PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kon Sai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Chernov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sai comes to the ring accompanied by Sleep Now In the Fire. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Sai
vs
Chernov

176 cm
18
162 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

178 cm
19
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Basic striking
Intelligent

Wolfpack Threadz

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kon Sai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mark Chernov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chernov drops his hands momentarily and Sai takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.

Sai drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Sai is looking to stand up but Chernov won't let him.
Chernov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Chernov raining down shots from the mount!
Sai working to try and regain half guard.

Chernov goes for an armbar but Sai turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Sai.
Chernov looking for a sweep. Not yet Chernov, not yet.
Chernov working a defensive guard here.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Chernov seems keen to control Sai's posture.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chernov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Chernov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Sai wants to get up but he can't break Chernov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Sai postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Sai wanted to stand there but Chernov had control of the position.
Sai loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Chernov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sai manages to get himself to full guard.
Chernov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sai is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sai keeping moving, preventing Chernov from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sai wants to stand up but Chernov is controlling him.
Chernov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Sai is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Chernov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

We're going to have a standup here because Kon Sai wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Sai drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Sai drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Chernov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Sai has Chernov in his guard.
Chernov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chernov looking to sit in guard and control but Sai gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Sai postures up in Chernov's guard and throws a big left but Chernov blocks it.
Sai trying to control but Chernov is working from the bottom.

Sai drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Chernov dives on top into guard.
Chernov postures up.
Chernov tries to free his leg and advance position but Sai is retaining full guard.
Chernov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Chernov trying to control the position from guard on top but Sai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chernov is stalling in the full guard.
Sai trying to control the position.
Chernov wants to pass the guard but Sai is keeping the position.
Chernov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Chernov passes into half guard.
Chernov is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Sai reverses the position - he's now on top in Chernov's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Chernov keeping moving, preventing Sai from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mark Chernov will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sai manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Chernov on his heels. He'll look to pass Chernov's guard now, I'm sure.
Sai tries to free his leg and advance position but Chernov is retaining full guard.
Sai stopping the sweep attempt from Chernov.
Chernov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Sai wanted to stand there but Chernov had control of the position.
Chernov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sai!
Chernov wants to control the pace but Sai is squirming around nicely.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

Chernov goes for an armbar but Sai turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Sai.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sai postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Chernov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sai, into his guard.
Sai is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Chernov is controlling him.
Sai is trying to control the position but Chernov postures up.
Chernov forces his way into half guard.
Sai is staying active underneath Chernov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Chernov is thwarting Sai's attempts to control the position.
Chernov not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sai looks like he's trying to stand up.
Chernov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sai tries to get to full guard but Chernov has control of the leg.
Sai is working hard here to advance position.
Chernov wants to advance to full mount but Sai doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Sai keeping full guard, as Chernov tries to pass.
Chernov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chernov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sai is keeping the position for now.
Chernov passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Sai manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Chernov wants to get back to full guard.
Chernov is refusing to be controlled, as Sai sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chernov wants to control but Sai is keeping busy.
Sai with the ground and pound but Chernov uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Chernov keeping moving, preventing Sai from controlling successfully.

Chernov isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Sai stacks Chernov 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 Sai!
Chernov tries to improve position but can't.
Chernov is breathing heavily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sai is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Chernov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
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!

Sai working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mark Chernov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Sai throws a head kick that misses.

Chernov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Chernov wants to control but Sai is keeping him busy.
Sai is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Chernov's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Mark Chernov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Chernov trying to pass the guard but Sai defending well.
Chernov is trying to control the action in half guard but Sai is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Chernov in particular looking to stall.
Chernov is keen to just control but Sai is a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sai wants to improve his position but Chernov is controlling well.

Chernov is looking for a kimura but Sai is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Chernov to get the leverage.
Chernov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Chernov wants to pass to mount but Sai is defending the position.
Sai is doing well to control the position and prevent Chernov from advancing to side control.
Sai has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Chernov is working away from the top position though.
Sai works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sai wants to sweep here but Chernov controlling him for the moment.
Chernov trying to control but Sai is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sai wants to stand up but Chernov is controlling him.
Chernov wants to control from the top but Sai keeps moving.
Sai keeping full guard, as Chernov tries to pass.
Chernov pushes down on Sai's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Sai is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Chernov trying to control from Sai's half guard. Sai has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sai looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Chernov trying to control the position from guard on top but Sai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sai wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Chernov is now in half guard.
Chernov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Chernov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Sai tries to kick Chernov off but Chernov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Chernov content to control rather than advance.
Sai wants to get back to his feet.
Kon Sai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sai trying to control from the bottom.
Sai is staying active underneath Chernov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sai ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Chernov moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Chernov.
Chernov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Sai sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Chernov somewhat.
Mark Chernov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Chernov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A low kick from Sai misses

and Chernov counters with a single leg into guard. Sai didn't expect that.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Chernov wants to pass the guard but Sai is keeping the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Chernov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Chernov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mark Chernov!
An out of breath Mark Chernov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.