PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Gap Turner (ranked 4345 p4p, 439 weight class) and Sergey Chernishev (ranked 3333 p4p, 357 weight class). Chernishev has chosen MC Hovanskiy - Father in the building as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Turner
vs
Chernishev

177 cm
34
166 lbs
12 - 7 - 0

173 cm
28
165 lbs
13 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 12 - 7 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gap Turner!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 13 - 0, fighting out of New York, Sergey Chernishev!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Chernishev scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Turner is defended easily by Chernishev.
Turner fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Chernishev avoids it really well and circles away.

Chernishev closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Turner's guard.

Turner has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Chernishev can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Turner is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turner bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Chernishev's guard.

Turner throwing strikes from guard but Chernishev blocks nicely.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Turner trying to control the position from guard on top but Chernishev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turner working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Turner wants to control from the top but Chernishev keeps moving.
Turner throws an elbow that misses. Chernishev uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Turner's guard. Nice move by Chernishev!

Chernishev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Chernishev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Turner wants to sweep here but Chernishev controlling him for the moment.
Chernishev trying to control the position from guard on top but Turner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Chernishev won't allow Turner to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Turner looking for a sweep. Not yet Turner, not yet.

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

Turner is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Turner is trying to control the position but Chernishev postures up.
Turner bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Chernishev's guard.

Turner trying to control the position from guard on top but Chernishev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Turner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Chernishev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Turner trying to control but Chernishev is working from the bottom.
Chernishev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chernishev wants to pass to mount but Turner is defending the position.
Turner works his way to full guard. Good work.
Chernishev working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Turner is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Chernishev trying to control the position from guard on top but Turner is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Turner is looking for a triangle but Chernishev pushes his legs off easily.
Turner keeping moving, preventing Chernishev from controlling successfully.
Chernishev throwing strikes from guard but Turner blocks nicely.

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.
Chernishev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Turner is on top in guard.

Turner won't allow Chernishev to sweep him here.
Turner passes Chernishev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Turner missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Turner missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Chernishev is staying active underneath Turner, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Turner missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Turner seems to be looking for submissions.
Turner with the ground and pound but Chernishev uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Turner won't allow Chernishev to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Sergey Chernishev will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Turner is trying hard to land a takedown here. Chernishev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Turner shoots in for a takedown but Chernishev shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Turner shoots in for a double leg but Chernishev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gap Turner. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Chernishev with a jab.
Turner shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Chernishev pinned against the cage. Chernishev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Chernishev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Turner quickly recovers to half guard.
Turner trying to control from the bottom.
Turner is concentrating on defense, preventing Chernishev from advancing position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chernishev is thwarting Turner's attempts to control the position.
Chernishev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Turner does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Chernishev lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Turner trying to hold on to Chernishev's head to control him but Chernishev postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chernishev wants to take a breather but Turner is having none of it.
Chernishev slips a nice elbow through Turner's hands, connecting with Turner's forehead.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Chernishev connects with a nice short shot to Turner's temple.
Turner is trying to maintain the position but Chernishev is very close to passing his half guard.
Chernishev throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Turner is controlling Chernishev's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Chernishev has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Turner wants to get back to full guard.
Turner is trying to maintain the position but Chernishev is very close to passing his half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Chernishev lands a nice short elbow.

Turner actively working from the bottom here.
Turner wants to improve his position but Chernishev is controlling well.
Turner 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Chernishev.
Turner tries to get to full guard but Chernishev has control of the leg.
Turner trying to control but Chernishev postures up.
Turner tries to get to full guard but Chernishev has control of the leg.
Turner has hold of Chernishev's hands but Chernishev slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Turner is looking to improve his position.
Chernishev passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Chernishev.
Chernishev is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Chernishev lands a couple of good shots and Turner has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Chernishev tries to keep control of the position but Turner is staying busy.
Chernishev connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Turner to escape the position.
Chernishev is hanging on to Turner's back as he tries to escape.
Chernishev is not going to allow Turner to sit and survive in this position.
Chernishev lands with a couple of good shots - one to the side of the head and one questionable shot that could be viewed as to the back of the head but the referee lets it go.
Turner can't escape the position.
Chernishev gets his hands free as Turner looks to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Chernishev loading up with punches from the back mount - how long can Turner hold on?
Chernishev lands shots from the back.
Turner is in bad spot here.
Turner manages to reverse the position and now he's in Chernishev's guard. Nice work there by Turner.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Turner trying to control but Chernishev is working from the bottom.
Turner throws an elbow that misses. Chernishev uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Turner's guard. Nice move by Chernishev!

Chernishev trying to control but Turner is working from the bottom.
Turner lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Sergey Chernishev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Turner looking to sit in guard and control but Chernishev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Chernishev wants to control from the top but Turner keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Chernishev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Turner throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Nice defenses there by Chernishev.
Chernishev feints the counter takedown.
Turner misses with a straight left.
Gap Turner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Turner closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Chernishev manages to get back to half guard.
Turner throwing shots but Chernishev is blocking nicely.
Chernishev is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.

Turner is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Chernishev sees it coming and defends easily.
Turner not landing any meaningful shots this time.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Chernishev blocking the ground and pound attempt from Turner.
Turner looks to land a strike but Chernishev avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Turner landing with the ground and pound.
Turner advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Turner is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Chernishev knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Chernishev wants to control but Turner postures up.
Chernishev is trying to improve his position.
Turner working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Chernishev managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Turner.
Turner misses with the ground and pound.
Turner misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Turner trying to control the action but Chernishev is working from the bottom.
Turner throws an elbow but Chernishev slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sergey Chernishev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turner is looking to take a break and control but Chernishev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Turner in side control, throwing shots but Chernishev defends.
Chernishev is not in a great position here, taking some shots.

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

Turner looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Chernishev wants to control but Turner postures up.
Chernishev tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Turner wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turner trying to control the position but Chernishev is working away.
Turner throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Check out the look on Turner's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Turner trying to control the position but Chernishev is working away.
Chernishev gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Turner thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Chernishev avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Turner.
Turner throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Chernishev to regain full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Turner accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Turner stopping the sweep attempt from Chernishev.
Turner throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Chernishev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Chernishev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turner postures up in Chernishev's guard and throws a big left but Chernishev blocks it.
Chernishev keeping moving, preventing Turner from controlling successfully.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Chernishev seems keen to control Turner's posture.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Turner lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Turner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Chernishev.
Turner drops down looking for a counter takedown but Chernishev sprawls and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Turner fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Chernishev sprawls well initially but Turner persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Chernishev works his way to full guard. Good work.
Chernishev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gap Turner has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Turner is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gap Turner showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Chernishev has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Sergey Chernishev!
Sergey Chernishev seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.