PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kantemir Gaunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lukasz Kliza (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kantemir Gaunov has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Gaunov
vs
Kliza

164 cm
25
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Inexperienced

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kantemir Gaunov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lukasz Kliza!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kliza closes the distance looking to clinch

so Gaunov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Kliza throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Gaunov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kliza on the ground.
Gaunov landing some decent shots from guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kliza is looking for a triangle here but Gaunov uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Kliza is trying to improve his position.
Kliza is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Gaunov grinds an elbow into Kliza's temple.
Gaunov connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kliza some visible discomfort.

Gaunov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kliza is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Gaunov trying to control the position but Kliza is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kliza is trying to improve his position.
Gaunov in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Gaunov tries to stand but Kliza is controlling his head.
Kliza tries to buck Gaunov off but Gaunov is having none of it.
Gaunov working the body and head with strikes.
Gaunov lands a nice forearm strike.
Kliza is trying to improve his position.
Gaunov is chipping away with strikes.
Gaunov landing strikes.
Kliza manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Gaunov working Kliza over with strikes.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kliza taking some punishment here, with Gaunov in his half 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!

Kliza looking for submissions off his back.
Gaunov slips a nice elbow through Kliza's hands, connecting with Kliza's forehead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaunov drops an elbow to the side of Kliza's head.
Gaunov drops an elbow to the side of Kliza's head.
Gaunov scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Gaunov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Gaunov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kliza doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Gaunov.
Gaunov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Gaunov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kliza with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kliza makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kliza.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Gaunov stands up over Kliza, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Gaunov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kliza has his foot on Gaunov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gaunov works his way back into a safe position though.
Gaunov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kliza's head.
Gaunov scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaunov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kliza's head.
Gaunov working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gaunov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Gaunov throwing strikes from guard but Kliza blocks nicely.

Kliza had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Gaunov defends it easily.

Kliza throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Kliza is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gaunov defends well.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gaunov wants to control from the top but Kliza keeps moving.
Gaunov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kliza has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Gaunov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Gaunov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

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

Kliza is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Gaunov lands a couple of elbows.

Kliza working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Gaunov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Gaunov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kliza is looking for a triangle but Gaunov pushes his legs off easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Gaunov landing some decent shots from guard.
Gaunov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kliza is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
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 Kantemir Gaunov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Gaunov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kliza on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Kliza taking punishment in the form of punches.

Gaunov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kliza knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kantemir Gaunov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Gaunov working the head with strikes.
Kliza is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Gaunov working the ground and pound.
Kliza prevents Gaunov from improving position.
Kliza tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Gaunov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kliza keeps working.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kliza is looking for a sweep.
Kliza is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Gaunov's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Gaunov looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

Gaunov is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Kliza is not content to let Gaunov control the position.

Kliza looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Gaunov looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kliza with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Kliza is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gaunov pulls his head out easily.

Gaunov is looking for a kimura here.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kliza is looking to improve his position.

Kliza is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gaunov pulls his head out easily.
Gaunov is taking a breather. Kliza says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Gaunov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kliza is just riding it out for now. Gaunov eventually gives up the hold.
Kliza moves into full guard.
Gaunov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kliza has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Gaunov should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Kliza has tightened it up now! Gaunov should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Lukasz Kliza!