PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gunner Lei (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smirnov's entrance music is Oy To Ne Vecher. A fine choice. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Smirnov
vs
Lei

182 cm
20
217 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
222 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexei Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Gunner Lei!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Igor Prikhodko and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lei tries to keep at a distance but Smirnov has taken the fight into the clinch.
Nice body punch from Smirnov.

Smirnov has hold of one of Lei's legs. Lei is fighting the takedown attempt but Smirnov gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Smirnov throws a big right hand that misses.
Lei tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Smirnov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lei 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.
Smirnov lands a couple of elbows.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnov postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Smirnov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Smirnov working some strikes from top position.
Smirnov works over Lei with some ground and pound from guard.

Lei is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov stays in close to Lei's body and controls the position.
Smirnov trying to control the position from guard on top but Lei is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lei is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Smirnov working some strikes from top position.
Smirnov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Lei had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smirnov defends it easily.
Smirnov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Smirnov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smirnov is stalling in the full guard.
Smirnov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lei on the ground.
Lei controls Smirnov momentarily but Smirnov frees himself.
Lei looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lei looking to hit a scissor sweep but Smirnov is one step ahead there.

Lei is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Smirnov defends well.
Smirnov wants to control from the top but Lei keeps moving.
Smirnov landing some decent shots from guard.
Smirnov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov advances position into side control!
Lei takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Smirnov cracks Lei with a big right hand but Lei just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Smirnov working the body and head with strikes.
Smirnov wants to take a breather but Lei manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Smirnov.
Smirnov looking to pass the guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smirnov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Smirnov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lei uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Smirnov.
Smirnov misses with a right hand
and Lei counters with a three punch combo that has Smirnov backing up. Smirnov nods at Lei to acknowledge the strikes.

Smirnov instigates a clinch.
Smirnov lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Come on Smirnov - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
A nice right hand lands inside from Smirnov.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Lei's efforts to push away.
Smirnov lands with a left to the head.
Smirnov stalling in the clinch.
Smirnov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lei can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lei is trying to pull guard but Smirnov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Smirnov could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Smirnov makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Smirnov.
Smirnov is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Lei tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Smirnov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Smirnov scores with a shot to the side of Lei's head.

Smirnov has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Lei clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Lei tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov is landing with strikes. Lei can't take much more of this.

It looks like Gunner Lei has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Smirnov lands with a big left hand that may well have hurt his opponent. Can Lei hold on?!

Lei is rocked!
Smirnov connects with a series of strikes and the referee is calling for Lei to escape the position.
Lei is still in real trouble! Can Smirnov finish him?
Smirnov scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Lei trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Smirnov lands shots to the head and Lei turtles up! The ref has seen enough and stops the fight! This one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:46 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alexei Smirnov!
An out of breath Alexei Smirnov thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
Gunner Lei was interviewed post fight and said 'Scars and Loss's remind us that we are real and imperfect and must remain ever improving..'.