PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vlad Kersikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jack Rackham (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kersikov
vs
Rackham

186 cm
35
192 lbs
31 - 6 - 2

182 cm
33
193 lbs
33 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Bullet Proof System
Conviction

My$tic Clothing ~ (`10%Laundry`)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 6 - 2, fighting out of New York, Vlad Kersikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Jack Rackham!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Aafke Stam and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kersikov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Rackham.

It looks like Vlad Kersikov has been cut.
Rackham takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A nice combination there by Rackham.
Rackham misses with a head kick.
Rackham tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kersikov was well out of range. Poor timing from Rackham.
Kersikov jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Rackham checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Kersikov throws the kick towards the body but Rackham avoids it.
Rackham lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

Rackham rushes Kersikov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Rackham breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Rackham thuds his right hand into Kersikov's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kersikov lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Kersikov cracks a nice hook into Rackham's ribs.
Rackham misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kersikov throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Rackham gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Rackham working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kersikov lands with a short punch from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kersikov blocks a body shot from Rackham.
A short right from Rackham on the inside.
Kersikov misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rackham working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kersikov avoiding damage as Rackham throws knees to the body.
Kersikov misses with the head strike.
Kersikov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kersikov blocks the elbow strike.
Rackham blocking some punches.
Kersikov has a couple of punches blocked by Rackham.
Knees to the body from Kersikov.
A bit of stalling here from Kersikov.
Rackham lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kersikov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Rackham takes a shot to the head.
Kersikov working aggressively here.
Kersikov tries to throw a body punch but Rackham avoids it by throwing Kersikov back against the cage.
Kersikov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Rackham's elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Kersikov takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Kersikov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kersikov crunches a lovely knee into Rackham's ribcage.
Kersikov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rackham works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
With the fighters up against the cage, Rackham throws an elbow but misses.
A body shot lands from Kersikov.
Rackham has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kersikov has a couple of punches blocked by Rackham.
Kersikov misses with the head strike.
Kersikov prevents Rackham from breaking the clinch.
Kersikov keeps control of Rackham as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Rackham breaks the clinch.

Kersikov closes the distance and clinches.
Rackham lands an elbow that stopped Kersikov in his tracks for a moment.
Rackham misses with some punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov lands a body shot.
Rackham misses with a punch on the inside.
Kersikov tries to throw a body punch but Rackham avoids it by throwing Kersikov back against the cage.
Kersikov prevents Rackham from breaking the clinch.
Rackham scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A short right from Kersikov on the inside.
Kersikov stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kersikov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Kersikov misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right from Kersikov.
Rackham has been looking to improve his clinch game in recent weeks. Kersikov seems to have the measure of him in the clinch so far, so let's see if Rackham can turn it around.
A short body shot lands from Rackham as the two fighters clinch.
Kersikov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kersikov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kersikov can't find room to land a body shot as Rackham controls the action.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Rackham.
Rackham misses with a punch on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A shot in the inside from Kersikov.
Kersikov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rackham.
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!
Kersikov lands a hook that snaps the head of Rackham backwards.
A short right from Kersikov on the inside.
Rackham gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Rackham lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kersikov or not.
Kersikov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Rackham tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Rackham blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Rackham manages to break the clinch.
Rackham throws a combination. Kersikov tries to block but a couple of punches get through.

Rackham moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Rackham pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Rackham throws a series of punches but Kersikov avoids them all with ease.
Rackham moves out of range as Kersikov throws a body kick.
Rackham will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jack Rackham will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vlad Kersikov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

A good leg kick by Kersikov.

Kersikov moves into the clinch.
Rackham comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Rackham wants to get back to striking at distance but Kersikov won't allow it.
Kersikov tries a body shot but Rackham blocks it.
Vlad Kersikov has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Kersikov scores with a hook to the body.
Rackham throws an elbow that misses.
Kersikov just leaning against Rackham, taking a breather.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Rackham avoiding damage as Kersikov throws knees to the body.
Rackham lands an elbow inside.
Rackham scores with a shot to the side of Kersikov's head.

Vlad Kersikov's cut is getting worse.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rackham working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rackham throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Rackham wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kersikov blocks a body shot from Rackham.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kersikov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rackham lands a hook that snaps the head of Kersikov backwards.
Kersikov lands an uppercut.
Kersikov blocks a body shot from Rackham.
Kersikov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rackham.
Kersikov struggles to land a body shot inside as Rackham controls his hands.
Kersikov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rackham misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kersikov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kersikov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Rackham lands an uppercut.
Kersikov throws a punch but it's blocked by Rackham.
Rackham lands with a right to the head.
Rackham doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kersikov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rackham gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kersikov tries to throw a body punch but Rackham avoids it by throwing Kersikov back against the cage.
Kersikov cracks Rackham with a nice body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov gets through Rackham's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Kersikov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rackham blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kersikov misses with a punch to the body.
Rackham lands a nice shot to the body.
Kersikov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Rackham misses with a body punch.
Kersikov managing to block the knees to the body from Rackham.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Rackham as Kersikov tries to tie him up.
Kersikov pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kersikov pushes Rackham back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rackham looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A nice left hand lands by Rackham.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rackham has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Rackham has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rackham creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kersikov's defenses.
Kersikov working aggressively here.
Rackham lands a hook that snaps the head of Kersikov backwards.
A hook to the body from Kersikov.
Rackham tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kersikov avoids it.
Kersikov lands an uppercut.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Rackham.
Rackham is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kersikov is defending well for now.
Rackham tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kersikov scores with a knee to the head.
Kersikov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rackham has a couple of punches blocked by Kersikov.
Kersikov working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kersikov misses with a punch to the body.
A short uppercut from Kersikov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rackham is trying to push Kersikov away but Kersikov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kersikov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kersikov misses with a punch to the body.
Rackham is trying to push Kersikov away but Kersikov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kersikov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
A short right from Kersikov on the inside.
Kersikov lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Kersikov has Rackham pressed against the cage, preventing Rackham from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Rackham wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kersikov tries to pull guard but Rackham won't allow it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kersikov.
Kersikov struggles to land a body shot inside as Rackham controls his hands.

Rackham breaks from the clinch.

Rackham rushes Kersikov and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Kersikov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Rackham's efforts to push away.
Kersikov landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vlad Kersikov will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vlad Kersikov's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Rackham fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kersikov staying out of range there.
Kersikov fakes the leg kick and cracks Rackham in the body.
Kersikov cracks the inside of Rackham's front leg.
A combination from Rackham does no damage.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kersikov. Rackham does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kersikov misses with a body kick.
Rackham checks a leg kick nicely.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kersikov. Rackham does a little dance to reset his feet.
Rackham is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Jack Rackham is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kersikov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Kersikov has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kersikov lands a lovely overhand right.
Rackham scoring well with a low kick there.
Rackham scores with a one two! Kersikov had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kersikov tried to score with a low kick but Rackham checks it.
Rackham looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rackham moves out of range as Kersikov throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rackham checks the leg kick nicely there.
Rackham checks a leg kick.
Rackham moves away from the strike by Kersikov.
As Kersikov backs off Rackham throws a huge counter combo but Kersikov manages to avoid it all.
Rackham misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kersikov tries to score with a low kick but Rackham moves his leg out of the way.
Kersikov cracks the inside of Rackham's front leg.

Kersikov darts in and clinches Rackham up against the cage.
Kersikov lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rackham backwards.
Kersikov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Rackham or not.
A short right from Rackham on the inside.
Kersikov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Rackham backwards.
A short right from Kersikov on the inside.
Kersikov tries to land knees in the clinch but Rackham avoids the damage to the body.
Kersikov trying to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rackham works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Rackham throws a knee to the head but misses.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kersikov misses with a punch on the inside.
Rackham scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Rackham comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kersikov lands a right hand.
Kersikov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kersikov avoiding damage as Rackham throws knees to the body.
Kersikov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Rackham trying to land knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Kersikov.
Rackham misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kersikov misses with a punch to the body.
Kersikov tries to work over Rackham's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Rackham blocking some punches.
Kersikov with an attempt at a knee that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rackham blocks an uppercut.
Rackham has a couple of punches blocked by Kersikov.
Knees in the clinch landing for Rackham.
Kersikov scores with a shot to the side of Rackham's head.
Rackham with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Rackham tries to break the clinch but Kersikov is controlling the position.
Kersikov prevents Rackham from breaking the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Rackham scores with a nice short uppercut.
Rackham throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kersikovs head.
Kersikov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rackham tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kersikov avoids it.
Knees to the body from Rackham.
Rackham avoiding damage as Kersikov throws knees to the body.
Rackham struggles to land a body shot inside as Kersikov controls his hands.
Rackham misses with a knee to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kersikov misses with a hook from the clinch.

Rackham breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Rackham takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Rackham throws a head kick but Kersikov moves out of range.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rackham throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kersikov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rackham.
Rackham connects with a body shot.
Rackham tries to bum rush Kersikov with a series of wild strikes but Kersikov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Rackham takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Rackham looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Rackham takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Rackham misses with the combination.
A jab from Kersikov does it's job there.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vlad Kersikov.
I think Kersikov 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Albert Achterberg scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 29:29
Judge Patrick Alders scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Vlad Kersikov!
Vlad Kersikov thanked the fans post fight for their support.