PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Burenkov (ranked 953 p4p, 1011 weight class) and Joey Simone (ranked 146 p4p, 157 weight class). Simone has chosen Gucci Mane - Trap God Intro as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Burenkov
vs
Simone

178 cm
28
170
8 - 6 - 0

198 cm
24
175
9 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Altitude Clothing
Core Combat

Core Combat
Ma Balls Is Hot Clothing

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 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergey Burenkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joey Simone!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Ivan Kurochkin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simone connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

It looks like Sergey Burenkov has been cut.
Burenkov moves out of range of the strikes.
Burenkov doesn't manage to clinch there - Simone circles away.
A low kick lands for Simone.
Simone chopping away at his opponent's legs.

Simone gets caught flat footed, as Burenkov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Burenkov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Simone is trying to improve his position.
Burenkov tries to advance to mount but Simone denies him.
We've been hearing that Burenkov has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Burenkov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Simone knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Simone is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Burenkov is looking to advance position but Simone won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burenkov wants to control but Simone is keeping him busy.
Simone wants to get back to full guard.
Simone trying to control here.

Burenkov is working for a submission of some sort.
Simone is looking to improve his position.
Burenkov controlling the action here.
Burenkov is keen to just control but Simone is a slippery customer.
Simone wants to improve his position but Burenkov is controlling well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Simone wants to control but Burenkov is keeping busy.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Burenkov wants to control but Simone is keeping him busy.
Burenkov tries to pass to full mount but Simone defends it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ground and pound from Burenkov.
Simone slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Simone looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Simone is trying to keep Burenkov in close.

Simone looking for a guillotine here but Burenkov defends easily.
Simone looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simone is trying to keep Burenkov in close.
Burenkov stays in close to Simone's body and controls the position.
Burenkov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Burenkov has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Simone!

Burenkov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Simone keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.

Burenkov is working for a guillotine from mount but Simone frees his head quite easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simone is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Burenkov with a couple of short strikes.
Simone is looking to improve his position but Burenkov isn't that keen on the idea.
Burenkov landing punches.
Burenkov works his way to his opponent's back.

Burenkov is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Simone defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

Burenkov working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Burenkov is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Burenkov's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Burenkov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Sergey Burenkov's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Burenkov with a poor takedown
and Simone counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Burenkov takes a swing at Simone's ribcage but misses.
Burenkov shoots in for a double leg but Simone sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Simone throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Burenkov stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

Burenkov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Simone manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Simone seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Simone throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

Simone throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Simone trying to control the position.
Sergey Burenkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simone is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Burenkov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simone wants to sweep here but Burenkov controlling him for the moment.
Simone looking to control.
Simone is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Our spies down at at Marty Robbin's Fight Ranch™ inform us that Simone has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Burenkov wants to pass the guard but Simone is keeping the position.
Burenkov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Burenkov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Simone is keeping the position for now.
Burenkov scoring with punches to the head and body.

Simone looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Simone looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simone keeping full guard, as Burenkov tries to pass.
Simone wants to sweep here but Burenkov controlling him for the moment.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Simone is on top in guard.

Simone being controlled here momentarily.
Simone is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Burenkov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Simone stopping the sweep attempt from Burenkov.
Burenkov is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simone trying to control the position from guard on top but Burenkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Burenkov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Burenkov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Simone wants to pass the guard but Burenkov is keeping the position.
Burenkov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Simone passes into half guard.

Simone is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Burenkov is trying to control but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Burenkov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Burenkov.
Burenkov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Simone slips nicely into half guard.
Simone slows the pace down in half guard.
Burenkov is trying to control but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Simone stalling away here and it's allowed Burenkov to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Simone stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Burenkov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Burenkov is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Joey Simone will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Sergey Burenkov's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Simone falls off balance throwing a combination
and Burenkov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Simone throws a leg kick that is checked
letting Burenkov counter with a right hand.
Simone throws a push kick but Burenkov slaps the foot to one side.
Simone looks to land a left hand but Burenkov moved out of range nicely.
An attempted straight right counter from Burenkov misses the target.
Simone misses with a leg kick.
Simone tries a low kick but Burenkov avoids it.
Simone will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Burenkov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Simone sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Burenkov tests Simone's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Burenkov checks a leg kick.
Joey Simone seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Burenkov throws a body punch but Simone moves out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Burenkov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Simone throws out the jab.
Simone ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Burenkov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Burenkov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Simone can do to turn this around?
Simone bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Burenkov's head.

Burenkov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burenkov passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Simone!
Simone looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!

Burenkov is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Simone is defending well though. Burenkov let's go of the attempt for now.

Simone defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Burenkov is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Simone manages to reverse the position and now he's in Burenkov's guard. Nice work there by Simone.
Simone trying to control but Burenkov is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burenkov keeping full guard, as Simone tries to pass.

Burenkov is looking for a triangle but Simone pushes his legs off easily.
Simone won't allow Burenkov to sweep him here.
Burenkov keeping full guard, as Simone tries to pass.
Simone trying to control the position from guard on top but Burenkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Simone pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Burenkov is keeping the position for now.
Burenkov keeping moving, preventing Simone from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burenkov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Simone stacks Burenkov on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Simone!
Simone is looking to take a break and control but Burenkov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Burenkov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Simone's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Burenkov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Simone's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Simone's back!
Burenkov is not going to allow Simone to sit and survive in this position.
Simone is in bad spot here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Burenkov is looking for a rear naked choke here but Simone reverses the position brilliantly into Burenkov's guard!
Simone trying to control but Burenkov is working from the bottom.
Simone slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Simone trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Burenkov is on top in guard.

Burenkov trying to control but Simone is working from the bottom.
Burenkov tries to free his leg and advance position but Simone is retaining full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Burenkov showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Burenkov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergey Burenkov!
A relieved looking Sergey Burenkov thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.