PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Shlemenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ulf Ek (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shlemenko's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Omarion Ft. Chris Brown & Jhene Aiko - Post To Be. I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Shlemenko
vs
Ek

180 cm
24
205 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

190 cm
24
209 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

KAISER Nutrition - Q160/$250

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexander Shlemenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ulf Ek!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Shlemenko closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Ek's guard.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Ek holds on and takes a little breather.
Shlemenko pushes down on Ek's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Shlemenko trying to pass the guard but Ek defending well.
Ek works his way to full guard. Good work.
Shlemenko is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at McElias (Russian Bears TM) that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
Ek has Shlemenko pulled in close to control his posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shlemenko controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Ek looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Shlemenko passes into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Shlemenko tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Shlemenko stands up.
A looping hook to the body misses from Shlemenko. Ek does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ek fails with a takedown attempt.
Shlemenko seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Shlemenko lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ek bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Shlemenko's head backwards.
Ek avoids the head kick by Shlemenko.

Ek gets a double leg takedown into Shlemenko's guard.
Shlemenko seems keen to control Ek's posture.
Shlemenko utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ek 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 are loving this. Great action here.
Ek controls Shlemenko momentarily but Shlemenko frees himself.

Ek throws his legs up looking for a submission but Shlemenko uses it to pass to side control.
Ek felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Shlemenko is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Ek has escaped the position, nice work there.
Ek is trying to work for a sweep but Shlemenko has mounted him!
Shlemenko avoids the attempt from Ek to control.
Shlemenko prevents Ek from getting the reversal.
Shlemenko controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Ek is looking to get to half guard.

Shlemenko is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Shlemenko walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Ek checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Shlemenko - that will leave a mark!

Ek gets a takedown into half guard.
Shlemenko is looking to escape.
Shlemenko is trying to maintain the position but Ek is very close to passing his half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Shlemenko dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Shlemenko throws a hook to the side of Ek's head but Ek sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Ek checks a leg kick.

Ek gets a double leg takedown into Shlemenko's guard.
Shlemenko wants to get back to his feet but Ek passes into half guard.

Ek seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Shlemenko pushes Ek off and gets back to his feet.
Ek uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Shlemenko.

Ek drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ek throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Ek looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Shlemenko is avoiding damage well.
Ek is looking to take a break and control but Shlemenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ek lands a few punches from side control.
You can see the frustration on Shlemenko's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Ek is looking to take a break and control but Shlemenko is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Shlemenko trying to remain calm as Ek controls from the top position.
Shlemenko is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Shlemenko bucks up and tries to throw Ek off but instead Ek has got his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ek missing with strikes from the back.
Ek trying to control momentarily.
Ek misses with an elbow to the head.
Shlemenko just trying to survive but Ek is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Shlemenko is trying to stand back up.
Ek struggling to keep hold of the position.
Shlemenko rolls, trying to escape but Ek keeps control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ek doesn't have the hooks in and Shlemenko manages to turn into his guard.
Ek wants to sweep but no luck.
Shlemenko controlling from the top position.
Shlemenko wants to stand but Ek has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Shlemenko stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Shlemenko throws a leg kick
and Ek counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ek fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ek dives in and grabs Shlemenko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Shlemenko pushes down on Ek's head and hops out.
Shlemenko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Alexander Shlemenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ulf Ek.
Shlemenko misses with a few strikes there.
Ek looks for a takedown but Shlemenko sprawls well.
Ek shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Shlemenko sprawls well. Shlemenko wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Ek gets slowly back to his feet.
Ek darts in looking for a takedown but Shlemenko gets double underhooks and turns Ek into the cage.
Ek is breathing heavily.
Ek keeps the fight on the outside.
Shlemenko throws out a loose jab but Ek uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ek changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.

Shlemenko darts in and clinches Ek up against the cage.
Shlemenko lands a right hand.
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 Alexander Shlemenko will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Shlemenko smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Alexander Shlemenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ek tries to score a power double leg takedown but Shlemenko sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ek somewhat.
Shlemenko throws a series of strikes that have Ek backpedaling.
Ek closes the distance and clinches up with Shlemenko, looking for a takedown. Ek pushes Shlemenko against the cage but Shlemenko circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Shlemenko lands with a straight right. Ek didn't see that one coming.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Shlemenko - that will leave a mark!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Shlemenko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ek paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Shlemenko turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Shlemenko darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ek takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Shlemenko scores with a jab.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ek's corner calls for a 1-2. Ek obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Shlemenko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A big right from Shlemenko misses.
Alexander Shlemenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Shlemenko throws a lazy right hand but Ek sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A solid leg kick lands there for Shlemenko.

Ek drives through with a takedown into Shlemenko's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.

Shlemenko kicks Ek off and gets to his feet.
Shlemenko finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Shlemenko throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Ek showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Shlemenko.
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!
Shlemenko lands a nice leg kick that just misses Ek's sensitive parts.
Some bone on bone action there as Ek checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Good exchange - Shlemenko coming out on top.
Ulf Ek has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko misses with a low kick as Ek jumps back.
Shlemenko throws a head kick but Ek moves out of range.
Shlemenko tries a low kick but Ek avoids it.
Ek goes for a double leg but Shlemenko avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Shlemenko continues to drive forward.
Alexander Shlemenko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ulf Ek.
No joy there for Shlemenko, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ek looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Shlemenko lands with a thumping leg kick.

Ek looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

Shlemenko manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Shlemenko breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Shlemenko throws a leg kick

and Ek counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Shlemenko kicks Ek off and gets back to his feet.
Ek shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Shlemenko's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Shlemenko duly obliges.
The fighters circle momentarily. Shlemenko darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Shlemenko displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

A jab-cross combination lands for Shlemenko and sends Ek crashing to the mat! Shlemenko follows him down to the mat - Ek regains half guard but he's not out of trouble yet!

Ek is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Shlemenko is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ek is still in real trouble! Can Shlemenko finish him?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ek wants to control the action here but instead Shlemenko manages to pass to full mount!
Shlemenko controlling the position easily from mount.
Ek seems to have recovered his senses.

Shlemenko stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Alexander Shlemenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Both fighters circle each other, looking for something big. Shlemenko moves in and throws an overhand right. That hurt Ek! Shlemenko continues to tee off on Ek, landing with a left and a right! Shlemenko connects with a right hand that leaves Ek sleeping against the cage! What a finish by Shlemenko!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:20 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Alexander Shlemenko!
A relieved looking Alexander Shlemenko thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.