PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Kenny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivan Vanko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vanko has chosen Oh No by Gogol Bordello as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Kenny
vs
Vanko

195 cm
29
229 lbs
8 - 5 - 0

175 cm
20
261 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Jackson Kenny!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Ivan Vanko!
The judges for this bout are Paul Aken, Aafke Stam and Wagner Zegers.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kenny stuffs the takedown.

Kenny closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Vanko tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Vanko has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Kenny uses from the top position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Vanko looking for subs off his back but Kenny has passed one foot through into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Vanko is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vanko regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vanko wants to sweep but no luck.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Vanko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kenny tries to stand but Vanko is controlling from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vanko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kenny doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kenny manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Vanko 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.

Kenny got a little sloppy there for a moment and Vanko has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kenny has managed to get both his arms back between Vanko's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vanko tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kenny would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Jackson Kenny just wasn't active enough.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kenny is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kenny has a couple of punches blocked by Vanko.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kenny.
Vanko tries a body shot but Kenny blocks it.
Kenny misses with a hook from the clinch.
A knee to the head by Kenny.

It looks like Ivan Vanko has been cut.
Kenny slows down the pace here.
Knees to the body from Kenny.
Vanko jumps guard but Kenny turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kenny pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kenny fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Vanko, pushing him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ivan Vanko will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Ivan Vanko's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Vanko tries to close the distance and clinch but Kenny swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Kenny gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Vanko jumps guard.
Kenny wants to stand but Vanko has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kenny won't allow Vanko to sweep him here.
Kenny trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vanko's guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Jackson Kenny.
Kenny scores with a nice head shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kenny moves into range and clinches up with Vanko.

Vanko successfully pulls guard.
Kenny stopping the sweep attempt from Vanko.
Kenny wants to stand and escape but instead Vanko has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Vanko passes Kenny's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kenny keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vanko is trying to control. Kenny wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kenny is trying to stand.
Vanko thows a huge punch but Kenny dodges it nicely.
Vanko wants to pass to mount but Kenny is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenny scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Vanko manages to mount him!
Kenny is trying to stand.
Kenny blocking the ground and pound.
Vanko unloads with some shots from mount but Kenny bucks and avoids them well.
Kenny avoids a series of strikes thrown by Vanko.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanko throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Vanko throws a wild left hand from mount and Kenny manages to wriggle his way back to half guard.

Vanko is working for a kimura but Kenny is defending it quite comfortably.
Vanko trying to mount his opponent but Kenny defends it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Vanko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Ivan Vanko's cut.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kenny moves into the clinch.

Kenny breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kenny.
Vanko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kenny stalling.
Kenny misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kenny lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Vanko blocks a body shot from Kenny.
Vanko throws an elbow but it's blocked.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kenny misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kenny digs a right hand underneath Vanko's ribcage. Vanko let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kenny avoiding damage.
Vanko wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kenny has him pressed against the cage.
Vanko blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kenny makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Kenny wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Vanko has him pressed against the cage.
Kenny blocking some punches.
Kenny using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Kenny landing knees to the head.
Kenny has Vanko pressed against the cage, preventing Vanko from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vanko is working for takedown but Kenny is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kenny blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kenny tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kenny leaning his opponent against the cage.

Vanko gets control of Kenny's arms and successfully pulls guard. Vanko will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kenny would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed 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!

Vanko has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Kenny is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Vanko.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kenny gets to mount! Vanko was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Vanko really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Vanko has given up his back here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vanko breaks Kenny's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Kenny keeping moving, preventing Vanko from controlling successfully.
Kenny wants to stand up but Vanko is controlling him.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kenny preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jackson Kenny showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vanko 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 Paul Aken scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Wagner Zegers scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ivan Vanko!
A victorious Ivan Vanko thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.