PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Kaplan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Avtomat Kalashnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joe Kaplan could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Avtomat Kalashnikov's chin.

Kaplan
vs
Kalashnikov

185 cm
24
252 lbs
3 - 2 - 1

177 cm
27
265 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Solid chin

Springfield HW Nutrition

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 3 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Joe Kaplan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Avtomat Kalashnikov!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, George Francis and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kalashnikov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kaplan.
Kaplan goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kalashnikov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kaplan misses the shot to the body.
Nice takedown defense from Kaplan. No joy for Kalashnikov on that attempt.
Kaplan throws a nice looking combination but Kalashnikov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kaplan loads up on a big right hand but Kalashnikov slips the punch.

Kaplan shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kalashnikov manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kalashnikov keeping full guard, as Kaplan tries to pass.
Kaplan is looking to work some ground and pound but Kalashnikov has wrist control.

Kalashnikov has his feet on Kaplan's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaplan misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kaplan fails to land with a series of punches.
Kaplan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kalashnikov as he avoids it easily.
Kaplan wants to clinch.
Kalashnikov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kaplan's waist but Kaplan gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kalashnikov off to one side.
Kalashnikov swats away the attempt to clinch by Kaplan.
Kaplan tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kalashnikov was well out of range. Poor timing from Kaplan.
Kaplan defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kalashnikov.
Joe Kaplan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Avtomat Kalashnikov.

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.
Kaplan rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kalashnikov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kaplan throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kalashnikov on the side of the head.

It looks like Avtomat Kalashnikov has been cut.
Kalashnikov moves away from the strike by Kaplan.
Kaplan throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kaplan throws a right and a left that Kalashnikov avoids nicely.
Kaplan finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Kalashnikov shoots in looking for a takedown. Kaplan tries to sprawl out of it but Kalashnikov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kaplan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kaplan swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kaplan throws a low kick but Kalashnikov moves out of range easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan fails with a takedown attempt.
Kaplan just misses with a punch to the body.
Kalashnikov throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Kaplan looks for a takedown but Kalashnikov sprawls well.
Kalashnikov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Kalashnikov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kalashnikov moves out of range as Kaplan strikes.
Kaplan misses with a combination
and Kalashnikov finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Kalashnikov fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan tries to clinch up.
Kaplan shoots for a takedown but Kalashnikov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kaplan wants to clinch.
Kaplan looks to throw the jab but Kalashnikov is out of range.
Kaplan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kalashnikov swivels and escapes.
Kaplan tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kalashnikov swivels and escapes.
Kalashnikov blocks a jab.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kaplan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
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 Joe Kaplan will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Avtomat Kalashnikov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kaplan tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kalashnikov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kaplan doesn't manage to clinch there - Kalashnikov circles away.
Kalashnikov goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kaplan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kalashnikov counters with a head kick. That will keep Kaplan thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Kaplan shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kalashnikov pinned against the cage. Kalashnikov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kaplan has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kaplan throws a hook but Kalashnikov avoids it easily.
Kaplan gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Kalashnikov counters with a three punch combo that has Kaplan backing up. Kaplan nods at Kalashnikov to acknowledge the strikes.
Kaplan misses with a shot to the body
and Kalashnikov counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaplan wants to clinch but Kalashnikov slips to the side
and Kalashnikov counters with a leg kick.
Kaplan looks to clinch
and Kalashnikov counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Kaplan takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Joe Kaplan has been cut.
Kalashnikov shoots in looking for a takedown but Kaplan manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kalashnikov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Kaplan misses with an uppercut.
Kalashnikov lands a head kick!
Kalashnikov ducks under a wild hook from Kaplan.
Horrible takedown by Kaplan or perhaps it was just good defense by Kalashnikov which made him look bad.
Kaplan shoots for a takedown but Kalashnikov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Kaplan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kaplan moves in looking to clinch but Kalashnikov pushes him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kalashnikov counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kalashnikov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kaplan shoots in looking for a takedown. Kalashnikov tries to sprawl out of it but Kaplan keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kalashnikov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Kalashnikov tries for a takedown but Kaplan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Avtomat Kalashnikov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kaplan dives in and grabs Kalashnikov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kalashnikov pushes down on Kaplan's head and hops out.
Kalashnikov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kaplan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Joe Kaplan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalashnikov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kaplan tries to avoid it but Kalashnikov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kaplan to the ground. Kaplan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kaplan fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kaplan misses with a jab to the body
and Kalashnikov counters with a thumping low kick.
Kaplan tries to clinch but Kalashnikov is having none of it.
Kaplan misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kalashnikov counters with a big head kick but Kaplan shrugs it off.
Kaplan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kalashnikov counters with a low kick, right behind Kaplan 's knee.
Kalashnikov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kaplan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kaplan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kaplan keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kalashnikov fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan misses with a body punch
and Kalashnikov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kaplan's knee momentarily.
Joe Kaplan seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kaplan wants to clinch but Kalashnikov slips to the side
and Kalashnikov finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Kaplan misses with a combination
and Kalashnikov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kaplan's knee momentarily.
Kalashnikov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kaplan.
Kaplan takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kalashnikov shoots in looking for a takedown. Kaplan tries to sprawl out of it but Kalashnikov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kaplan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Kaplan looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Avtomat Kalashnikov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kaplan will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kalashnikov lands with a kick to the temple. Kaplan shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kaplan lands with a straight right. Kalashnikov didn't see that one coming.
Kaplan wants to clinch but Kalashnikov slips to the side
and Kalashnikov counters with a leg kick.
A telegraphed right hand from Kaplan misses the target.
Kaplan fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kaplan shoots for a takedown but Kalashnikov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kaplan shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joe Kaplan. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kaplan swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kalashnikov counters with a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kaplan is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kalashnikov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalashnikov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kalashnikov stuffs the takedown.
Kalashnikov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kaplan tries to avoid it but Kalashnikov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kaplan to the ground. Kaplan escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kaplan pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kalashnikov moves out of range as Kaplan strikes.
Kaplan fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kaplan swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kalashnikov counters with a three punch combo that has Kaplan backing up. Kaplan nods at Kalashnikov to acknowledge the strikes.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kalashnikov.
Kaplan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kalashnikov counters with a nice kick to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalashnikov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kaplan falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kalashnikov counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Kaplan is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Kaplan shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kalashnikov as he avoids it easily.
Kalashnikov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kaplan moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kaplan throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kalashnikov makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kalashnikov fails with a takedown attempt.

Kaplan gets a takedown into half guard.
Kalashnikov regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Kaplan.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaplan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kaplan postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kaplan postures up in Kalashnikov's guard and throws a big left but Kalashnikov blocks it.
Kaplan postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kaplan wants to stand but Kalashnikov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four 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.
Kaplan wants to control from the top but Kalashnikov keeps moving.
Kaplan throws a big right hand that misses.
Kaplan trying to control the position from guard on top but Kalashnikov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaplan working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kaplan trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kaplan postures up in Kalashnikov's guard and throws a big left but Kalashnikov blocks it.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Avtomat Kalashnikov.
I think Kalashnikov 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 Robert Twigg scores the fight 28:29
Judge George Francis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Avtomat Kalashnikov!