PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Sergei Smirnov (ranked 4206 p4p, 405 weight class) and Rapsputin Cherno (ranked 3282 p4p, 351 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Smirnov
vs
Cherno

188 cm
26
220 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

193 cm
26
264 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sergei Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rapsputin Cherno!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Ivan Kurochkin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cherno fails with the takedown.
Cherno looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Cherno throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Cherno closes the distance and clinches.

Smirnov has picked Cherno up - he's going for a ride! Smirnov dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Smirnov working the head and body with strikes.
Well, if Smirnov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Cherno trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cherno wants to improve his position but Smirnov is controlling well.
Smirnov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov with the ground and pound but Cherno uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Smirnov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Cherno works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Cherno is on top in guard.

Cherno trying to control but Smirnov is working from the bottom.
Cherno looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Smirnov is trying to keep Cherno in close.

Cherno thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Smirnov keeping full guard, as Cherno tries to pass.
Smirnov is adopting a defensive guard.
Cherno looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cherno looking to sit in guard and control but Smirnov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Smirnov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Smirnov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Cherno striking from his own guard.
Smirnov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Cherno doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Smirnov advances position into side control!
Cherno tries to buck Smirnov off but Smirnov is having none of it.
Cherno manages to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Cherno with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Cherno keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Smirnov wants to control but Cherno is keeping him busy.
Cherno is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Smirnov perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Smirnov wants to take a breather but Cherno is having none of it.
Smirnov working Cherno over with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cherno trying to hold on to Smirnov's head to control him but Smirnov postures up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cherno is looking to improve his position.
Cherno trying to control but Smirnov postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Smirnov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smirnov clinches up against the cage.

Smirnov is trying to trip Cherno. He has hold of a leg but Cherno is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Smirnov persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Cherno is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Cherno wants to sweep here but Smirnov controlling him for the moment.
Smirnov trying to control but Cherno is working from the bottom.
Cherno is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnov throws a strike but Cherno rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Cherno looking to sit in guard and control but Smirnov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Smirnov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov throws an elbow that misses. Cherno uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smirnov's guard. Nice move by Cherno!

Cherno trying to control the position from guard on top but Smirnov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Cherno postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Smirnov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Cherno, into his guard.

Cherno is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smirnov defends well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Cherno tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Cherno preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Smirnov slips nicely into half guard.
Cherno regains full guard. Nicely done.
Cherno can't keep his opponent in guard - Smirnov advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Cherno is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Cherno trying to control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov is working for a kimura but Cherno is defending it quite comfortably.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cherno tries to roll over but Smirnov keeps him under control.
Smirnov throwing shots but Cherno is blocking nicely.
Cherno regains full guard. Nicely done.
Cherno trying to keep a closed guard but Smirnov is proving a slippery customer.
Cherno pulls Smirnov in close to prevent any damage.
Cherno bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smirnov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Cherno stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smirnov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smirnov keeping moving, preventing Cherno from controlling successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smirnov trying to control the position.
Smirnov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Smirnov dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Cherno pushes Smirnov up against the cage in a clinch.

Smirnov jumps guard and drags Cherno to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Cherno trying to control but Smirnov is working from the bottom.
Smirnov wants to stand but Cherno is controlling the position.
Cherno is in close to Smirnov's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Cherno passes into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cherno stalling.
Smirnov trying to control from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cherno passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Smirnov!
Smirnov is trying to escape the mount.
Cherno raining down hammerfists from mount.
Smirnov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smirnov tries to get out of the position.

Cherno goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Smirnov is on top in guard.
Cherno looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Cherno looking for a guillotine here but Smirnov defends easily.
Cherno wants to control the position but Smirnov says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.

Smirnov is looking for a kimura here.
Smirnov is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Cherno!
Smirnov throws a strike there. Cherno manages to avoid it well and slips a leg under to get to half guard.
Cherno punching from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Smirnov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smirnov working Cherno over with strikes.
Smirnov throwing shots but Cherno is blocking nicely.
Cherno has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smirnov is working away from the top position though.
Smirnov drops an elbow to the side of Cherno's head.
Smirnov wants to stand up but Cherno has a hold of him and won't allow it.

Cherno actively working from the bottom here.
Sergei Smirnov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cherno moves into full guard.
Cherno being controlled here, momentarily.
Cherno is trying to control the position but Smirnov postures up.
Smirnov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Cherno tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Rapsputin Cherno has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smirnov with a flurry of punches that miss.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Sergei Smirnov.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Smirnov, 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sergei Smirnov!
After the fight, Sergei Smirnov was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.