PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vyacheslav Kalashnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksander Yaroslev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kalashnikov comes to the cage accompanied by Simon & Garfunkel - Sound Of Silence. The crowd seem to be enjoying Yaroslev's choice of entrance music: War is the Answer - Five Finger Death Punch. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kalashnikov
vs
Yaroslev

195 cm
21
245 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

205 cm
21
285 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class MT
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Powerful

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Vyacheslav Kalashnikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Aleksander Yaroslev!
The judges for this bout are Russell Pearce, John Kavanagh and Joseph Jones.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yaroslev tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kalashnikov swivels and escapes.
Yaroslev takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Yaroslev tries to clinch there but Kalashnikov circles away.
Kalashnikov lands with a shot to the body.
Kalashnikov lands a jab to the head.
Kalashnikov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Nice jab there from Kalashnikov.
Kalashnikov misses with a low kick as Yaroslev jumps back.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kalashnikov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Yaroslev fails with a takedown attempt.
Kalashnikov connects with a right hand. Yaroslev shakes it off.
Kalashnikov lands a slapping body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalashnikov cracks the inside of Yaroslev's front leg.
Kalashnikov lunges at Yaroslev with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Yaroslev's hand.
Kalashnikov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Yaroslev.

Yaroslev gets a double leg takedown into Kalashnikov's guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kalashnikov wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kalashnikov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Yaroslev trying to move into half guard but instead Kalashnikov has managed to sweep!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalashnikov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Yaroslev is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
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!
Kalashnikov is fighting to break Yaroslev's control of his arms but Yaroslev is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Yaroslev keeping moving, preventing Kalashnikov from controlling successfully.
Kalashnikov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kalashnikov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

We're going to have a standup here because Vyacheslav Kalashnikov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Nice uppercut lands for Kalashnikov. That snapped Yaroslev's head back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Yaroslev takes a body punch but keeps moving.
A good leg kick by Kalashnikov.
Kalashnikov throws a leg kick which misses Yaroslev's front leg but catches the back leg as Yaroslev tries to avoid it.
Kalashnikov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
A shot to the liver by Kalashnikov. Beautiful body shot.
Vyacheslav Kalashnikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kalashnikov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Yaroslev drives through with a takedown into guard.
Yaroslev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kalashnikov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kalashnikov wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Yaroslev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Yaroslev throws an elbow that misses. Kalashnikov uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Yaroslev's guard. Nice move by Kalashnikov!
Kalashnikov trying to control but Yaroslev is working from the bottom.
Kalashnikov is looking to stand up but Yaroslev won't let him.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kalashnikov trying to control but Yaroslev is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vyacheslav Kalashnikov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Yaroslev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kalashnikov circles away.
Kalashnikov throws a leg kick

and Yaroslev counters with a shoot takedown. Kalashnikov fights it but they end up in guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Yaroslev trying to move into half guard but instead Kalashnikov has managed to sweep!
Kalashnikov trying to control the position from guard on top but Yaroslev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Yaroslev has Kalashnikov pulled in close to control his posture.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Kalashnikov here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Kalashnikov wants to control from the top but Yaroslev keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Vyacheslav Kalashnikov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kalashnikov scores with a punch to the head.
Yaroslev slips under a jab.
Vyacheslav Kalashnikov is winning the standup battle so far.
Kalashnikov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Yaroslev's calf.
Kalashnikov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kalashnikov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Yaroslev moves forwards but Kalashnikov connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Yaroslev doesn't manage to clinch there - Kalashnikov circles away.
Kalashnikov misses with a left hand
and Yaroslev counters with a left to the body.
Yaroslev slips under a jab.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Yaroslev is defended easily by Kalashnikov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Kalashnikov.
Yaroslev takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yaroslev avoids a kick to the body.
Kalashnikov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Yaroslev.
Kalashnikov moves into range and connects with a jab.
Kalashnikov scores with a kick to the midsection.
Vyacheslav Kalashnikov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kalashnikov misses with a looping right.
Kalashnikov connects with the punch.
Kalashnikov connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalashnikov cracks Yaroslev with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Kalashnikov listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Kalashnikov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Good standup being displayed there by Kalashnikov as he connects with a hook.
Yaroslev shoots for a double leg takedown but Kalashnikov sprawls well. He's pushed Yaroslev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Vyacheslav Kalashnikov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksander Yaroslev.
Yaroslev moves in looking to clinch but Kalashnikov pushes him off.
Kalashnikov jabs Yaroslev to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kalashnikov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kalashnikov connects with a jab.
Kalashnikov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Yaroslev on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Yaroslev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Yaroslev's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
A jab from Kalashnikov finds it's way through Yaroslev's defenses.
Kalashnikov misses with a body shot.
Yaroslev takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Yaroslev dives in and grabs Kalashnikov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kalashnikov pushes down on Yaroslev's head and hops out.
Yaroslev is breathing heavily.
Kalashnikov connects with a nice looking jab.

Yaroslev is rocked!
Kalashnikov pounces like a tiger and cracks Yaroslev with a vicious hook! Yaroslev is down but not out! Kalashnikov follows up with more strikes forcing the ref to jump in and stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:38 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Vyacheslav Kalashnikov!
A determined Vyacheslav Kalashnikov didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!