PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Harvi Kalaso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Ewell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kalaso's entrance music is Hank Williams SR. . A fine choice. The crowd seem to be enjoying Ewell's choice of entrance music: White Dude. On his way into the ring it seems that Harvi Kalaso has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Harvi Kalaso seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Kalaso
vs
Ewell

174 cm
40
167 lbs
40 - 33 - 0

187 cm
27
181 lbs
8 - 4 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 40 - 33 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Harvi Kalaso!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steve Ewell!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kalaso forces Ewell back against the ropes and clinches.
Kalaso wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kalaso works on Ewell's body with a couple of short punches.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ewell.
Ewell prevents a body shot from Kalaso.
Ewell blocks an elbow strike.
Ewell avoids the elbow strike from Kalaso, against the ropes.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Kalaso obliges.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Ewell tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kalaso avoids it.
Kalaso dodges an elbow strike from Ewell.
Kalaso avoiding damage as Ewell throws knees to the body.
Kalaso takes an elbow to the temple.
Kalaso is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Ewell is defending well for now.
Ewell lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ewell creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.

Kalaso's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kalaso looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Ewell misses with a head kick.
Ewell tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalaso moves in looking to clinch but Ewell pushes him off.
No luck for Kalaso with that takedown attempt.
Kalaso shoots for a takedown but Ewell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Steve Ewell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ewell wants to clinch
and Kalaso counters with a leg kick.
No luck for Kalaso with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harvi Kalaso. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kalaso has closed the distance and engaged Ewell in a clinch.
Kalaso tries a knee to the head but Ewell blocks it.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kalaso stalls.
Ewell crunches a lovely knee into Kalaso's ribcage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kalaso tries to stall but Ewell uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kalaso misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ewell.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ewell obliges.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kalaso breaks from the clinch.
Kalaso looks to land a combination but Ewell avoids it well.
Kalaso wants to clinch.
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Ewell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ewell tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kalaso swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Harvi Kalaso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ewell slips a jab and a cross from Kalaso.
Kalaso lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ewell circles away quickly and effectively.

Ewell gets caught flat footed, as Kalaso shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kalaso wants to control from the top but Ewell keeps moving.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ewell pulls Kalaso in close to his closed guard and prevents Kalaso from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kalaso trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kalaso is working hard here to advance position.
Kalaso prevents Ewell from getting back to his feet.
Ewell wants to sweep here but Kalaso controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kalaso wants to control from the top but Ewell keeps moving.

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

Kalaso scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kalaso works to advance to full mount. Ewell defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Ewell blocking the ground and pound.
Ewell blocking the ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kalaso unloads with some shots from mount but Ewell bucks and avoids them well.
Ewell wants to try and get back to his feet.
Kalaso tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harvi Kalaso dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kalaso misses with a jab to the body

and Ewell counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Ewell.
Ewell slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ewell trying to control the position from guard on top but Kalaso is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ewell won't allow Kalaso to sweep him here.
Ewell controls from within his opponent's guard.
Harvi Kalaso overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Steve Ewell wasn't active enough on the ground.
Ewell tries to clinch there but Kalaso circles away.
Kalaso is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ewell sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The fight stays on the outside here - Ewell looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalaso misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ewell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Ewell paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ewell slaps away a takedown attempt from Kalaso, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harvi Kalaso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kalaso lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ewell circles away quickly and effectively.
Ewell tries to clinch but Kalaso is having none of it.
Kalaso fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kalaso fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ewell circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ewell counters with a slapping leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ewell moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Kalaso rushes Ewell and presses him up against the ropes.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Ewell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kalaso.
Kalaso blocks an elbow strike from Ewell.
Ewell lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Nice elbow from Ewell.
Ewell landing knees to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ewell lands an elbow just above Kalaso 's eye.
Ewell stalls.
Ewell connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kalaso's face.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ewell looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ewell missing with knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso is trying to break the clinch but Ewell has him pressed against the ropes.
Ewell using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Kalaso has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ewell throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Ewell prevents Kalaso from breaking the clinch.
Ewell with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Ewell throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Ewell trying to stall but Kalaso improves his position.
Ewell misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kalaso.
A short uppercut from Kalaso.
Kalaso tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ewell's elbow.
Ewell throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Kalaso blocks it with crossed arms.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ewell obliges.

Kalaso breaks the clinch.
Harvi Kalaso is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kalaso keeps the fight on the outside.
Ewell drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Some wild striking there from Ewell.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ewell tries to clinch there but Kalaso circles away.
Ewell stuffs the takedown.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch but Ewell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kalaso throws a head kick but Ewell moves out of range.
Ewell doesn't manage to clinch there - Kalaso circles away.
Kalaso shoots for a double leg takedown but Ewell sprawls well. He's pushed Kalaso's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ewell swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Ewell instigates a clinch.
Ewell putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kalaso in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kalaso managing to block the knees to the body from Ewell.
Ewell blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kalaso trying to control the position but instead, Ewell has worked for underhooks and has pushed Kalaso into the ropes.
Ewell using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Ewell showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kalaso swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Ewell counters with a head kick that drops Kalaso to the mat! Kalaso scrambles across the canvas and gets back to his feet, still wobbly!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kalaso throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ewell's waist but Ewell gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kalaso off to one side.
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch but Ewell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ewell fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kalaso fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kalaso on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kalaso shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Ewell defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harvi Kalaso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ewell tries to close the distance and clinch but Kalaso swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kalaso tries to clinch but Ewell moves out of range.
Ewell circles away from the clinch attempt

and Ewell counters with a single leg into guard. Kalaso didn't expect that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ewell not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Kalaso working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ewell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ewell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ewell is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ewell trying to control the position from guard on top but Kalaso is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ewell stays in close to Kalaso's body and controls the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Steve Ewell wasn't active enough on the ground.
Kalaso shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ewell but Ewell pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ewell tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Kalaso counters with a nice double leg into side control. Ewell won't be happy with that.
Ewell sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ewell is looking to escape.
Kalaso is trying to control. Ewell wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Nice strikes from Kalaso there.
Kalaso stops Ewell from getting back to his feet.
Kalaso is trying to control. Ewell wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kalaso stops Ewell from getting back to his feet.
Ewell is not content to let Kalaso control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso throwing shots but Ewell is blocking nicely.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Harvi Kalaso.
Kalaso is looking to clinch but Ewell is avoiding it.
A head kick misses from Kalaso.
Ewell tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in to close the distance. Kalaso manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ewell tries a head kick but it misses.
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ewell swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ewell doesn't manage to clinch there - Kalaso circles away.
Ewell tries to clinch up but Kalaso circles away and keeps his distance.
Kalaso throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ewell's waist but Ewell gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kalaso off to one side.
Steve Ewell seems to be getting the better of the standup.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kalaso scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kalaso has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ewell is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Kalaso swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Ewell is now in Kalaso's guard. A big mistake from Kalaso there, giving up the dominant position!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ewell showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Steve Ewell really dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ewell motions for Kalaso to come forward. Ewell throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kalaso shoots for a double leg takedown but Ewell sprawls well. He's pushed Kalaso's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Kalaso clinches with his opponent.
Kalaso misses with some punches.
Ewell landing knees to the head.
Kalaso on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kalaso on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kalaso looking to slow down the pace here.
Ewell throws an elbow that misses.
Kalaso managing to block the knees to the body from Ewell.
Ewell creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Kalaso's defenses.

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

Kalaso closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ewell tries to get to full guard but Kalaso has control of the leg.
Ewell pushes Kalaso off looking to stand but Kalaso dives back in and keeps control.

Kalaso is working for a kimura but Ewell is defending it quite comfortably.
Ewell is trying to stand.

Kalaso is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ewell defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still in half guard, Kalaso seems content to control.
Kalaso tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ewell knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ewell pushes Kalaso off looking to stand but Kalaso dives back in and keeps control.
Kalaso trying to control from half guard but Ewell is working away.
Kalaso wants to free his trapped foot but Ewell is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kalaso wants to control but Ewell is keeping him busy.

Kalaso seems to be working for a kimura but Ewell defends the submission attempt.
Kalaso wants to free his trapped foot but Ewell is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso is trying to control the action in half guard but Ewell is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kalaso throwing shots but Ewell is blocking nicely.
Kalaso stops Ewell from getting back to his feet.
Ewell wants to control but Kalaso is keeping busy.
Kalaso thows a huge punch but Ewell dodges it nicely.
Kalaso wants to free his trapped foot but Ewell is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Harvi Kalaso had his way with Steve Ewell in that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Ewell tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Kalaso paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kalaso has a takedown stuffed.
Kalaso is looking to clinch but Ewell is avoiding it.
Kalaso shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ewell as he jumps to the side.

Ewell gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Ewell crunches a lovely knee into Kalaso's ribcage.
Kalaso pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the ropes.
Ewell is trying to maintain a safe position but Kalaso gets an underhook and turns Ewell into the ropes.
Ewell tries to land knees in the clinch but Kalaso avoids the damage to the body.
Kalaso digs a right hand into Ewell's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Ewell's gas tank.
Kalaso blocks the elbow strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalaso pushes off an throws an elbow but Ewell leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.

Ewell manages to break the clinch.
Kalaso fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Harvi Kalaso. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch but Ewell swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kalaso fails with an attempt to clinch.

Kalaso decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kalaso takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kalaso trying to control from Ewell's half guard. Ewell has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Ewell is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso trying to control but Ewell is working from the bottom.
Kalaso throws an elbow that misses. Ewell uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Kalaso's guard. Nice move by Ewell!
Ewell wants to control from the top but Kalaso keeps moving.

Kalaso is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Ewell is aware though and is defending well.
Ewell is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
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!
Ewell trying to control the position from guard on top but Kalaso is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Steve Ewell.

Kalaso closes the distance and clinches.
Ewell stalling.

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

Kalaso closes the distance and clinches.
Ewell avoids a wild elbow strike from Kalaso.
Ewell lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Kalaso blocks the elbow strike.

Kalaso breaks the clinch.
Kalaso will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kalaso swings away with a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso throws a head kick that misses.

Kalaso drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - a gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Kalaso is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ewell will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Ewell tries to escape but Kalaso is in control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A bit of a lull in the action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The ground and pound from Kalaso seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kalaso laying and praying for a moment but Ewell takes advantage and regains half guard.
Kalaso slows the pace down in half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Harvi Kalaso showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kalaso has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Steve Ewell!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Steve Ewell!
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Steve Ewell!

Steve Ewell wins by unanimous decision!
Steve Ewell is the new welterweight champion!
Steve Ewell thanked the fans post fight for their support.