.
Branco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Branco throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sklemins head.
Sklemin swings wildly with an uppercut but Branco uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sklemin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Brancos head.
Sklemin misses with a punch on the inside.
Sklemin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Branco struggles to land a body shot inside as Sklemin controls his hands.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A head punch on the inside from Sklemin fails to land.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Sklemin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Branco misses with some punches.
Sklemin lands a left hand.
Branco lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sklemin backwards.
Branco throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Branco tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Branco misses with a body punch.
Branco misses with a punch on the inside.
Sklemin lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Branco swings wildly with an uppercut but Sklemin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sklemin takes a shot to the head.
Sklemin misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Branco.
Sklemin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Branco throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Sklemins head.
I was talking to Sklemin's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Branco digs a right hand underneath Sklemin's ribcage. Sklemin let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Branco cracks Sklemin with a nice body shot.
Branco can't find room to land a body shot as Sklemin controls the action.
Sklemin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Branco has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branco lands a shot to the body.
Branco tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sklemin smiles and moves away.
Sergey Sklemin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mack Branco.
Sklemin throws a hook to the side of Branco's head but Branco sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Branco looks to land a body kick but Sklemin moved away.
Branco misses with a hook.
Sklemin misses with an uppercut.
Sklemin misses with a shot to the body
and Branco counters with a left to the body.
Branco misses with a looping left.
Branco moves away from the strike by Sklemin.
Branco uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Sklemin.
Sklemin wants to clinch up but Branco keeps it at a distance.
Sklemin thows a left - swing and a miss!
Branco throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Sklemin sees it coming and avoids it easily.
It looked like Sklemin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Branco throws a jab when Sklemin was well out of range.
Sklemin misses with a body shot.
A countering left hand to the body from Branco misses.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Branco throws a right hand that misses
and Sklemin counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Branco drops his hands momentarily and Sklemin takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Sklemin is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
Sklemin jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Branco fails with a takedown attempt.
Branco bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sklemin throws a body shot but no joy.
Branco looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Sklemin throws an off balance right hand
and Branco counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Sklemin fails in his attempt to clinch.
Branco throws a leg kick but Sklemin checks it.
Nice uppercut lands for Sklemin. That snapped Branco's head back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Sergey Sklemin dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mack Branco's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.
Sklemin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Branco scores with a spinning back kick!
Sklemin misses with a lunging right hand
and Branco counters with a nice kick to the body.
Branco defending well as Sklemin loads up on a big left hand.
Branco flicks out a counter leg kick but Sklemin steps away.
Sklemin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
A jab from Sklemin misses.
Sergey Sklemin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Branco looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Sklemin looks to throw the jab but Branco is out of range.
Branco misses with a wild body shot.
Sklemin swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sklemin gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Branco.
Branco lands with a straight right. Sklemin didn't see that one coming.
Branco staying out of range there.
Branco with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Sklemin to score with a decent uppercut.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Crunch! Branco slams his shin into Sklemin's torso.
Sklemin lands with a right hand.
A looping hook to the body misses from Branco. Sklemin does a little dance to reset his feet.
Sklemin lands a jab.
Branco throws a low kick, looking for Sklemin's leg but Sklemin calmly moves out of range.
Branco moves away from the strike by Sklemin.
Branco looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Branco throws a hook but Sklemin avoids it easily.
Sklemin lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Sklemin with a jab.
Sklemin lands a body shot.
Sklemin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
A countering left hand to the body from Branco misses.
Sklemin throws a jab but it's blocked by Branco.
Branco fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sklemin manages to avoid it.
Sklemin takes a shot to the body in his stride.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sklemin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Branco.
Branco throws a jab when Sklemin was well out of range.
Branco takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Sklemin works over Branco's head and body with a nice combination.
The fighters circling - Sklemin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Branco appeared to try and counter that last move with a leg kick.
Branco ducks under a wild hook from Sklemin.
Sklemin takes one on the button.
Sklemin tries to clinch up but Branco circles away and keeps his distance.
Sklemin takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Branco takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Branco bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Branco doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Sklemin is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Branco can do to turn this around?
Branco comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Sklemin throws an off balance right hand
and Branco counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Sklemin thinking.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sklemin tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Branco paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sklemin misses with an uppercut
and Branco counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Branco paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Sklemin scores with a jab to the body.
Branco slips a jab from Sklemin.
Sklemin dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Sklemin shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Sklemin cracks Branco with an open hand slap.
Sklemin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Branco manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Sklemin throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Sklemin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Branco manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Branco replies with a solid counter kick to the body but Sklemin blocks it well.
A slow jab from Sklemin misses its intended target.
Sklemin lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sklemin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Branco counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sklemin won't be happy with that.
Branco tries to advance to mount but can't.
Branco trying to control the action but Sklemin is working from the bottom.
Branco tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Branco wants to control but Sklemin is keeping him busy.
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 Sergey Sklemin will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mack Branco's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.
The fighters circling - Sklemin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Branco! But no joy.
Sklemin moves into the clinch.
Branco lands a left hand that snaps the head of Sklemin backwards.
Sklemin's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Branco fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sklemin has a couple of punches blocked by Branco.
Sklemin looking to stall.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Branco.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Sklemin.
Branco swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Branco has a couple of punches blocked by Sklemin.
Sklemin misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sklemin trying to land knees to the body.
Sklemin throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Sklemin lands a right hand that snaps the head of Branco backwards.
Sklemin misses with the head strike.
Branco lands a hook that snaps the head of Sklemin backwards.
A shot in the inside from Branco.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Sklemin blocks a body shot from Branco.
Sklemin pushes Branco back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Sklemin prevents a body shot from Branco.
Branco gets through Sklemin's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Sklemin trying to land knees to the body.
Sklemin working aggressively here.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Branco.
Branco lands a takedown into guard.
Branco wants to control from the top but Sklemin keeps moving.
Branco postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sklemin is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Branco, into his guard.
Branco has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Mack Branco has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Branco keeping moving, preventing Sklemin from controlling successfully.
Branco looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sklemin is one step ahead there.
Sklemin stands up and waves to Branco to follow him.
Branco throws a hook but Sklemin blocks it.
A jab lands there for Sklemin.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sklemin missing with a left hand there. Branco was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Branco wants to counter the offense by Sklemin and move into the clinch position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Branco moves away from the strike by Sklemin.
Sklemin lands a head shot.
Branco showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Sklemin.
Branco only half commits to the counter leg kick.
The fighters circling - Sklemin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Branco was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Sklemin throws a jab but it's blocked by Branco.
Branco lands with a thumping leg kick.
Branco tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sklemin checks a low kick from Branco.
Sergey Sklemin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Sklemin lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Branco at a distance.
Branco moves forwards but Sklemin connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Sergey Sklemin is winning the standup battle so far.
Branco swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Branco fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sklemin manages to avoid it.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sklemin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Branco misses with an uppercut
and Sklemin counters with a nice uppercut.
Branco takes one to the chin there.
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!
Sklemin is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Branco.
Branco slips a jab and a cross from Sklemin.
Sklemin throws a lazy right hand but Branco sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Branco! But no joy.
Branco fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Sklemin manages to avoid it.
Branco throws out a leg kick but Sklemin moves out of range and Branco only half commits.
Sklemin missing with a left hand there. Branco was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Branco doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Branco takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Branco misses with a body kick.
Branco throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Sklemin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sklemin, 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 Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Sklemin!
Sergey Sklemin was full of energy after the big win and talked about how he thinks he can do big things in this sport. The crowd were appreciative of his determination to succeed.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
65% |
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