PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Kaliniev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cody Mckenzie (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Cody Mckenzie acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Kaliniev
vs
Mckenzie

176 cm
25
152 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
24
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Alexei Kaliniev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cody Mckenzie!
The judges for this bout are Wesley Smith, Cecil Peabody and Alan Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kaliniev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kaliniev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Mckenzie swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kaliniev throws a big elbow that misses.

Mckenzie is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kaliniev defends well.
Kaliniev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kaliniev pushing down on Mckenzie's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kaliniev seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kaliniev thows a huge punch but Mckenzie dodges it nicely.
Mckenzie is trying to get back to full guard.

Mckenzie looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kaliniev tries to pass the half guard into mount. Mckenzie knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaliniev is looking to pass Mckenzie's guard but actually Mckenzie recovers to full guard.
Kaliniev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kaliniev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Mckenzie throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Mckenzie preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaliniev is in close to Mckenzie's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kaliniev throwing strikes from guard but Mckenzie blocks nicely.
Kaliniev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kaliniev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kaliniev tries to free his leg and advance position but Mckenzie is retaining full guard.

Mckenzie looking for a guillotine here but Kaliniev defends easily.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Mckenzie keeping full guard, as Kaliniev tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaliniev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Mckenzie keeping full guard, as Kaliniev tries to pass.
Kaliniev is working hard here to advance position.
Kaliniev advances position into side control!
Mckenzie takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Kaliniev is working Mckenzie over with some ground and pound from side control.
Kaliniev knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mckenzie on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaliniev scoring with punches and elbows.
Kaliniev landing a few strikes.
Mckenzie is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Mckenzie looks gassed!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mckenzie manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kaliniev's best efforts.
Mckenzie is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kaliniev scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kaliniev throwing shots but Mckenzie is blocking nicely.

Mckenzie looking for submissions off his back.
Kaliniev is looking to advance position but Mckenzie won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kaliniev lands strikes from half guard.
Kaliniev passes the guard and advances to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Kaliniev dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Mckenzie wants to clinch.

Kaliniev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Mckenzie 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.
Kaliniev sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Mckenzie's guard.
Alexei Kaliniev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kaliniev frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kaliniev is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Kaliniev cracks Mckenzie with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mckenzie is looking to improve his position but Kaliniev isn't that keen on the idea.
Mckenzie is breathing heavily.
Kaliniev postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mckenzie looks a forlorn figure.
Kaliniev scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Mckenzie?
Kaliniev lands a nice shot to the head.
Kaliniev putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kaliniev lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kaliniev is in the full mount, landing strikes.

Mckenzie is rocked!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kaliniev postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Mckenzie looks a forlorn figure.
Mckenzie is still in real trouble! Can Kaliniev finish him?
Kaliniev raining down hammerfists from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaliniev lands a big elbow - Mckenzie is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Mckenzie is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Alexei Kaliniev!