PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gabriel Umbaku (ranked 4454 p4p, 24094 weight class) and Nemanja Kenitov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Umbaku
vs
Kenitov

190 cm
22
260
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
21
210
3 - 10 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Gabriel Umbaku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Nemanja Kenitov!
The judges for this bout are John Roberts, Dean Styles and Jorge Garcia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kenitov fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Umbaku checks it well.
Kenitov looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!

Umbaku gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Umbaku tries to pull guard but Kenitov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Umbaku has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kenitov after a bit of a struggle.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Umbaku just misses with a elbow thrown towards Kenitov's brow.
Kenitov told us before the fight that he's been working on his elbows. An under utilised technique these days - let's see if it can sway the outcome of the fight.
Kenitov goes for a takedown attempt but Umbaku pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Umbaku shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kenitov as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Umbaku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kenitov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Umbaku closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Umbaku tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kenitov just stands there and leans against the cage.
Umbaku misses with a knee strike.
Umbaku misses with a body punch.
Umbaku could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Kenitov fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Umbaku dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Kenitov lands a knee to the head.
Umbaku is trying to pull guard but Kenitov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Umbaku wants to break free but Kenitov has control.

Umbaku has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kenitov uses from the top position.

Kenitov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Umbaku has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kenitov has managed to get both his arms back between Umbaku's legs - danger averted.
Umbaku pulls Kenitov in close to prevent any damage.

Umbaku looking for a guillotine here but Kenitov defends easily.
Kenitov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Umbaku's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Umbaku controls Kenitov momentarily but Kenitov frees himself.
Umbaku tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Umbaku pulls Kenitov in close to his closed guard and prevents Kenitov from doing any damage or advancing position.
Umbaku wants to stand and escape but Kenitov is having none of it.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Umbaku fails with a takedown attempt.
Umbaku wants to clinch up but Kenitov keeps it at a distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Umbaku wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Umbaku tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kenitov smiles and moves away.
Kenitov misses with the combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kenitov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
A punch combination from Kenitov misses.
Umbaku wants to clinch up but Kenitov keeps it at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Umbaku avoids a kick to the body.
Umbaku throwing a counter right hand but Kenitov manages to avoid it.
Kenitov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Umbaku shoots in for a takedown but Kenitov shows good takedown defense.

Umbaku clinches with his opponent.
Umbaku has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kenitov is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kenitov's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kenitov is pressed up against the cage. Umbaku has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Kenitov down to the mat. Kenitov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Kenitov doesn't manage to clinch there - Umbaku circles away.
Umbaku looks to land a body kick but Kenitov moved away.
Nice takedown defense from Umbaku. No joy for Kenitov on that attempt.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Umbaku clinches up against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Umbaku gets control of Kenitov's arms and successfully pulls guard. Umbaku will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kenitov throws a strike but Umbaku rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Gabriel Umbaku dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Umbaku fails with the takedown.

Umbaku moves into the clinch successfully.
Umbaku blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Kenitov lands a takedown into guard.
Umbaku controlling Kenitov's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kenitov postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Umbaku tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kenitov is breathing heavily.
Umbaku trying to keep a closed guard but Kenitov is proving a slippery customer.
Kenitov throws a big elbow that misses.
Umbaku is pulling down on Kenitov's head to control his posture.

Umbaku has his foot on Kenitov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kenitov works his way back into a safe position though.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Umbaku avoids the head kick by Kenitov.
Umbaku seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.

Umbaku closes the distance and clinches.
Kenitov prevents Umbaku from breaking the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Umbaku's face as he tries to break the clinch.

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.
Umbaku pressing his opponent against the cage.

Kenitov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Umbaku misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Despite the aggression on Kenitov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Kenitov fails with an attempt to clinch.
Umbaku closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kenitov circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Umbaku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kenitov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Umbaku shoots in looking for a takedown. Kenitov tries to sprawl out of it but Umbaku keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kenitov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Umbaku closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kenitov circles away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenitov misses with a few strikes there.
Nemanja Kenitov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A head kick misses from Umbaku.
Umbaku avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Nice takedown defense from Kenitov. No joy for Umbaku on that attempt.
Kenitov lands a nice looking body kick.

Umbaku moves into the clinch successfully.
Umbaku has had enough of the clinch but Kenitov keeps him there for the moment.
Kenitov can't get the takedown.
Umbaku is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Umbaku changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kenitov fights it off and pushes away nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenitov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.

Kenitov tries to keep at a distance but Umbaku has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kenitov misses with a hook from the clinch.
Umbaku wants to take the fight to the mat but Kenitov manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Umbaku is trying to pull guard but Kenitov has him pressed against the cage.
Umbaku has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kenitov connects with a knee to the head.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Umbaku.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nemanja Kenitov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kenitov throws a series of punches but Umbaku moves out of range.
Kenitov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Umbaku fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kenitov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Umbaku.
Umbaku tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kenitov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Umbaku somewhat.

Umbaku rushes Kenitov and presses him up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Umbaku is trying to pull guard but Kenitov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gabriel Umbaku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Umbaku stalling against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kenitov has Umbaku pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Umbaku is trying to pull guard but Kenitov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Stalling in the clinch from Umbaku.

Kenitov jumps guard.
Umbaku is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Umbaku passes Kenitov's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Gabriel Umbaku overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Umbaku stops Kenitov from getting back to his feet.
Umbaku missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Umbaku prevents Kenitov from improving his position.
Umbaku is looking to advance position but Kenitov won't allow it.

Umbaku stands up from half guard.
Umbaku tries a head kick but it misses.
Kenitov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kenitov wants it to stay on the feet.
Kenitov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kenitov wants it to stay on the feet.
A head kick from Kenitov lands but Umbaku takes it in his stride.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenitov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Umbaku swivels and escapes.
Kenitov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Umbaku goes for a double leg but Kenitov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kenitov continues to drive forward.

Kenitov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kenitov throws a body shot but no joy.

Umbaku clinches with his opponent.
The referee calls for Umbaku to work.
Umbaku has had enough of the clinch but Kenitov keeps him there for the moment.

Kenitov breaks from the clinch.
Nemanja Kenitov seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenitov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Umbaku.
Gabriel Umbaku is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kenitov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Umbaku pushes Kenitov up against the cage in a clinch.
Umbaku fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Umbaku wants to break free but Kenitov has control.

Kenitov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Umbaku shoots in for a double leg but Kenitov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Umbaku.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sloppy strikes from Kenitov. Those never looked like landing.
Kenitov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Umbaku dives in and grabs Kenitov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kenitov pushes down on Umbaku's head and hops out.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Umbaku looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nemanja Kenitov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kenitov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 John Roberts scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dean Styles scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nemanja Kenitov!