PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Visnu Ganesan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and jp Califf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Visnu Ganesan has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Ganesan
vs
Califf

220 cm
22
133 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
135 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Visnu Ganesan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, jp Califf!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ganesan shoots in for a takedown but Califf shows good takedown defense.

Ganesan shoots in and bounces Califf off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ganesan content to stall in guard here.
Ganesan has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Ganesan looking to pass the guard.
Ganesan works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Califf is looking to improve his position.
Ganesan trying to control from Califf's half guard. Califf has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Ganesan trying to control the position from guard on top but Califf is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Califf bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ganesan's guard.
Ganesan is controlling Califf's posture.
Califf stands and throws Ganesan's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Ganesan looks to move to half guard but instead Califf has passed into mount! Damn!
Ganesan holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Califf tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Ganesan blocking the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ganesan tries to improve his position but instead Califf has taken his back!
Ganesan staying busy and making it hard for Califf to control.
Califf thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.
Ganesan really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Califf keeps control of the position easily here as Ganesan tries to buck him off.
Califf has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
You can see the frustration on Ganesan's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Califf has good solid back control here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Califf tightening his grip on Ganesan, looking for the choke.

Ganesan showing good submission defense here.

Califf is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Ganesan has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.
Ganesan staying busy and making it hard for Califf to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Califf is not going to allow Ganesan to sit and survive in this position.
Ganesan is breathing heavily.

Califf looking for the RNC.
Ganesan trying to get back to his feet but Califf is in full control for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Califf tries to get the hooks in deep but Ganesan pushed the leg off.
Good control from Califf.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

jp Califf dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ganesan doesn't manage to clinch there - Califf circles away.
Ganesan on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Visnu Ganesan is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Califf keeps the fight on the outside.
Califf avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Califf throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Califf doesn't manage to clinch there - Ganesan circles away.
Califf stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Califf wants it to stay on the feet.
Califf tries for a takedown but Ganesan sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Califf pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Califf has his takedown stuffed

and Ganesan decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Califf's guard.
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!
Califf tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ganesan looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ganesan wants to control from the top but Califf keeps moving.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Ganesan got a little sloppy there for a moment and Califf has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ganesan has managed to get both his arms back between Califf's legs - danger averted.
Ganesan will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Califf looking for a guillotine here but Ganesan defends easily.
Califf keeping moving, preventing Ganesan from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ganesan throws an elbow that misses. Califf uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ganesan's guard. Nice move by Califf!

Califf decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ganesan, up you get!
Ganesan lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ganesan looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ganesan's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Califf connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ganesan scrambles back to his feet.
Ganesan wants to clinch up but Califf keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Califf throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Califf.
Visnu Ganesan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of jp Califf.
Califf misses with a two punch combination.
Califf tries to close the distance and clinch but Ganesan swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ganesan tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ganesan moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Califf tries to score a power double leg takedown but Ganesan sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Califf somewhat.
Ganesan shoots in for a takedown but Califf shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Califf misses with a takedown attempt - Ganesan sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Califf shoots in looking for a takedown. Ganesan tries to sprawl out of it but Califf keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Ganesan manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
A lazy body kick from Ganesan

and Califf counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ganesan's guard now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Ganesan looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Califf has picked Ganesan up and slammed him! Ganesan can't keep hold of the triangle and Califf manages to pass to side control!
Califf gets to mount! Ganesan was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
jp Califf has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ganesan reaches up to try and control the position but Califf seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Ganesan rolls and tries to escape and now Califf has his back!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ganesan is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Ganesan is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Califf.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but jp Califf will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Califf has closed the distance and engaged Ganesan in a clinch.
Ganesan changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Califf fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Ganesan closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
It looks like Ganesan is going to stand back up.

Califf looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Ganesan stalling away here and it's allowed Califf to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ganesan trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Califf working for submissions but it's allowed Ganesan to get to half guard.
Ganesan working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Califf's thigh. Califf counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Ganesan wants to stand but Califf is controlling his posture from full guard.
Califf trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Califf controls Ganesan momentarily but Ganesan frees himself.

Califf throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Califf manages to escape and get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Califf shoots in but Ganesan avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Califf shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ganesan pushes Califf away with a front kick.
No luck for Califf with that takedown attempt.
Visnu Ganesan has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of jp Califf.
Califf gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ganesan counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Califf wants to stand and escape but Ganesan is having none of it.
Califf trying to control the position.

Califf pushes Ganesan off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Califf wants to clinch up but Ganesan keeps it at a distance.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Califf dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Ganesan. That did some damage!
Califf is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ganesan sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ganesan uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Califf has time to react.
Califf closes the distance and clinches up with Ganesan, looking for a takedown. Califf pushes Ganesan against the cage but Ganesan circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Califf shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ganesan pinned against the cage. Ganesan gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
jp Califf seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Califf is defended easily by Ganesan.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Visnu Ganesan.
Well Califf 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... jp Califf!