PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Denis Denisov (ranked 2513 p4p, 133 weight class) and Slava Mne (ranked 3434 p4p, 170 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Denisov
vs
Mne

167 cm
20
140 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

150 cm
27
135 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

Threads of HARDCORE

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Denis Denisov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Slava Mne!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Steve Smith and Trevor Gratis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking cross lands there for Denisov.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Denisov is defended easily by Mne.
Mne doesn't manage to clinch there - Denisov circles away.

Mne closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Mne lands in his opponent's guard.
Denisov throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Denisov throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Denisov trying to strike off his back.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Denisov trying to strike off his back.
Denisov will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Denisov trying to strike off his back.
Denisov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Mne puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Denisov wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mne tries to pass to full mount but Denisov defends it.
Mne should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Mne looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Denisov with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Mne wants to control but Denisov is keeping him busy.
Mne with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Mne is looking to take a break and control but Denisov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Mne is pressing down on Denisov's thigh, looking to free his foot. Denisov is holding on for now.
Mne is looking to take a break and control but Denisov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Denisov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mne on the ground.

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.
Denisov is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Mne jumps into side control!
Denisov is trying to strike from the bottom but Mne has passed into full mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mne working the ground and pound effectively.
Mne trying to control but Denisov is having none of it.
Denisov throwing hammer fists to the chest of Mne. What's that going to do exactly?
Denisov is in all sorts of trouble here.
Denisov is hanging on here. He's in a desperate position.
Mne dominating with strikes here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Denisov is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
We're hearing some news coming in from back stage. It's official - Mne has eaten all the pies!
Mne working the ground and pound effectively.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mne thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Denisov flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Denisov throwing hammer fists to the chest of Mne. What's that going to do exactly?
Denisov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Denisov tries to buck Mne off but Mne takes his back!
You can see the frustration on Denisov's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Mne is punishing Denisov with strikes - can he finish him?!

Mne tightening his grip on Denisov, looking for the choke.
Denisov can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denisov just trying to survive but Mne is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Mne is riding his opponent, not letting Denisov buck him off.
Mne avoiding Denisov 's attempts to control his hands.
Denisov is trying to break free.
We've been informed that Mne has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Mne has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Mne is not going to allow Denisov to sit and survive in this position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Denisov tries to escape the position.
Mne avoiding Denisov 's attempts to control his hands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Slava Mne dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Mne misses with a double jab.
Denisov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

Denisov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Mne tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Denisov is in Mne's guard.
Mne looking for a sweep. Not yet Mne, not yet.
Denisov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Denisov scoring with some ground and pound.
Denisov trying to control but Mne is working from the bottom.
Mne looking to hit a scissor sweep but Denisov is one step ahead there.
Denisov throws a big right hand that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Denisov working some strikes from top position.
Mne seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Denisov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Mne throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Denisov is stalling in the full guard.
Mne controls Denisov momentarily but Denisov frees himself.
Denisov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Mne is trying to control the position but Denisov postures up.
Denisov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Denisov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Denisov lands a couple of elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mne is trying to control the position but Denisov postures up.
Denisov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Denisov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Denisov trying to control but Mne is working from the bottom.
Denisov landing some decent shots from guard.
Denisov chips away with some ground and pound.
Denisov distracts Mne with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Denisov landing with the ground and pound.
Mne controls Denisov momentarily but Denisov frees himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Denisov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mne working a defensive guard here.
Slava Mne has got the better of the ground game so far.
Denisov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Denisov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Denisov cracks Mne with a solid left hand.
Mne trying to keep a closed guard but Denisov is proving a slippery customer.
Denisov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Mne is rocked!
Denisov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Denisov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Mne is still in real trouble! Can Denisov finish him?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Denisov wants to control from the top but Mne keeps moving.
Mne seems to have recovered his senses.
Denisov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Mne has his hands on Denisov's head, controlling the position.
Mne bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Denisov's guard.

The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Denisov lands a couple of decent looking body shots there.
Denisov keeping moving, preventing Mne from controlling successfully.
Denisov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Denisov dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Mne shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Denisov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Denisov wants to get back to his feet but Mne is dominant here and he's now got Denisov's back!
Mne tries to get the hooks in deep but Denisov pushed the leg off.
Denisov looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Denisov covering up well under a series of strikes from Mne.

Mne is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Denisov is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:51 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Slava Mne!
A pretty intense looking Slava Mne took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.