PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Selimkhan Rasnov (ranked 24727 p4p, 5510 weight class) and Lazarus Petrov (ranked 610 p4p, 555 weight class). Selimkhan Rasnov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Rasnov
vs
Petrov

185 cm
23
155
4 - 3 - 0

180 cm
25
165
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 4 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Selimkhan Rasnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lazarus Petrov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Timothy Bukovac and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Petrov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Petrov. Rasnov shrugs it off though.
Petrov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Petrov bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Rasnov throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Petrov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Rasnov wants to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rasnov moves out of range of the body kick.
Petrov lands with a thumping leg kick.
Rasnov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Petrov lands with a kick to the ribs.
Rasnov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Petrov sprawls well. Petrov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rasnov gets slowly back to his feet.
Petrov unleashes a big counter combination but Rasnov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasnov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Petrov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Rasnov has a takedown stuffed.
Rasnov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

Rasnov tries to keep at a distance but Petrov has taken the fight into the clinch.

Rasnov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Rasnov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Petrov unleashes a big counter combination but Rasnov bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Selimkhan Rasnov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Petrov.
Petrov pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Petrov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Petrov wants to clinch.
Rasnov darts in looking for a takedown but Petrov gets double underhooks and turns Rasnov into the cage.
Petrov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.

Petrov breaks the clinch.
Lazarus Petrov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Petrov lands with a thumping leg kick.

Rasnov clinches up with Petrov and pushes him back against the cage.
Petrov blocks a body shot from Rasnov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Petrov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Petrov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Petrov works over Rasnov's head and body with a nice combination.
Rasnov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Petrov avoids it really well and circles away.
Rasnov doesn't manage to clinch there - Petrov circles away.
Petrov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Rasnov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Petrov!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasnov avoids the head kick by Petrov.
A punch combination from Petrov misses.
Rasnov throws a counter high kick but Petrov was just alert enough to avoid it.

Petrov moves into range and clinches up with Rasnov.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Petrov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Petrov swinging wildly here.

Rasnov gets a double leg takedown into Petrov's guard.
Rasnov scoring with some ground and pound.

Petrov is working an open guard so Rasnov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lazarus Petrov dominated that round.
That's time! Rasnov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Petrov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Rasnov attempts a counter takedown but Petrov avoids it well and moves away.
A low kick lands for Petrov.
Petrov stuffs the takedown attempt from Rasnov. Rasnov gets slowly back to his feet.
Petrov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Petrov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Petrov connects with a solid leg kick.
Rasnov closes the distance and clinches up with Petrov, looking for a takedown. Rasnov pushes Petrov against the cage but Petrov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Rasnov tries to close the distance and clinch but Petrov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Rasnov. Petrov does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasnov shoots in for a double leg but Petrov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Selimkhan Rasnov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rasnov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Rasnov is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Petrov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Petrov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Rasnov closes the distance and clinches.

Petrov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rasnov tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Rasnov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Rasnov darts in and clinches Petrov up against the cage.

Petrov manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasnov fails with a takedown attempt.
Petrov throws a counter combo.
Lazarus Petrov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Petrov lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Rasnov closes the distance and clinches up with Petrov, looking for a takedown. Rasnov pushes Petrov against the cage but Petrov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rasnov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Petrov's waist but Petrov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rasnov off to one side.
Rasnov shoots in looking for a takedown. Petrov tries to sprawl out of it but Rasnov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Petrov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
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!
Petrov dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Rasnov. That did some damage!
Selimkhan Rasnov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
That kick from Petrov tenderised Rasnov's leg. Rasnov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rasnov has a takedown stuffed.
Despite the aggression on Petrov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Petrov throws a sloppy head kick and Rasnov moves out of range easily.
Petrov scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Petrov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Rasnov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Petrov defends well and Rasnov ends up having to push Petrov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Rasnov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Selimkhan Rasnov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Rasnov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Petrov misses with a head kick.
Rasnov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Petrov. Petrov obviously looking to wear him down.
Petrov with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Rasnov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Petrov swivels and escapes.
Petrov is trying to counter with his kicks.

Petrov clinches.
Rasnov wants to take the fight to the mat but Petrov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.

Petrov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Petrov moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Petrov misses with a head kick.
Rasnov has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Petrov.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lazarus Petrov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Petrov looks for the body kick but Rasnov saw that one coming.
Petrov keeps the fight on the outside.
Petrov circles away from the clinch attempt
and Petrov counters with a series of strikes. Rasnov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Rasnov tries a head kick but it misses.
Petrov is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Rasnov on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Petrov. Petrov obviously looking to wear him down.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Rasnov gets tackled into the cage by Petrov. Petrov maintains the clinch.
Rasnov looking to stall.

Petrov breaks the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasnov misses with a takedown attempt - Petrov sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Petrov throws a counter combo.
Rasnov shoots in for a takedown but Petrov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Rasnov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Petrov tries to avoid it but Rasnov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Petrov to the ground. Petrov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Selimkhan Rasnov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Petrov misses with a two punch combination.
Rasnov looks for a takedown but Petrov sprawls well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Petrov throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.

Petrov moves into range and clinches up with Rasnov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Rasnov breaks the clinch.
Petrov scores with a spinning back kick!
Rasnov tries to clinch there but Petrov circles away.
Good leg kick by Petrov.
Good leg kick by Petrov.
Rasnov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Petrov tries to avoid it but Rasnov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Petrov to the ground. Petrov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Petrov scores with a leg kick.
Rasnov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Petrov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Despite the aggression on Petrov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Petrov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Rasnov has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Petrov stuffs the takedown attempt from Rasnov. Rasnov gets slowly back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Petrov.
Petrov cracks a nice hook into Rasnov's ribs.

Petrov clinches up against the cage.

Petrov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Petrov lands a leg kick that knocks Rasnov off balance momentarily.
Rasnov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Petrov.
Petrov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rasnov takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Petrov has closed the distance and engaged Rasnov in a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Petrov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Petrov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Rasnov moves in looking to clinch but Petrov pushes him off.
Rasnov fails with the takedown
and Petrov counters with a two punch combo.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Rasnov crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Petrov - the referee stops the clock and Rasnov gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Petrov. Rasnov manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Rasnov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Rasnov tries a head kick but it misses.

Petrov clinches with his opponent.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Lazarus Petrov really dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Petrov is looking to land body kicks.
Rasnov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Petrov rushes Rasnov and presses him up against the cage.
Rasnov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Petrov's elbow.

Petrov manages to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petrov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
That kick from Petrov tenderised Rasnov's leg. Rasnov is trying to keep his angry face on.
Rasnov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Rasnov will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Good leg kick by Petrov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Petrov misses with a series of wild punches.
Rasnov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Rasnov shoots in for a takedown but Petrov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Petrov clinches up against the cage.

Petrov breaks from the clinch.
Rasnov shoots for a double leg takedown but Petrov sprawls well. He's pushed Rasnov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Petrov throws a counter combo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Selimkhan Rasnov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rasnov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Petrov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasnov throws a head kick but Petrov moves out of range.
Petrov doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
A nice leg kick from Petrov, right into the meat of the thigh.
Petrov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Petrov lands with a slapping head kick.
Petrov throws a leg kick but Rasnov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Rasnov tries for a takedown but Petrov circles away easily
and Petrov counters with a head kick. That will keep Rasnov thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Rasnov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Petrov avoids it really well and circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petrov thumps Rasnov with a low kick.

Petrov closes the distance and clinches.

Petrov manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Petrov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Petrov connects with a solid leg kick.
Petrov swings for the body but Rasnov moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Rasnov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasnov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Petrov's waist but Petrov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rasnov off to one side.
Rasnov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Petrov sprawls well. Petrov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Rasnov gets slowly back to his feet.
Rasnov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rasnov fails with the takedown
and Petrov counters with a left and a right that stings Rasnov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lazarus Petrov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Petrov 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 4 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight for Lazarus Petrov!
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight for Lazarus Petrov!
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight for Lazarus Petrov!

Lazarus Petrov wins by unanimous decision!