PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Justin Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lyov Kirijenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lyov Kirijenko is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Jones
vs
Kirijenko

186 cm
36
205 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

195 cm
34
220 lbs
23 - 23 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Fast

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Justin Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 23 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Lyov Kirijenko!
The judges for this bout are Topper Green, Donatello Bradman and Steve Erwin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jones shoots in for a double leg but Kirijenko sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Jones has his takedown stuffed
and Kirijenko counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kirijenko throws a body punch but Jones moves out of range.
Jones keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kirijenko.
Jones dives in and grabs Kirijenko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kirijenko pushes down on Jones's head and hops out.
Jones walks into a stiff left hand from Kirijenko.
Kirijenko throws a right hand that Jones ducks under and follows up with a left that Jones also avoids with ease.
Nice cross by Kirijenko.
Kirijenko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Jones avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Jones gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kirijenko counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kirijenko throws out a loose jab but Jones uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kirijenko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Jones sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jones is defended easily by Kirijenko.

Jones gets the takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kirijenko is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've been hearing that Jones has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirijenko regains half guard.
Kirijenko regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Jones.
Kirijenko doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Jones has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Jones passes Kirijenko's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Jones missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Jones trying to control the action but Kirijenko is working from the bottom.
Kirijenko has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Madz . Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Jones is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Jones is nestled in close to Kirijenko, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Jones not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kirijenko wants to get back to full guard.
Jones wants to pass to mount but Kirijenko is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Jones there.
Jones missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Jones seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kirijenko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kirijenko taking some punishment here, with Jones in his half guard.
Jones scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Jones seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kirijenko does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kirijenko tries to get to full guard but Jones has control of the leg.
Kirijenko makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Kirijenko.
Kirijenko looking for a sweep. Not yet Kirijenko, not yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones wants to control from the top but Kirijenko keeps moving.
Jones preventing the sweep.
Jones chips away with some ground and pound.
Jones tries to free his leg and advance position but Kirijenko is retaining full guard.
Jones chips away with some ground and pound.
Kirijenko has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Jones has passed into side control.
Kirijenko tries to improve position but can't.

Jones thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirijenko can't do much from the bottom here.
Kirijenko is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Jones working the head with strikes.
Jones throws a strike aimed at the side of Kirijenko's head but Kirijenko avoids it well.
Jones fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Jones works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Jones with the ground and pound but Kirijenko regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Jones throwing shots but Kirijenko is blocking nicely.
Kirijenko is trying to maintain the position but Jones is very close to passing his half guard.
Kirijenko wants to get back to full guard.
Kirijenko is looking to control Jones's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kirijenko avoid being mounted?
Kirijenko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Jones throwing strikes but missing.
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 Justin Jones will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kirijenko moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Jones shoots in looking for a takedown. Kirijenko tries to sprawl out of it but Jones keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kirijenko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jones misses with a takedown
letting Kirijenko counter with a right hand.
Kirijenko misses with a few strikes there.
Kirijenko keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jones changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kirijenko tries to avoid it but Jones manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kirijenko to the ground. Kirijenko escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kirijenko looks to throw the jab but Jones is out of range.

Jones drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Jones lands a couple of digs.
Jones looking to sit in guard and control but Kirijenko gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Jones has his foot on Kirijenko's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kirijenko works his way back into a safe position though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kirijenko 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.
Kirijenko trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jones preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kirijenko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kirijenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Jones tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Jones keeping moving, preventing Kirijenko from controlling successfully.

Jones looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kirijenko passes into side control.
Kirijenko landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones is trying to improve his position.
Kirijenko working the ground and pound from side control.

Kirijenko decides to stand up, so the ref orders Jones to his feet.
Kirijenko closes this distance looking for a takedown but Jones circles away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kirijenko.
Kirijenko looks to throw the jab but Jones is out of range.
Jones fails with a takedown attempt.
Jones avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Kirijenko tries to land a leg kick but Jones saw it coming and moves away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kirijenko. Jones does a little dance to reset his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko misses with a series of wild punches.
Jones darts in looking for a takedown but Kirijenko gets double underhooks and turns Jones into the cage.
Kirijenko gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Jones.
Kirijenko prevents a body shot from Jones.
Kirijenko stalling in the clinch but Jones improves position.
Jones has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kirijenko after a bit of a struggle.
Kirijenko taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Jones has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Kirijenko after a bit of a struggle.
Kirijenko looking for a takedown.

Kirijenko is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Jones can't fight it off and eventually Kirijenko manages to take the fight to the floor. Jones looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Jones lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kirijenko is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Jones defends well.
Jones is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Kirijenko throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Jones lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kirijenko is trying to keep Jones in close.
Jones stands and throws Kirijenko's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kirijenko is trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyov Kirijenko showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Jones shoots in and drives through. Kirijenko sprawls well.
Jones fails to land the takedown.
Kirijenko misses with a double jab.
Jones doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kirijenko cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Justin Jones. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kirijenko closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Jones to the mat! Jones manages to get full guard.
Jones looking for a sweep. Not yet Jones, not yet.
Kirijenko passes Jones's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jones wants to get back to full guard.
Jones makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Jones.
Kirijenko looking to sit in guard and control but Jones gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Jones landing some decent shots from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kirijenko has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Jones has managed to get both his arms back between Kirijenko's legs - danger averted.
Kirijenko is trying to control the position but Jones postures up.
Jones postures up in Kirijenko's guard and throws a big left but Kirijenko blocks it.
Jones controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Jones scoring with punches to the head and body.
Jones makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kirijenko manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Jones manages to get himself to full guard.

Kirijenko preventing the sweep.
Kirijenko wants to pass the guard but Jones is keeping the position.
Jones wants to sweep but no luck.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko is working Jones over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kirijenko landing some decent shots from guard.
Kirijenko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kirijenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jones is keeping the position for now.

Jones looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Jones working a defensive guard here.
Kirijenko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Jones is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kirijenko stopping the sweep attempt from Jones.
Kirijenko trying to control but Jones is working from the bottom.
Kirijenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Jones has wrist control.
Kirijenko's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Kirijenko is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Jones's half guard.
Justin Jones overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kirijenko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jones does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jones gets back to full guard.
Jones 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.
Kirijenko landing some decent shots from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jones looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kirijenko lands a couple of elbows.
Kirijenko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Jones is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Jones keeping full guard, as Kirijenko tries to pass.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Jones 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.
Jones not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyov Kirijenko comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kirijenko 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 Topper Green scores the fight 28:29
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 28:29
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyov Kirijenko!
An out of breath Lyov Kirijenko thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.