PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dimitri Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikov Kimbley (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smirnov
vs
Kimbley

190 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
210 lbs
1 - 7 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dimitri Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mikov Kimbley!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Konstantin Menshow and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smirnov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kimbley swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No luck for Smirnov with that takedown attempt.
Kimbley lands a jab to the head.

Smirnov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kimbley digs a right hand into Smirnov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Smirnov's gas tank.
Smirnov is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kimbley is trying to drag Smirnov to the mat but Smirnov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Smirnov tries for a takedown. No joy.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dimitri Smirnov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smirnov breaks from the clinch.
Smirnov avoids a punch combination nicely.

Smirnov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Smirnov wants to pass the guard but Kimbley is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov trying to control but Kimbley is working from the bottom.
Kimbley trying to control the position.
Smirnov wants to stand but Kimbley has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Kimbley pushes Smirnov off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Kimbley throws a series of punches but Smirnov moves out of range.
Kimbley takes one to the chin there.
A head kick misses from Kimbley.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov looks for a takedown but Kimbley sprawls well.
Kimbley throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kimbley takes a swing at Smirnov's ribcage but misses.
Smirnov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kimbley pinned against the cage. Kimbley gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Smirnov is breathing heavily.
Kimbley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smirnov swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Smirnov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kimbley on his heels. He'll look to pass Kimbley's guard now, I'm sure.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smirnov wants to control from the top but Kimbley keeps moving.
Smirnov won't allow Kimbley to sweep him here.
Smirnov stops Kimbley from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kimbley is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.

Smirnov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kimbley misses with a wild combination.
Smirnov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kimbley is fending him off so far but Smirnov persists. Nope, Kimbley circles away and we're back to standing.
Kimbley plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

Smirnov gets caught napping as Kimbley dives in and scores a takedown. Smirnov manages to retain guard.
Kimbley wanted to stand there but Smirnov had control of the position.
Smirnov tries to strike from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kimbley won't allow Smirnov to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kimbley wants to get up but he can't break Smirnov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Smirnov is working an open guard so Kimbley takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Smirnov throws a leg kick
and Kimbley counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This has been an exciting period of action!
No joy there for Kimbley, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Smirnov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kimbley's waist but Kimbley gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smirnov off to one side.
Smirnov dodges the punch combination from Kimbley.
Nice takedown defense from Kimbley. No joy for Smirnov on that attempt.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kimbley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smirnov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A big right from Kimbley misses.
Smirnov tries to clinch up but Kimbley circles away and keeps his distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mikov Kimbley will probably get the nod.
That's time! Smirnov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kimbley throws a body punch but Smirnov moves out of range.
Nice uppercut there from Smirnov.

It looks like Mikov Kimbley has been cut.
Nice jab there from Kimbley.
Horrible takedown by Smirnov or perhaps it was just good defense by Kimbley which made him look bad.
Kimbley fails to land with a series of punches.
Kimbley stuffs the takedown attempt from Smirnov. Smirnov gets slowly back to his feet.
Dimitri Smirnov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kimbley throws a right and a left that Smirnov avoids nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Smirnov keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kimbley's efforts to push away.
Kimbley wants to break the clinch but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov fails to pull the fight into his guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dimitri Smirnov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Smirnov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Smirnov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kimbley manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Smirnov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kimbley as he avoids it easily.
Kimbley misses with an attempted mid kick.
Smirnov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Smirnov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kimbley tries to land a leg kick but Smirnov saw it coming and moves away.
Kimbley lands a head kick. Smirnov smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Smirnov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kimbley quickly recovers to half guard.
Smirnov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kimbley makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Kimbley wants to clinch up but Smirnov keeps it at a distance.

Kimbley moves into range and clinches up with Smirnov.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kimbley is trying to force a seperation but Smirnov has the dominant position.
Kimbley working hard to break the clinch.
Smirnov fails to pull guard.

Kimbley has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Smirnov uses from the top position.
Kimbley keeping moving, preventing Smirnov from controlling successfully.
Kimbley trying to keep a closed guard but Smirnov is proving a slippery customer.
Kimbley wants to get back to his feet but Smirnov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov won't allow Kimbley to sweep him here.
Mikov Kimbley has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kimbley keeping moving, preventing Smirnov from controlling successfully.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Smirnov stops Kimbley from standing up.

We're going to have a standup here because Dimitri Smirnov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Smirnov shoots in for a takedown but Kimbley shows good takedown defense.
Kimbley tries to clinch up but Smirnov circles away and keeps his distance.
Kimbley fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kimbley tries to close the distance and clinch up but Smirnov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Mikov Kimbley seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kimbley misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kimbley throws a right and a left that Smirnov avoids nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kimbley.
Kimbley goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Smirnov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Smirnov slips a jab from Kimbley.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kimbley.
Smirnov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kimbley paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kimbley throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Smirnov throws a nice looking combination but Kimbley bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kimbley tries to clinch but Smirnov moves out of range.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kimbley connects with a crisp jab.
Kimbley rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Smirnov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Mikov Kimbley will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mikov Kimbley'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!

Kimbley throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kimbley displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Smirnov.
Smirnov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kimbley's waist but Kimbley gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Smirnov off to one side.
Smirnov misses with a takedown attempt - Kimbley sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Dimitri Smirnov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kimbley throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kimbley throws a head kick that misses.
Kimbley slaps away a takedown attempt from Smirnov, before circling back to the center of the mat.
A punch combination from Kimbley misses.
Kimbley lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Smirnov circles away quickly and effectively.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smirnov swats away the attempt to clinch by Kimbley.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kimbley avoids it really well and circles away.
Kimbley throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kimbley keeps the fight on the outside.
Kimbley lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Smirnov backs up against the cage.
Kimbley misses with a low kick.
Kimbley is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Smirnov has managed to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kimbley misses with a hook from the clinch.

Smirnov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kimbley lands a really nice looking cross but Smirnov seems unphased.
Mikov Kimbley seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Smirnov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Smirnov duly obliges.
Smirnov's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Smirnov duly obliges.
Kimbley throws a sloppy head kick and Smirnov moves out of range easily.
Smirnov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kimbley.
Smirnov slips under a jab.
A punch combination from Kimbley misses.
No joy there for Smirnov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kimbley throws a low kick but Smirnov avoids it.
Kimbley throws a series of punches but Smirnov avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kimbley fails to land with a series of punches.

Smirnov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smirnov jumps guard but Kimbley turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Smirnov wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kimbley has him pressed against the cage.
Kimbley working hard to break the clinch.
Kimbley wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kimbley misses with a short punch on the inside.
Smirnov is looking for a takedown.
Smirnov misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kimbley.
Kimbley fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Smirnov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kimbley throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kimbley looks to clinch

and Smirnov moves into the clinch.

Smirnov breaks the clinch.
Smirnov is looking to clinch.
Smirnov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Smirnov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Mikov Kimbley is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Kimbley throws a series of punches but Smirnov avoids them all with ease.
Horrible takedown by Smirnov or perhaps it was just good defense by Kimbley which made him look bad.
Kimbley misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Dimitri Smirnov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kimbley dodges the punch combination from Smirnov.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mikov Kimbley.
I've got Kimbley winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikov Kimbley!
A relieved looking Mikov Kimbley thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.