PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Gustavsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evgeni Klebanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Evgeni Klebanov acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Gustavsson
vs
Klebanov

170 cm
25
182 lbs
5 - 5 - 1

168 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent elbows
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Gustavsson!
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, Evgeni Klebanov!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Fedor Mirinova and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Klebanov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gustavsson.
Gustavsson tries to clinch but Klebanov is having none of it.
Gustavsson wants to clinch up but Klebanov keeps it at a distance.
Gustavsson tries to clinch up but Klebanov circles away and keeps his distance.
Gustavsson wants to clinch.
Klebanov shoots in but Gustavsson avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gustavsson shoots in for a double leg but Klebanov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Klebanov shoots in for a takedown but Gustavsson shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Klebanov misses with a leg kick.

Gustavsson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Klebanov is looking for a sweep.
Klebanov wants to control but Gustavsson postures up.

Gustavsson tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Gustavsson has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Gustavsson is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Klebanov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gustavsson working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Klebanov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Klebanov is keen to just control but Gustavsson is a slippery customer.
Klebanov trying to control the pace.
Klebanov is looking to take a break and control but Gustavsson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Gustavsson won't allow Klebanov to pass to mount.

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.
Klebanov is trying to control the action in half guard but Gustavsson is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gustavsson tries to roll over but Klebanov keeps him under control.
Gustavsson wants to sweep but Klebanov has passed to side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Klebanov trying to control the position but Gustavsson is working away.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gustavsson is looking to clinch.

Gustavsson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Gustavsson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Gustavsson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Gustavsson is thwarting Klebanov's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov tries to get to full guard but Gustavsson has control of the leg.
Klebanov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Gustavsson is working away from the top position though.
Klebanov looks gassed!

Gustavsson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Klebanov defends it well.

Gustavsson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Klebanov is just riding it out for now. Gustavsson eventually gives up the hold.

Gustavsson is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Klebanov has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Klebanov is pressing down on Gustavsson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Klebanov working a defensive guard here.
Gustavsson wants to stand but Klebanov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Klebanov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Gustavsson's guard.

Klebanov drops back looking for a leg! Gustavsson is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Gustavsson manages to kick Klebanov off! Klebanov jumps back into Gustavsson's guard.
Klebanov sitting in guard here, content to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Alexander Gustavsson will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

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

Gustavsson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Gustavsson drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Klebanov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gustavsson has Klebanov in his guard.
Gustavsson 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.
Klebanov should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Klebanov tries to free his leg and advance position but Gustavsson is retaining full guard.
Klebanov prevents Gustavsson from getting back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gustavsson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Klebanov manages to get himself to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gustavsson drops back looking for a leg! Klebanov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Klebanov manages to kick Gustavsson off! Gustavsson jumps back into Klebanov's guard.
Klebanov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Gustavsson is wriggling around here but as he tries to escape, Klebanov has taken his back.
Gustavsson staying busy and making it hard for Klebanov to control.

Klebanov is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Gustavsson knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Gustavsson for a finish.
Klebanov is riding his opponent, not letting Gustavsson buck him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustavsson manages to reverse the position and now he's in Klebanov's guard. Nice work there by Gustavsson.
Klebanov trying to keep a closed guard but Gustavsson is proving a slippery customer.

Gustavsson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Klebanov is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Gustavsson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Klebanov looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gustavsson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Gustavsson advances to half guard.

Gustavsson is looking for a kimura but Klebanov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gustavsson to get the leverage.
Klebanov is looking to improve his position.

Gustavsson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Klebanov trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Gustavsson is working for a submission of some sort.
Klebanov wants to improve his position but Gustavsson is controlling well.

Gustavsson is working for a kimura but Klebanov is defending it quite comfortably.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Klebanov trying to control here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Gustavsson dominated that second 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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gustavsson wants to clinch up but Klebanov keeps it at a distance.
Gustavsson tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Klebanov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Klebanov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Klebanov closes the distance and clinches up with Gustavsson, looking for a takedown. Klebanov pushes Gustavsson against the cage but Gustavsson circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Klebanov tried to score with a low kick but Gustavsson checks it.
Gustavsson tries to clinch but Klebanov moves out of range.
Gustavsson fails with an attempt to clinch.

Gustavsson scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Gustavsson is trying to get an arm triangle but Klebanov is defending well.

Gustavsson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Klebanov is trying to control Gustavsson's posture but Gustavsson avoids it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Gustavsson looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Gustavsson thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Klebanov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gustavsson's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Gustavsson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Klebanov controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Klebanov manages to get to full guard.

Gustavsson is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Klebanov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Klebanov has escaped and now he's on top!

Klebanov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Klebanov 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 three minutes gone in the round.
Gustavsson bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Klebanov's guard.
Klebanov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Klebanov trying to control the position.

Gustavsson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gustavsson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Gustavsson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Gustavsson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Klebanov trying to control the position.

Gustavsson is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Alexander Gustavsson is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Klebanov has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Klebanov wants to sweep but no luck.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gustavsson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Klebanov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Gustavsson won't be happy with that.
Klebanov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gustavsson keeps working.

Klebanov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Evgeni Klebanov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Klebanov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evgeni Klebanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gustavsson has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:29
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!