PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Krystian Kaczala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorik Vartanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kaczala has a slight injury, which hopefully won't affect the fight too much. I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Kaczala
vs
Vartanov

193 cm
25
220 lbs
6 - 6 - 0

190 cm
24
265 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 6 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Krystian Kaczala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jorik Vartanov!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vartanov swings away with a leg kick that misses.

Kaczala closes the distance and clinches.
Vartanov tries to land knees in the clinch but Kaczala avoids the damage to the body.
Kaczala tries to pull guard but Vartanov holds him up against the cage and eventually Kaczala drops back down to his feet.

Vartanov drops Kaczala onto one knee with a big uppercut from the clinch! Kaczala is propped up by the cage and works his way back to his feet!

It looks like Krystian Kaczala has been cut.
Kaczala is breathing heavily.

Vartanov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kaczala is trying to keep an underhook but Vartanov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Kaczala wants to control but Vartanov is keeping busy.
Vartanov seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Vartanov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vartanov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kaczala doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Vartanov.

Vartanov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kaczala is just riding it out for now. Vartanov eventually gives up the hold.
Vartanov sitting and controlling from the half guard.

That's two 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.
Vartanov is thwarting Kaczala's attempts to control the position.
Kaczala is not content to let Vartanov control the position.
Vartanov slows the pace down in half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kaczala wants to clinch up but Vartanov keeps it at a distance.
Nice body kick from Vartanov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vartanov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Vartanov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kaczala tries to lock up and control but Vartanov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

Vartanov has hold of Kaczala's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Kaczala manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Vartanov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Vartanov wants to control the pace but Kaczala is squirming around nicely.
Vartanov dominating with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vartanov working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Vartanov controlling the position easily from mount.
Let's hope that Vartanov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorik Vartanov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Krystian Kaczala's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

A jab from Vartanov does it's job there.

Vartanov shoots in for a takedown and gets it, with a heavy slam. That will score well with the judges.

Kaczala is rocked!
Vartanov lands a couple of elbows.
Vartanov throws a big right hand that misses.
Vartanov content to stall in guard here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vartanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kaczala is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Jorik Vartanov has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Vartanov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Vartanov fails with an attempt to clinch.

Kaczala tries to sprawl but Vartanov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Vartanov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kaczala wants to get back to full guard.
Kaczala trying to control from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jorik Vartanov was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Vartanov lands a left and a right that send Kaczala crashing to the mat, dazed. Vartanov thinks about following him to the mat but decides to wave him back up to his feet!
Oh Kaczala is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Vartanov clinches with his opponent.
Kaczala seems to have got his legs back now.

Vartanov breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vartanov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Vartanov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kaczala looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Vartanov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Vartanov wants to take a breather but Kaczala is having none of it.
Kaczala is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vartanov wants to free his trapped foot but Kaczala is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kaczala keeping hold of Vartanov's head, controlling as best he can.
Kaczala is trying to maintain the position but Vartanov is very close to passing his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vartanov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Krystian Kaczala wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Vartanov tries to clinch up.

Vartanov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Vartanov showed some decent athleticism there.
Kaczala is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorik Vartanov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Krystian Kaczala's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kaczala gets caught flat footed, as Vartanov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kaczala looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Vartanov puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Vartanov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Vartanov trying to control from half guard but Kaczala is working away.
Kaczala is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vartanov is looking to take a break and control but Kaczala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vartanov controlling the action here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jorik Vartanov was stalling too much, according to the referee.

Vartanov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Vartanov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Vartanov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kaczala tries to buck Vartanov off but Vartanov is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vartanov is looking to take a break and control but Kaczala is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kaczala is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kaczala wants to control but Vartanov postures up.
Vartanov controls the position from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaczala tries to improve position but can't.
Kaczala tries to control but Vartanov manages to take his back.
Jorik Vartanov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kaczala just trying to survive but Vartanov is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.
Vartanov biding his time, looking for the opening.
Kaczala wants to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Kaczala tries to roll but Vartanov sticks to his back.

Vartanov working for the choke.
Vartanov scores with strikes from the back.
Jorik Vartanov has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Good control from Vartanov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jorik Vartanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Vartanov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 25:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 26:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jorik Vartanov!