PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Kline (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Leonidas Rasputin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kline
vs
Rasputin

180 cm
21
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

198 cm
18
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Very confident

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 St Petersburg, Kenny Kline!
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, Leonidas Rasputin!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kline darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kline lands a nice short elbow.
Rasputin is looking to control Kline's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rasputin avoid being mounted?
Kline seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rasputin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kline is looking to advance position but Rasputin won't allow it.
Kline thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rasputin's head.
Kline slows the pace down in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rasputin tries to roll over but Kline keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kline connects with a nice short shot to Rasputin's temple.
Kline looks to land a strike but Rasputin avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Kline postures up.
Rasputin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kline.
Kline in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Rasputin 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.
Kline is looking to work some ground and pound but Rasputin has wrist control.
Rasputin trying to control the position.

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

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rasputin misses with a takedown

and Kline counters by moving into the clinch.
Kline drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Rasputin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Rasputin jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kline walks away with a smile on his face. Rasputin gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

Kline closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rasputin to the mat! Rasputin manages to get full guard.
Rasputin looking to control.
Kline missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kline stops Rasputin from standing up.
Rasputin looks gassed!
Kline working some strikes from top position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kline tries to free his leg and advance position but Rasputin is retaining full guard.
Rasputin wants to sweep but no luck.
Kline postures up in Rasputin's guard and throws a big left but Rasputin blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kline passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kline is looking to take a break and control but Rasputin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kline working the ground and pound.
Kline scoring with punches from side control.
Kline lands a few punches from side control.
Kline lands a few punches from side control.
Kline has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Kline lands a few punches from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasputin takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Kline in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kline cracks Rasputin with a big right hand but Rasputin just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kline working the head with strikes.
Kline looks up at the clock and then as Rasputin takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kline smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rasputin is trying to improve his position.
Kline lands some shots froms side control.
Rasputin is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Kline working the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Kline dominated that 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.

Kline bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ground and pound from Kline seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Rasputin taking a bit of punishment here - Kline scoring with strikes.
Kenny Kline overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kline looks up at the clock and then as Rasputin takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kline smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Rasputin is trying to get back to half guard.
Kline lands some shots froms side control.
Kline working the ground and pound.
Kline lands a decent elbow from side control.
Kline working the head and body with strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rasputin is trying to escape the position but Kline is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kline lands a few punches from side control.
Rasputin tries to escape but Kline is in control.

Kline thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kline trying to control the position but Rasputin is working away.
You can see the frustration on Rasputin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kline lands an elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kline landing strikes.
Rasputin is trying to control Kline's posture but Kline avoids it.
Kline landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Rasputin is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kline connects with a decent elbow.
Kline landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Kline creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Kline scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Rasputin to see if he's OK.
Kline scoring with punches from side control.
Kline working the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kline controlling the position from side mount.
Kline is working Rasputin over with some ground and pound from side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rasputin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kline connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rasputin some visible discomfort.
Rasputin is not content to let Kline control the position.
Rasputin tries to buck Kline off but Kline is having none of it.
Rasputin takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's four 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.
Kline wants to control but Rasputin is keeping him busy.
Rasputin is looking for a sweep.
Kline scores with a couple of short elbows.
Rasputin wants to control but Kline postures up.
Rasputin is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kline connects with a decent elbow.
Kline in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Rasputin tries to buck Kline off but Kline is having none of it.
Rasputin wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Rasputin can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Kline dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Kline closes the distance and clinches.
Rasputin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kline avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Kline is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Rasputin can't fight it off and eventually Kline manages to take the fight to the floor. Rasputin looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kline landing some decent shots from guard.
Kline lands a couple of elbows.
Kline postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kline controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kline trying to control but Rasputin is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasputin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kline is one step ahead there.
Kline trying to control the position from guard on top but Rasputin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kline throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kline sitting in guard here, content to control.
Rasputin wants to stand and escape but Kline is having none of it.

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

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

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Rasputin changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kline fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Kline fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rasputin sprawls well initially but Kline persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Kline working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Rasputin trying to control here.
Kline perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kline missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kline working the head and body with strikes.
Rasputin is looking to escape.
Rasputin is refusing to be controlled, as Kline sits in half guard.
Rasputin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kline seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Rasputin is looking for a sweep. Kline is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kline stops Rasputin from getting back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Kline closes the distance and clinches.

That's four 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.

Kline has clasped his hands together around Rasputin's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Kenny Kline is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kline is looking to take a break and control but Rasputin is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rasputin is looking for a sweep.
Kline trying to control the position but Rasputin is working away.
Rasputin wants to control but Kline postures up.
Kline staying calm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenny Kline showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kline 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:26
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenny Kline!