PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Chernokov (ranked 947 p4p, 119 weight class) and Black Rain (ranked 1177 p4p, 146 weight class). Chernokov comes to the cage accompanied by Disaster strikes - Mushroom cloud. Rain has chosen For Heavy Metal we will die! as his entrance music. Alexei Chernokov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Chernokov
vs
Rain

174 cm
31
165 lbs
20 - 13 - 2

180 cm
34
165 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexei Chernokov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Black Rain!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Thiago Cunha and Daniel Cesar.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Rain takes the fight into the clinch.
Rain fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rain lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Rain.
Still in the clinch, Rain scores with a nice short uppercut.
Chernokov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rain lands with a right to the head.

Chernokov breaks the clinch.
Rain lands with a right hand.
Rain gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Chernokov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Rain lands with a good body shot.
Chernokov takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Rain gets a clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Chernokov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
A head punch on the inside from Chernokov fails to land.
Rain blocks a body shot from Chernokov.
Chernokov prevents a body shot from Rain.
Rain doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Chernokov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Rain backwards.

Rain ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Rain no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Chernokov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Rain has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Chernokov has managed to get both his arms back between Rain's legs - danger averted.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chernokov pushes down on Rain's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Chernokov is working for a kimura but Rain is defending it quite comfortably.
Chernokov slips a nice elbow through Rain's hands, connecting with Rain's forehead.
Chernokov lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Rain wants to get back to full guard.
Chernokov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rain with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Chernokov is looking for a kimura but Rain is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Chernokov to get the leverage.
Rain is looking for a sweep. Chernokov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rain is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Chernokov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Chernokov's back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rain trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Chernokov is trying to break free.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Rain. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Rain has the hooks in. Chernokov is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Chernokov tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Rain landing strikes from the mount and Chernokov is in trouble!
My spies in IMMA Gym of Elite ASS inform me that Rain has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chernokov is bucking up trying to escape but Rain cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Rain can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Chernokov is looking to escape.
Rain lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rain lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Chernokov hang on?
Rain trying to control but Chernokov is having none of it.
Chernokov is working to get back to half guard.
Chernokov is working hard here to advance position.
Rain with shots to the head and body - Chernokov looks very uncomfortable down there.

Rain goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Chernokov turns into him and now he's in Rain's guard.

Chernokov stands up over his opponent, looking to dive in with a big punch. Here he comes, superman style! Oh, the punch misses and Rain has got him in a triangle choke for good measure! Oh no! Chernokov manages to get his head free but now Rain has transitioned to an armbar! Chernokov grimaces and is forced to tap! Beautiful Jiu Jitsu from Rain! I'd be surprised if that didn't end up as submission of the night!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Black Rain!
Black Rain decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.