PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Nate Diaz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Georgiy Vlasenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Diaz
vs
Vlasenko

175 cm
21
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
20
159 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nate Diaz!
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, Georgiy Vlasenko!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Igor Prikhodko and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vlasenko tries a head kick but it misses.
Diaz wants to clinch up but Vlasenko keeps it at a distance.

Vlasenko changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Diaz looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Diaz is looking for a sweep.
Vlasenko working away.
A lull in the action here as Vlasenko stalls from top position.
Diaz struggling a bit here.
Diaz takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Vlasenko taking a breather here.

Vlasenko goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Diaz has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Vlasenko but great work by Diaz.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vlasenko sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Vlasenko looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Vlasenko can do anything to dispel that myth.
Vlasenko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Vlasenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Diaz wants to pass the guard but Vlasenko is keeping the position.
Diaz trying to control the position from guard on top but Vlasenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Diaz scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Vlasenko seems keen to control Diaz's posture.
Diaz is looking to stand up but Vlasenko won't let him.
Vlasenko is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Diaz pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vlasenko is keeping the position for now.

Vlasenko has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Diaz can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Diaz has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Diaz has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Vlasenko is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vlasenko not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Vlasenko lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Diaz!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vlasenko looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Vlasenko lands with some strikes.
Vlasenko controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vlasenko breaks from Diaz's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Diaz is breathing heavily.
Diaz is looking to improve his position but Vlasenko isn't that keen on the idea.
Vlasenko takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Diaz keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A nice elbow there by Vlasenko.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georgiy Vlasenko dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Vlasenko shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Diaz manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Vlasenko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Diaz is trying to hold Vlasenko in close to prevent damage but Vlasenko has managed to pass into half guard.
Vlasenko is taking a breather. Diaz says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Vlasenko passes the guard and advances to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vlasenko can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Diaz is looking to escape.
Vlasenko sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Diaz tries to reverse the position but Vlasenko maintains control.
Vlasenko looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Vlasenko is working for a guillotine from mount but Diaz frees his head quite easily.
Vlasenko in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Vlasenko looking to control and managing it successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vlasenko pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Vlasenko controlling his opponent.
Vlasenko unloading with bombs!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vlasenko looking to control and managing it successfully.
Vlasenko with a couple of short strikes.
Vlasenko raining down hammerfists from mount.
Vlasenko working the ground and pound effectively.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vlasenko sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Diaz tries to hold on but Vlasenko postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Georgiy Vlasenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Diaz's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Vlasenko closes the distance and pushes Diaz back into the cage.
Diaz wants to break free but Vlasenko has control.
Diaz has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Vlasenko after a bit of a struggle.
A bit of stalling here from Vlasenko.
Diaz jumps guard but Vlasenko stands there with Diaz around his waist. Diaz gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Diaz taking a breather.

Diaz breaks from the clinch.

Vlasenko gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vlasenko decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vlasenko takes a kick to the side of the head.

Vlasenko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Diaz to the mat! Diaz manages to get full guard.
Diaz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Vlasenko passes Diaz's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Vlasenko is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Diaz has managed to free his arm - good work.
Vlasenko content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Let's hope that Vlasenko has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vlasenko seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vlasenko is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Vlasenko content to control rather than advance.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Vlasenko uses his free foot to push down on Diaz's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Diaz.

Vlasenko stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vlasenko takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Vlasenko closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Diaz takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Vlasenko has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vlasenko blocks the strikes from Diaz.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vlasenko slows the pace down.

Vlasenko decides to take the fight back to the feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Vlasenko shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Vlasenko was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

And that's the end of the fight!
Georgiy Vlasenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vlasenko 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Georgiy Vlasenko!