PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Stefan de Kort (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Artem Vaits (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

de Kort
vs
Vaits

190 cm
24
215 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

183 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Good knees
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stefan de Kort!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Artem Vaits!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vaits leaves de Kort with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Vaits swats away the attempt to clinch by de Kort.

Vaits closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. de Kort did well to prevent Vaits getting side control.
Vaits sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. de Kort defending well though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vaits tries to pass to full mount but de Kort defends it.

Vaits is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Vaits works his foot free and advances to mount.
de Kort tries to lock up and control but Vaits gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Vaits moves to back control.

Vaits is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Kort covering up well under a barage of strikes.
The referee is taking a good look at de Kort as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Vaits!

Vaits is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. de Kort is defending well though. Vaits let's go of the attempt for now.

Vaits is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but de Kort has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

Vaits is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. de Kort is defending well though. Vaits let's go of the attempt for now.
Vaits throwing sloppy strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vaits has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, de Kort has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
de Kort manages to escape to a better position under a series of strikes. Vaits is now in side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Vaits wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by de Kort, who protects the arm well.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Vaits thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
de Kort manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vaits seems to be looking for submissions.
Vaits landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Vaits looks gassed!

Vaits is trying to work for a kimura but de Kort is defending well.

Vaits is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, de Kort has managed to free his arm - good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
de Kort is trying to maintain the position but Vaits is very close to passing his half guard.
de Kort wants to get back to his feet.
Vaits trying to mount his opponent but de Kort defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vaits is trying to work for a kimura but de Kort is defending well.
Vaits throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vaits working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on de Kort's thigh. de Kort counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Vaits wants to pass the guard but de Kort is keeping the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vaitsis looking to pass into half guard but de Kort pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now de Kort is in guard.

Vaits looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Vaits dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

de Kort wants to clinch up but Vaits keeps it at a distance.
Vaits shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
de Kort fails in his attempt to clinch.

Vaits shoots in and gets a takedown into de Kort's guard.
Vaits tries to free his leg and advance position but de Kort is retaining full guard.
Vaits is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
de Kort trying to control the position.
Vaits is breathing heavily.
de Kort is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vaits is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Vaits looking to pass the guard.
de Kort is looking to stand up but Vaits isn't so interested in that idea.
de Kort trying to keep a closed guard but Vaits is proving a slippery customer.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Stefan de Kort just wasn't active enough.

Vaits closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into de Kort's guard.
Vaits pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. de Kort is keeping the position for now.
Vaits working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vaits throws a big right hand that misses.
Vaits trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vaits must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Artem Vaits has got the better of the ground game so far.
Vaitsis looking to pass into half guard but de Kort pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now de Kort is in guard.

de Kort drops back looking for a leg! Vaits is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vaits manages to kick de Kort off! de Kort jumps back into Vaits's guard.

Vaits looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
de Kort trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vaits's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vaits keeping moving, preventing de Kort from controlling successfully.

Vaits looking for submissions from the bottom but instead de Kort passes into side control.

de Kort tries for a kimura but Vaits is defending well.
Vaits is pushing de Kort's head away, looking to escape. de Kort manages to hold on to the position though.
de Kort tries to move to mount but Vaits blocks the move with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vaits looking for a sweep but de Kort has passed into full mount! Oh no!
de Kort wants to stand but Vaits is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.

de Kort has hold of Vaits's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Vaits manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Vaits is trying to stand up.
Vaits keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
de Kort can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Vaits is looking to escape.
Vaits is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Vaits showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Nice takedown defense from de Kort. No joy for Vaits on that attempt.
de Kort fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vaits closes this distance looking for a takedown but de Kort circles away.
de Kort is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Vaits.
Stefan de Kort has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Artem Vaits.
Vaits misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
de Kort wants to clinch.
de Kort looks for a takedown but Vaits sprawls well.
Artem Vaits seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A chopping leg kick lands by de Kort.
Vaits takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
de Kort is looking to clinch.
de Kort has a takedown stuffed.
Stefan de Kort is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
de Kort displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Vaits.

That's one minute gone in the round.
de Kort tries to close the distance and clinch but Vaits swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Vaits is trying hard to land a takedown here. de Kort sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vaits circles away from the clinch attempt.
Vaits keeps the fight on the outside.
Vaits circles away from the clinch attempt.
de Kort tries to clinch but Vaits is having none of it.
de Kort tries to clinch up but Vaits circles away and keeps his distance.
de Kort tries to clinch up but Vaits circles away and keeps his distance.
de Kort tries to close the distance and clinch up but Vaits swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Vaits keeps the fight on the outside.
Vaits shoots in for a takedown but de Kort shows good takedown defense.
de Kort fails with a takedown attempt.
Vaits slaps away a takedown attempt from de Kort, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Vaits looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? de Kort is fending him off so far but Vaits persists. Nope, de Kort circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
de Kort tries to clinch up but Vaits circles away and keeps his distance.
Vaits closes this distance looking for a takedown but de Kort circles away.
Vaits steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from de Kort. That one must have hurt.

de Kort rushes Vaits and presses him up against the cage.
de Kort stalling in the clinch.

Vaits has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but de Kort regains guard immediately.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vaitsis looking to pass into half guard but de Kort pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now de Kort is in guard.

Vaits has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but de Kort can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
de Kort trying to control but Vaits is working from the bottom.

Vaits is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
de Kort forces his way into half guard.

Vaits looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Vaits is trying to stand.
Stefan de Kort has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
de Kort tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Vaits.

Vaits actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vaits is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Vaits is staying active underneath de Kort, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Artem Vaits is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Vaits is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but de Kort pulls his head out easily.
Vaits is trying to stand up here but de Kort is controlling him well.
de Kort not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Vaits trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but de Kort manages to pass to mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
de Kort throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Vaits because de Kort loaded up on that one.
Vaits wants to control but de Kort is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stefan de Kort showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vaits 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artem Vaits!
A less than humble Artem Vaits misjudged his post fight interview somewhat and came across a little too arrogant whilst trying to hype up his own abilities.