PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Max Lerner (ranked 3039 p4p, 4416 weight class) and Pavlo Ebanko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lerner comes to the cage accompanied by Friday, Rebecca Black. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Lerner
vs
Ebanko

189 cm
18
169
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
18
175
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Max Lerner!
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, Pavlo Ebanko!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Andrew Berry and Chris Edwards.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lerner throws a lazy head kick

and Ebanko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Lerner avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ebanko.
Ebanko controlling the action here.
Lerner is trying to stand back up but Ebanko is controlling him
Well, if Ebanko 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.
Lerner has hold of Ebanko's hands but Ebanko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Lerner looking for subs from the bottom but Ebanko mounts him!
Ebanko with shots to the head and body - Lerner looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ebanko controlling the pace for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lerner is squirming around, avoiding Ebanko's attempts to control the action.
Ebanko throwing strikes here but Lerner is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Ebanko controlling the pace for now.

Ebanko is standing up, even though he is in mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Lerner lands a head kick. Ebanko smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
A punch combination from Lerner misses.
Ebanko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lerner was well out of range. Poor timing from Ebanko.
Lerner's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ebanko under the eye.
Ebanko shoots for a takedown but Lerner saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Lerner throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ebanko slips under a jab.
Lerner misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Lerner lands with an uppercut that bounces Ebanko off the cage and back into range.
A kick lands to the mid section there for Ebanko.
Lerner is breathing heavily.
Ebanko ducks under a wild hook from Lerner.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ebanko looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Lerner!
Lerner wants to get back to his feet.
You can see the frustration on Lerner's face as Ebanko controls the position.
Lerner is not content to let Ebanko control the position.
Ebanko happy to just control the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ebanko decides to stand up, so the ref orders Lerner to his feet.
Ebanko avoids the head kick by Lerner.
Max Lerner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lerner misses with a double jab.

Ebanko is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lerner's half guard.
Ebanko stalling.

Lerner actively working from the bottom here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Pavlo Ebanko will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lerner throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ebanko tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Ebanko is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Lerner misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lerner scores with a kick to the midsection.
Lerner uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ebanko.
A counter left hand to the body from Lerner misses its target.
Ebanko shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Lerner as he jumps to the side.
Lerner scores with a nice body kick.
Lerner misses with a head kick.
Ebanko steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Lerner.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ebanko takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Ebanko walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ebanko cracks Lerner with a right hand to the side of the head.
A lazy body kick from Lerner
and Ebanko counters with a good low kick that Lerner was not able to check.
Max Lerner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ebanko is breathing heavily.
Lerner moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ebanko fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
It looked like Lerner wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Lerner tries to land a front kick but Ebanko steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Max Lerner is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lerner throws a nice looking combination but Ebanko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Ebanko circles away from the clinch attempt.

Ebanko drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Ebanko prevents Lerner from escaping the position.
Lerner is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lerner is staying active underneath Ebanko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Lerner looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lerner is looking to control Ebanko's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lerner avoid being mounted?
Lerner really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ebanko trying to mount his opponent but Lerner defends it.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Lerner tries to get to full guard but Ebanko has control of the leg.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Lerner tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Ebanko tries to keep at a distance but Lerner has taken the fight into the clinch.

Ebanko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lerner shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Ebanko eats them both and turns towards Lerner to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Lerner throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Lerner misses with a kick to the body

so Ebanko counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ebanko controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Lerner is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ebanko is aware though and is defending well.

Ebanko stands up from Lerner's guard - Ebanko perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Lerner. That's going to slow Ebanko down.
Lerner scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Lerner lands with a nice body kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Some wild striking there from Lerner.
Lerner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Ebanko looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
A head kick from Lerner lands but Ebanko takes it in his stride.
Lerner wants to clinch up but Ebanko keeps it at a distance.

Ebanko manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lerner on his heels. He'll look to pass Lerner's guard now, I'm sure.
Ebanko passes Lerner's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Max Lerner dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lerner moves into range and connects with a jab.
Ebanko avoids the head kick by Lerner.

Ebanko gets a clinch.

Ebanko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lerner is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Lerner misses with a kick to the body

and Ebanko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Well, if Ebanko 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.
Ebanko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ebanko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Lerner is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ebanko stops Lerner from getting back to his feet.

Ebanko is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lerner has managed to free his arm - good work.
Ebanko working the head and body with strikes.
Lerner wants to get back to his feet.
Ebanko looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

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

Ebanko decides to return to a standing position.
Ebanko goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Lerner stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ebanko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Lerner connects with the punch.
Lerner misses with a looping right.
Lerner throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lerner scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!

Ebanko shoots in and bounces Lerner off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Lerner wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Ebanko manages to pass to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ebanko is looking to advance position but Lerner won't allow it.
Ebanko stalling away here and it's allowed Lerner to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ebanko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lerner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ebanko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lerner's head.
Lerner keeping moving, preventing Ebanko from controlling successfully.
Pavlo Ebanko has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ebanko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lerner swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ebanko prevents Lerner from getting back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Pavlo Ebanko.
I think Ebanko has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pavlo Ebanko!
In defeat, Max Lerner stepped up to the mic, saying 'Im sorry to all my fans, it didnt go my way today and there are no excuses for that I just wasnt good enough. Also sorry to all those who bet on me, send me your paypal and ill transfer compennsation fees. Im very dissapointed by im going back to the drawing board and will 100% be back stronger'.