PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vassily Kuvaldin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kayla Hoffman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Kuvaldin
vs
Hoffman

170 cm
19
134 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

163 cm
22
141 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
KO power

BJJ Brown 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vassily Kuvaldin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kayla Hoffman!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Illya Tyunina and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hoffman fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kuvaldin misses with a head kick.
Hoffman checks a low kick from Kuvaldin.
Hoffman steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kuvaldin.
Kuvaldin throws a head kick that misses.

Hoffman scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kuvaldin is looking for a sweep.
Hoffman taking a breather here.
Hoffman wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kuvaldin keeps working.
Kuvaldin holds on to Hoffman's head and controls the position momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hoffman tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kuvaldin scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hoffman has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kuvaldin is working away from the top position though.
Kuvaldin is looking to stall here but Hoffman recovers full guard.
Hoffman trying to keep a closed guard but Kuvaldin is proving a slippery customer.
Kuvaldin controls from within his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman controls from within his opponent's guard.
Hoffman trying to control the position from guard on top but Kuvaldin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hoffman trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Hoffman looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kuvaldin looking for a guillotine here but Hoffman defends easily.
Kuvaldin is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kuvaldin is keeping the position for now.

Kuvaldin looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Hoffman passes into half guard.
Hoffman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kuvaldin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Hoffman missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Hoffman seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kuvaldin does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Kuvaldin looking for submissions off his back.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hoffman shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kuvaldin counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kuvaldin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kuvaldin slows down the pace here.
A right handed body shot lands from Kuvaldin.
Kuvaldin misses with a body punch.
Kuvaldin slows down the pace here.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kuvaldin.
Kuvaldin has Hoffman pressed against the cage.
Hoffman can't break the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Hoffman is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kuvaldin is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Hoffman to the mat. Hoffman regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Hoffman keeping moving, preventing Kuvaldin from controlling successfully.
Kuvaldin is really struggling to control Hoffman but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vassily Kuvaldin will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hoffman will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Hoffman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kuvaldin's waist but Kuvaldin gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Hoffman off to one side.
Hoffman fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Vassily Kuvaldin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kayla Hoffman.
Kuvaldin throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kuvaldin throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

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

Hoffman lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Kuvaldin has a hand on Hoffman's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Hoffman takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Kuvaldin is trying to escape the mount.
Kuvaldin is trying to reverse the position but instead Hoffman has taken his back - oops!
Hoffman is breathing heavily.
Kuvaldin trying to control the position but Hoffman manages to sink in the hooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kuvaldin breaks Hoffman's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Kuvaldin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kuvaldin wants to control from the top but Hoffman keeps moving.
Kuvaldin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hoffman is keeping the position for now.
Hoffman wants to stand and escape but Kuvaldin is having none of it.

Kuvaldin postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Hoffman is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kuvaldin, into his guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hoffman trying to control but Kuvaldin is working from the bottom.
Hoffman might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kuvaldin kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Hoffman forces his way into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman stalling.
Hoffman trying to pass the guard but Kuvaldin defending well.
Kuvaldin tries to get to full guard but Hoffman has control of the leg.
Still in half guard, Hoffman seems content to control.
Hoffman is trying to control the action in half guard but Kuvaldin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Hoffman works his way into full mount!
Hoffman controlling the position easily from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Hoffman controlling the pace for now.

Despite being in the dominant position, Kayla Hoffman just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hoffman scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Hoffman tries to clinch up

and Kuvaldin counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Kuvaldin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kuvaldin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hoffman is keeping the position for now.
Kuvaldin trying to control the position from guard on top but Hoffman is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kuvaldin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hoffman works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kuvaldin looking to pass the guard.
Kuvaldin is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Hoffman pulls Kuvaldin in to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hoffman wants to clinch.
Kuvaldin tries to land a front kick but Hoffman steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.

Kuvaldin moves into range and clinches up with Hoffman.
Hoffman wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kayla Hoffman will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kuvaldin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Hoffman actively working from the bottom here.
Kuvaldin is tying to control. Hoffman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Kuvaldin is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kuvaldin is tying to control. Hoffman wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kuvaldin wants to free his trapped foot but Hoffman is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hoffman is trying to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Hoffman is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hoffman blocks a head kick by Kuvaldin.
Kayla Hoffman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kuvaldin wants to land a leg kick but Hoffman is out of range.

Kuvaldin drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kuvaldin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Hoffman looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Kuvaldin thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kuvaldin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kuvaldin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hoffman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hoffman looking for a sweep. Not yet Hoffman, not yet.
Kuvaldin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Hoffman's guard.
Hoffman looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kuvaldin is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kuvaldin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hoffman swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Hoffman looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kuvaldin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kuvaldin throws a lazy right hand but Hoffman sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Hoffman thows a leg kick but Kuvaldin checks it

and Kuvaldin counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hoffman keeping moving, preventing Kuvaldin from controlling successfully.
Kuvaldin pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Hoffman is keeping the position for now.
Hoffman keeping moving, preventing Kuvaldin from controlling successfully.

Hoffman thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hoffman distracts Kuvaldin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kuvaldin is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kuvaldin is trying to hold Hoffman in close to prevent damage but Hoffman has managed to pass into half guard.
Kuvaldin is pressing down on Hoffman's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kuvaldin will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Kuvaldin looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kuvaldin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Kuvaldin is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kuvaldin keeping moving, preventing Hoffman from controlling successfully.
Kuvaldin pulls Hoffman in to control the position.
Kuvaldin is trying to control the position but Hoffman postures up.

Kuvaldin looking for a guillotine here but Hoffman defends easily.

Kuvaldin had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Hoffman is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Kuvaldin Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Hoffman's back instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vassily Kuvaldin showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kuvaldin has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vassily Kuvaldin!