PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Howard McCormick (ranked 24274 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gegard Shlemenko (ranked 4352 p4p, 0 weight class). Howard McCormick could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Gegard Shlemenko's chin.

McCormick
vs
Shlemenko

200 cm
19
145 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

169 cm
26
140 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Howard McCormick!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gegard Shlemenko!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McCormick doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Shlemenko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
McCormick really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
McCormick misses with a takedown attempt
and Shlemenko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

McCormick is rocked!
McCormick is looking to clinch but Shlemenko is avoiding it.
McCormick definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Shlemenko works McCormick's body with a nice hook.
Shlemenko lands a slapping body shot.
Shlemenko throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
McCormick moves in looking to clinch but Shlemenko pushes him off.

McCormick closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Shlemenko to the mat! Shlemenko manages to get full guard.
McCormick is pushing down on Shlemenko's leg trying to pass to half guard. Shlemenko is fighting to maintain full guard but McCormick has managed to sneak the leg through.
This has been an exciting period of action!
McCormick with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
McCormick will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Shlemenko avoiding damage under a succession of punches from McCormick.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCormick works his way into full mount!

McCormick working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Shlemenko is looking to improve his position but McCormick isn't that keen on the idea.
McCormick with a couple of short strikes.
McCormick has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Shlemenko is trying to escape the mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko tries to hold on but McCormick pushes him away.
McCormick controlling from mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Shlemenko can do anything to dispel that myth.
McCormick's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
McCormick throws some wild stikes that Shlemenko manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McCormick content just to control the position here.
McCormick thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

McCormick looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

McCormick working for a guillotine from mount but Shlemenko is in no mood to give up.
McCormick controlling the position easily from mount.
Shlemenko really doesn't want to stay on the ground with McCormick. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

McCormick working for a guillotine from mount but Shlemenko is in no mood to give up.
McCormick controlling his opponent.
Shlemenko is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
McCormick content just to control the position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Howard McCormick dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Shlemenko swats away the attempt to clinch by McCormick.
Shlemenko misses with a hook.
Shlemenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Shlemenko fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Shlemenko lands with a good body shot.
Shlemenko lands a nice shot that snaps McCormick's head back.
Shlemenko paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McCormick swinging wildly here.
Shlemenko let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Howard McCormick seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
McCormick looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Shlemenko is clearly trying to counter these attacks from McCormick with a body shot.

McCormick fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Shlemenko to the ground. McCormick is now in Shlemenko's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McCormick not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Shlemenko 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.
McCormick trying to control the position from guard on top but Shlemenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
McCormick is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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.
Shlemenko looking to control.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Shlemenko keeping moving, preventing McCormick from controlling successfully.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
McCormick darts in trying to clinch
and Shlemenko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
McCormick 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 hook to the side of McCormick's head but McCormick sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McCormick is looking for a counter combo.
Shlemenko lands with a nice combination. McCormick backs away looking to recover.
Oh McCormick is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
McCormick tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Shlemenko counters with a nice body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko dodges the punch combination from McCormick.
McCormick seems to have got his legs back now.
McCormick misses with a looping left.
McCormick tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shlemenko appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
McCormick closes the distance and clinches up with Shlemenko, looking for a takedown. McCormick pushes Shlemenko against the cage but Shlemenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
A right-left combo lands from Shlemenko.
McCormick swats away the attempt to clinch by Shlemenko.
Shlemenko scores with a jab to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko scores with a jab to the body.
McCormick fails with the takedown
enabling Shlemenko to counter with a crisp jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - McCormick looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Shlemenko scores with a hook.
Shlemenko stuns McCormick with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Shlemenko moves into range and connects with a jab.
McCormick takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gegard Shlemenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

McCormick ducks under a wild hook from Shlemenko.
Shlemenko jabs McCormick to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Shlemenko scores with a jab.
Shlemenko clobbers McCormick with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
McCormick throws a nice looking combination but Shlemenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
McCormick falls off balance throwing a combination
and Shlemenko scores with a counter punch that sends McCormick to the canvas! Shlemenko smells blood - he's punishing McCormick with more strikes and the ref has stopped it! McCormick has no idea where he is - he's tackled the ref... oh dear, poor guy, the crowd is in hysterics!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gegard Shlemenko!