PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paul Desmoraine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Shlemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sergei Shlemenko will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Desmoraine
vs
Shlemenko

190 cm
23
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

184 cm
19
192 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Enjoys gardening

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Paul Desmoraine!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Sergei Shlemenko!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Cesar, Felipe Paraventi and Thiago Cunha.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Shlemenko throws a head kick but Desmoraine moves out of range.
Desmoraine tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Desmoraine steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Shlemenko.
Shlemenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Shlemenko throws a head kick that misses.
Desmoraine shoots in but no luck this time.
Shlemenko swinging wildly here.
Shlemenko tries to clinch up.

Desmoraine shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Shlemenko's guard.
Desmoraine postures up.
Desmoraine preventing the sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Shlemenko manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Desmoraine manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Desmoraine wants to get back to his feet.
Desmoraine tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Shlemenko has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Desmoraine is wriggling around trying to escape.
Desmoraine throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Shlemenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Desmoraine is looking to escape.
Shlemenko sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Desmoraine throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Desmoraine is squirming around, avoiding Shlemenko's attempts to control the action.
Desmoraine regains half guard.
Shlemenko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Desmoraine does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Shlemenko seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Desmoraine trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Shlemenko trying to control but Desmoraine is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko prevents Desmoraine from getting the reversal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Shlemenko wants to control the pace but Desmoraine is squirming around nicely.
Desmoraine is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Shlemenko trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Desmoraine is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Desmoraine regains half guard.

Desmoraine looking for submissions off his back.
Desmoraine is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Shlemenko jumps into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergei Shlemenko dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shlemenko throws a low kick, looking for Desmoraine's leg but Desmoraine calmly moves out of range.
Shlemenko misses with a takedown attempt
and Desmoraine counters with a thumping low kick.
Shlemenko fails to land with a series of punches.
Shlemenko misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Desmoraine circles away from the clinch attempt

and Desmoraine counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Shlemenko's guard now.
Shlemenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Desmoraine working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Desmoraine wants to control from the top but Shlemenko keeps moving.
Desmoraine looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Desmoraine is looking to stand up but Shlemenko won't let him.
Desmoraine trying to control but Shlemenko is working from the bottom.
Desmoraine postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Shlemenko lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Desmoraine!
Desmoraine really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Desmoraine tries to hold on but Shlemenko postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Shlemenko tries to control but Desmoraine wriggling away.
Shlemenko avoids the attempt from Desmoraine to control.
Desmoraine is in all sorts of trouble here.
Desmoraine wants to hold on but Shlemenko pushes him away.
Desmoraine tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Desmoraine manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko wants to get back to his feet.
Desmoraine wants to get back to full guard but Shlemenko has passed into side control.
Desmoraine keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Shlemenko avoids the attempt from Desmoraine to control.
Desmoraine flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Desmoraine is wriggling around trying to escape.
Desmoraine throwing hammer fists to the chest of Shlemenko. What's that going to do exactly?
Shlemenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Desmoraine is looking to escape.
Desmoraine tries to hold on but Shlemenko postures up.
Desmoraine is desperately trying to improve his position but Shlemenko has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Desmoraine throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Shlemenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Desmoraine is looking to escape.
Desmoraine wants to control but Shlemenko is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Desmoraine dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Shlemenko throws a sloppy head kick

and Desmoraine counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Shlemenko looks like he's trying to stand up.
Desmoraine is trying to control. Shlemenko wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Desmoraine throwing shots but Shlemenko is blocking nicely.
Desmoraine knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Shlemenko on the ground.
Shlemenko tries to get to full guard but Desmoraine has control of the leg.
Desmoraine with the ground and pound but Shlemenko uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Shlemenko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Desmoraine wanted to stand there but Shlemenko had control of the position.
Desmoraine looking to pass the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Shlemenko pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shlemenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Shlemenko throws a lazy head kick

and Desmoraine moves into the clinch.
Shlemenko letting Desmoraine take a breather here.
Desmoraine with a knee to the head.
Shlemenko landing knees to the head.

Shlemenko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Shlemenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Shlemenko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shlemenko tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Shlemenko throws a wild body kick that Desmoraine sees coming a mile off.
Shlemenko misses with a head kick.
Shlemenko throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Paul Desmoraine has been cut.
Desmoraine dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Shlemenko. That did some damage!
Shlemenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Desmoraine closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Shlemenko to the mat! Shlemenko manages to get full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Desmoraine works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Shlemenko trying to control from the bottom.
Desmoraine missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Shlemenko is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Desmoraine scores with a couple of nice shots.
Desmoraine looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Shlemenko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Shlemenko wants to control but Desmoraine is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Desmoraine takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Shlemenko is not content to let Desmoraine control the position.
Desmoraine stalling.
Ground and pound from Desmoraine.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Desmoraine missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Shlemenko is staying active underneath Desmoraine, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Nice strikes from Desmoraine there.
Desmoraine missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Shlemenko is trying to stand back up but Desmoraine is controlling him
Shlemenko regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Desmoraine.
Desmoraine looking to pass the guard.
Paul Desmoraine overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Desmoraine wants to get up but he can't break Shlemenko's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Shlemenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A punch combination from Shlemenko misses.
Shlemenko doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Desmoraine counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Shlemenko!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko is desperately trying to improve his position but Desmoraine has a good base and remains in mount.
Desmoraine trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Desmoraine with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Desmoraine with the ground and pound from mount.
Desmoraine is landing with some decent strikes but Shlemenko is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Desmoraine landing punches.
Desmoraine landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shlemenko is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Desmoraine raining down shots from the mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Desmoraine clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Paul Desmoraine's cut.
That's time! Desmoraine's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Desmoraine is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Shlemenko.
Desmoraine avoids the head kick by Shlemenko.
Shlemenko tries to clinch

and Desmoraine counters with a takedown into side control.
Desmoraine working the head with strikes.
Shlemenko manages to work his way to half guard, despite Desmoraine's best efforts.

Desmoraine is looking for a kimura here.
Desmoraine stalling away here and it's allowed Shlemenko to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Desmoraine won't allow Shlemenko to get back to his feet.
Desmoraine looking to sit in guard and control but Shlemenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shlemenko is looking to stand up but Desmoraine won't let him.

Desmoraine is looking for a triangle but Shlemenko pushes his legs off easily.
Shlemenko has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Desmoraine is proving hard to escape from.
Desmoraine wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Shlemenko is now in half guard.
Desmoraine wants to control but Shlemenko is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Shlemenko postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Desmoraine to stand up.
Desmoraine is trying hard to land a takedown here. Shlemenko sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Desmoraine blocks a low kick nicely.
Desmoraine moves out of range of the leg kick from Shlemenko.
Shlemenko throws a right hand that Desmoraine ducks under and follows up with a left that Desmoraine also avoids with ease.
Shlemenko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Desmoraine counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Shlemenko tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Desmoraine counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Desmoraine working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Desmoraine trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Desmoraine gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Shlemenko throws a sloppy head kick
enabling Desmoraine to counter with a crisp jab.

Desmoraine shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Shlemenko manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Shlemenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Shlemenko keeping moving, preventing Desmoraine from controlling successfully.
Desmoraine not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Desmoraine trying to control the position from guard on top but Shlemenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Shlemenko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Desmoraine manages to get himself to full guard.
Desmoraine keeping full guard, as Shlemenko tries to pass.
Desmoraine trying to strike off his back.
Desmoraine is trying to keep Shlemenko in close.

Desmoraine has his foot on Shlemenko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Shlemenko works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Desmoraine had his way with Sergei Shlemenko in that round.
The cut man is working on Paul Desmoraine's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

A combination from Shlemenko does no damage.
Desmoraine tries for a takedown but Shlemenko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Shlemenko gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Desmoraine counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Ground and pound from Desmoraine.
Desmoraine wants to control but Shlemenko is keeping him busy.
Shlemenko trying to control but Desmoraine postures up.

Shlemenko has one foot on Desmoraine's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Shlemenko throws a head kick that misses

and Desmoraine counters with a takedown into side control.
Desmoraine works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Desmoraine looks up at the clock and then as Shlemenko takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Desmoraine smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!

Desmoraine thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shlemenko manages to get back to half guard.
Shlemenko is trying to stand up here but Desmoraine is controlling him well.
Desmoraine wants to take a breather but Shlemenko is having none of it.
Desmoraine lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Desmoraine not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Shlemenko blocking the ground and pound attempt from Desmoraine.
Shlemenko is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Desmoraine's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Desmoraine's back!
I really don't envy Desmoraine right now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Shlemenko wants to control but Desmoraine is keeping busy.
Shlemenko is hanging on to Desmoraine's back as he tries to escape.
A lull in the action here.
Desmoraine just trying to survive but Shlemenko is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Desmoraine tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Desmoraine trying to control the position but Shlemenko manages to sink in the hooks.
Desmoraine is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Desmoraine rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Shlemenko tries to stand and escape but Desmoraine is controlling the position.
Sergei Shlemenko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Shlemenko tries to land a leg kick but Desmoraine saw it coming and moves away.
A shot to the body from Shlemenko misses

and Desmoraine counters with a nice double leg into side control. Shlemenko won't be happy with that.
Desmoraine throwing strikes but Shlemenko manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Desmoraine tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Shlemenko decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Shlemenko throws a sloppy head kick

so Desmoraine counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Desmoraine loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Shlemenko is trying to control the position but Desmoraine postures up.
Desmoraine is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Shlemenko keeping full guard, as Desmoraine tries to pass.
Desmoraine looking to sit in guard and control but Shlemenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Shlemenko would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Paul Desmoraine showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Desmoraine has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Cesar scores the fight 49:46
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 49:46
Judge Thiago Cunha scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Paul Desmoraine!
Paul Desmoraine retains his middleweight title!