PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Martin Fernstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and valdirmor kiklov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Fernstrom
vs
kiklov

185 cm
18
174 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
19
170 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

Good wrestler
Basic striking
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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Martin Fernstrom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, valdirmor kiklov!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Viktor Lagutenko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

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

kiklov is rocked!

It looks like valdirmor kiklov has been cut.
Fernstrom seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
kiklov is still in real trouble! Can Fernstrom finish him?
Fernstrom thows a huge punch but kiklov dodges it nicely.
Fernstrom looks to land a strike but kiklov avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
kiklov seems to have recovered his senses.
Fernstrom throws and elbow that misses. kiklov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fernstrom's guard. Nice move by kiklov!
kiklov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
kiklov lands a couple of elbows.
kiklov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Fernstrom on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Fernstrom tries to get out of the position.
kiklov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Fernstrom swivels though and keeps the full guard.
kiklov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
kiklov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
kiklov with a flurry of punches that miss.
kiklov throwing strikes from guard but Fernstrom blocks nicely.
Fernstrom avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
kiklov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

kiklov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
kiklov looks gassed!
Fernstrom has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. kiklov is working away from the top position though.
kiklov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
kiklov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
kiklov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
kiklov lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
kiklov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
kiklov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fernstrom's head.
Fernstrom tries to roll over but kiklov keeps him under control.
kiklov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
kiklov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Fernstrom misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
A combination from Fernstrom does no damage.
A bone on bone clash there as kiklov blocks the leg kick.
kiklov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fernstrom but Fernstrom pushes him off and we're back to square one.

kiklov gets the takedown into side control.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
kiklov in side control, throwing shots but Fernstrom defends.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from kiklov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
kiklov misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
kiklov misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernstrom is trying to improve his position.
kiklov sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Fernstrom is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
kiklov working the strikes but Fernstrom uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
kiklov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Fernstrom throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Fernstrom scores with a jab.
Some wild striking there from Fernstrom.
Martin Fernstrom is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernstrom throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Fernstrom misses with the combination.
Fernstrom throws a right hand that kiklov ducks under and follows up with a left that kiklov also avoids with ease.

kiklov gets a takedown into half guard.
kiklov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Fernstrom blocking the ground and pound attempt from kiklov.
kiklov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
kiklov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
kiklov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
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 Martin Fernstrom will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on valdirmor kiklov's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Fernstrom throws a right and a left that both miss.
kiklov misses with a takedown attempt - Fernstrom sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Fernstrom drops kiklov with a left right combo! Fernstrom follows him down to the ground into side control.
kiklov is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Fernstrom fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Fernstrom throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Fernstrom in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
The strikes coming from Fernstrom are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Fernstrom working the strikes but kiklov uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Fernstrom missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

kiklov manages to escape and get back to his feet!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernstrom lands with a straight right. kiklov didn't see that one coming.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
kiklov on the wrong end of a nice hook.

kiklov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
kiklov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fernstrom defending well though.
Fernstrom tries to get to full guard but kiklov has control of the leg.
kiklov trying to pass the guard but Fernstrom defending well.
kiklov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fernstrom's head.
kiklov working the head and body with strikes.
Fernstrom blocking the ground and pound attempt from kiklov.
kiklov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
kiklov throwing shots but Fernstrom is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fernstrom throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Martin Fernstrom is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fernstrom moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A combination from Fernstrom does no damage.
Fernstrom throws a series of punches but kiklov moves out of range.

kiklov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
kiklov has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Fernstrom's face.
kiklov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
kiklov misses with a head shot.
kiklov throws some wild stikes that Fernstrom manages to avoid easily.
kiklov putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
kiklov throws some wild stikes that Fernstrom manages to avoid easily.
Poor strikes thrown by kiklov there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
kiklov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
kiklov looking to finish with strikes here!
kiklov misses with a head shot.
kiklov sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
kiklov throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
kiklov punching from mount but Fernstrom doing a good job of avoiding damage.
kiklov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
kiklov punching from mount but Fernstrom doing a good job of avoiding damage.
kiklov throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
kiklov thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
kiklov unloads with some shots from mount but Fernstrom bucks and avoids them well.
Fernstrom avoids a series of strikes thrown by kiklov.
Fernstrom blocking the ground and pound.
kiklov unloads with some shots from mount but Fernstrom bucks and avoids them well.
Fernstrom taking shots to the head.
kiklov throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
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 Martin Fernstrom will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on valdirmor kiklov's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Fernstrom tries to bum rush kiklov with a series of wild strikes but kiklov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Fernstrom will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.

kiklov shoots in and bounces Fernstrom off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
kiklov is looking to work some ground and pound but Fernstrom has wrist control.
kiklov throws a big right hand that misses.
kiklov with a flurry of punches that miss.
kiklov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
kiklov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
kiklov connects with a couple of short punches.
kiklov stops Fernstrom from standing up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
kiklov postures up in Fernstrom's guard and throws a big left but Fernstrom blocks it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Fernstrom misses with the combination.
kiklov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Fernstrom sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten kiklov somewhat.
Fernstrom rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but kiklov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

kiklov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Fernstrom to the mat! Fernstrom manages to get full guard.
kiklov content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as kiklov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
kiklov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
kiklov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
kiklov throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as kiklov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
kiklov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
kiklov with a flurry of punches that miss.
kiklov throws a big right hand that misses.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

kiklov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
kiklov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
kiklov missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Fernstrom keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Martin Fernstrom is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
kiklov throwing shots but Fernstrom is blocking nicely.
kiklov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Fernstrom defending well though.
Fernstrom is trying to control but can't.
Fernstrom blocking the ground and pound attempt from kiklov.
Fernstrom avoiding damage under a succession of punches from kiklov.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Fernstrom misses with a two punch combination.
kiklov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Fernstrom but Fernstrom pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Fernstrom lands a two punch combo.
Fernstrom will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Fernstrom lands a really nice looking cross but kiklov seems unphased.
Fernstrom fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Fernstrom lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

kiklov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
kiklov working the ground and pound effectively.
kiklov unloading with bombs!
kiklov sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Fernstrom keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
kiklov throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
kiklov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Fernstrom?
valdirmor kiklov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
valdirmor kiklov has got the better of the ground game so far.
kiklov throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
valdirmor kiklov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Fernstrom 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Martin Fernstrom!