PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Greg Joll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valera Kamenskiy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Joll comes to the cage accompanied by ACDC - ThunderStruck. Kamenskiy has chosen The only as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Joll
vs
Kamenskiy

175 cm
26
265 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

187 cm
33
250 lbs
8 - 16 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Greg Joll!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 16 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Valera Kamenskiy!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kamenskiy moves into the clinch.
Joll looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Kamenskiy landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kamenskiy misses with a body punch.

Kamenskiy breaks from the clinch.

Kamenskiy shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Joll's guard.
Kamenskiy's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Kamenskiy avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kamenskiy slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kamenskiy scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Joll keeping moving, preventing Kamenskiy from controlling successfully.
Kamenskiy's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Valera Kamenskiy wasn't active enough on the ground.

Kamenskiy closes the distance and clinches.

Kamenskiy lands a takedown into guard.
Kamenskiy scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
We've been hearing good reports from Joll's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kamenskiy content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kamenskiy slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Joll might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kamenskiy wants to get up but he can't break Joll's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Joll can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kamenskiy controls the pace.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kamenskiy wants to control from the top but Joll keeps moving.

Valera Kamenskiy has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Kamenskiy decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Kamenskiy is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Joll doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kamenskiy.

Kamenskiy is looking for a kimura but Joll is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kamenskiy to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kamenskiy seems to be working for a kimura but Joll defends the submission attempt.
Joll is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Kamenskiy jumps into side control!
Kamenskiy happy to just control the position for now.
Kamenskiy tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Kamenskiy works to advance to full mount. Joll defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Kamenskiy trying to control but Joll is having none of it.
Joll is trying desperately to improve position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kamenskiy controlling from mount.
Kamenskiy tries to control but Joll wriggling away.
Kamenskiy is landing with some decent strikes but Joll is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Kamenskiy landing strikes from the mount and Joll is in trouble!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kamenskiy raining down hammerfists from mount.
Kamenskiy cracks Joll with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
The referee warns Joll that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valera Kamenskiy dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kamenskiy misses with a two punch combination.

Kamenskiy fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Joll to the ground. Kamenskiy is now in Joll's guard.
Kamenskiy must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kamenskiy is in close to Joll's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Valera Kamenskiy has got the better of the ground game so far.
Joll can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kamenskiy controls the pace.
Kamenskiy postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kamenskiy controls from within his opponent's guard.

Kamenskiy thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kamenskiy trying to control the position from guard on top but Joll is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kamenskiy controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Kamenskiy keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Joll's head.
Kamenskiy is stalling in the full guard.
Kamenskiy postures up and lands a big shot to Joll's brow.
Kamenskiy working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kamenskiy tries to stand but Joll is controlling from the bottom.
Kamenskiy trying to control the position from guard on top but Joll is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kamenskiy tries to stand but Joll is controlling from the bottom.
Kamenskiy controls from within his opponent's guard.

Valera Kamenskiy has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Joll gets caught napping as Kamenskiy dives in and scores a takedown. Joll manages to retain guard.
Kamenskiy is in close to Joll's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kamenskiy's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kamenskiy chips away with some ground and pound.
Kamenskiy controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Valera Kamenskiy has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kamenskiy throws a head kick that half lands.

Joll gets caught napping as Kamenskiy dives in and scores a takedown. Joll manages to retain guard.
Kamenskiy looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kamenskiy landing with the ground and pound.

That's four 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!
Kamenskiy looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kamenskiy working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kamenskiy is looking to work some ground and pound but Joll has wrist control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kamenskiy with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Joll keeping moving, preventing Kamenskiy from controlling successfully.
Kamenskiy wants to stand but Joll is controlling his posture from full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Valera Kamenskiy showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kamenskiy bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Joll can't do much from the bottom here.
Kamenskiy lands a decent elbow from side control.
Kamenskiy tries to advance to mount but Joll denies him.
Joll is trying to control Kamenskiy's posture but Kamenskiy avoids it.

Kamenskiy is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Joll is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Kamenskiy has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kamenskiy wants to clinch up but Joll keeps it at a distance.
Kamenskiy swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Kamenskiy clinches.

Kamenskiy pulls guard successfully.
Kamenskiy wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kamenskiy wants to stand and escape but Joll is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kamenskiy throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kamenskiy manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Joll manages to get himself to full guard.
Kamenskiy 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.
Kamenskiy working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kamenskiy is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kamenskiy lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Joll looking to control.
Kamenskiy sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kamenskiy wants to control from the top but Joll keeps moving.
Joll avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kamenskiy controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Valera Kamenskiy.

Kamenskiy closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Joll did well to prevent Kamenskiy getting side control.
Kamenskiy is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Joll has hold of Kamenskiy's hands but Kamenskiy slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kamenskiy trying to mount his opponent but Joll defends it.

Kamenskiy is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Kamenskiy is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Joll doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kamenskiy.
Joll is trying to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valera Kamenskiy comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Kamenskiy has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 25:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 25:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Valera Kamenskiy!
An out of breath Valera Kamenskiy thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.
The defeated Greg Joll had this to say: 'You call this pain? Try sniffing a beach of sand while wearing budgie smugglers - now that is pain. '.