PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sergey Bolobanko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kumi Keijjo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Bolobanko
vs
Keijjo

170 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Sergey Bolobanko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Kumi Keijjo!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Daniel Blasius and Paulsen Ambrosius.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Keijjo shoots in looking for a takedown. Bolobanko tries to sprawl out of it but Keijjo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Bolobanko manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Keijjo clinches up against the cage.

Keijjo pulls guard.
Bolobanko distracts Keijjo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bolobanko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Keijjo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Keijjo is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Bolobanko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Keijjo's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Keijjo looking for a guillotine here but Bolobanko defends easily.
Bolobanko content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolobanko distracts Keijjo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Bolobanko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bolobanko distracts Keijjo with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Keijjo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Bolobanko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Bolobanko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bolobanko lands a couple of elbows.
Bolobanko works over Keijjo with some ground and pound from guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bolobanko content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Bolobanko lands a couple of elbows.
Bolobanko lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Bolobanko working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Bolobanko with a nice head shot there.
Bolobanko knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Keijjo on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keijjo has momentary wrist control but Bolobanko slips an elbow through the middle.
Bolobanko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Bolobanko got a little sloppy there for a moment and Keijjo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bolobanko has managed to get both his arms back between Keijjo's legs - danger averted.
Keijjo looks winded!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Keijjo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Bolobanko defends it easily.
Bolobanko is in close to Keijjo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bolobanko lands a couple of digs.
Bolobanko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Bolobanko might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Bolobanko thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Bolobanko stands and throws Keijjo's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Bolobanko creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keijjo takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Bolobanko working the ground and pound.
Check out the look on Bolobanko's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Bolobanko landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Keijjo takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Bolobanko creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Bolobanko cracks Keijjo with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Bolobanko tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Bolobanko is working Keijjo over with some ground and pound from side control.

Bolobanko looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Keijjo is looking to regain half guard here but Bolobanko keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bolobanko works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Bolobanko working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Bolobanko working the ground and pound.
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!
Bolobanko lands an elbow.
Bolobanko works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bolobanko landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Bolobanko is trying to get an arm triangle but Keijjo is defending well.

Bolobanko is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Keijjo has escaped the position, nice work there.
Keijjo is working to avoid the ground and pound but Bolobanko connects with a decent elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Bolobanko dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Keijjo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Keijjo shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Bolobanko as he avoids it easily.

Bolobanko gets a takedown into half guard.
Bolobanko landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bolobanko lands strikes from half guard.
Bolobanko scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bolobanko working over Keijjo with some ground and pound. Keijjo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Keijjo tries to kick Bolobanko off but Bolobanko keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Bolobanko looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Keijjo tries to get to full guard but Bolobanko has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Bolobanko there.
Bolobanko seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

Bolobanko is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Keijjo has managed to free his arm - good work.

Bolobanko is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Keijjo is just riding it out for now. Bolobanko eventually gives up the hold.
Bolobanko scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Keijjo regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolobanko lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Keijjo has momentary wrist control but Bolobanko slips an elbow through the middle.
Bolobanko is in close to Keijjo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Bolobanko looking to pass the guard.
Bolobanko is in close to Keijjo's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Bolobanko drops back, looking for a kneebar! Keijjo looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Keijjo looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Keijjo!

Bolobanko manages to work his way to half guard, despite Keijjo's best efforts.
Keijjo working over Bolobanko with some ground and pound. Bolobanko looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Bolobanko looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sergey Bolobanko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Bolobanko is defending against the submission attempts here by Keijjo.
Keijjo is breathing heavily.

Keijjo is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Bolobanko moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Bolobanko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Bolobanko working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Keijjo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Keijjo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Bolobanko keeping moving, preventing Keijjo from controlling successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sergey Bolobanko dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Keijjo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Bolobanko defends it nicely.

Bolobanko shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Bolobanko working some strikes from top position.
Bolobanko working some strikes from top position.
Bolobanko has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Bolobanko with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Keijjo is looking for a triangle but Bolobanko pushes his legs off easily.
Bolobanko scoring with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bolobanko is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bolobanko is in close to Keijjo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Keijjo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Keijjo is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Bolobanko is in close to Keijjo's body, working some short punches and elbows.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bolobanko cracks Keijjo with a solid left hand.
Bolobanko scoring with some ground and pound.
Bolobanko works over Keijjo with some ground and pound from guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Bolobanko's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Bolobanko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Keijjo's head.

Keijjo is looking for a triangle but Bolobanko pushes his legs off easily.
Bolobanko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Keijjo can do to turn this around?
Bolobanko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Keijjo is keeping the position for now.
Bolobanko advances to half guard.

Bolobanko is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Keijjo defends it well.
Bolobanko lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bolobanko lands strikes from half guard.
Bolobanko working Keijjo over with strikes.
Keijjo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Keijjo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Bolobanko wants to work for an arm triangle but Keijjo is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Bolobanko slips a nice elbow through Keijjo's hands, connecting with Keijjo's forehead.
Keijjo is looking to improve his position.
Keijjo on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Keijjo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Bolobanko is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Keijjo is just riding it out for now. Bolobanko eventually gives up the hold.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bolobanko looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Bolobanko is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Bolobanko working over Keijjo with some ground and pound. Keijjo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

Bolobanko seems to be looking for submissions.
Bolobanko lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Bolobanko scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Keijjo is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Bolobanko pulls his head out easily.
Keijjo tries to roll over but Bolobanko keeps him under control.
Kumi Keijjo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Bolobanko is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Keijjo wants to improve his position but Bolobanko is controlling well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Bolobanko looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Sergey Bolobanko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Bolobanko working over Keijjo with some ground and pound. Keijjo looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sergey Bolobanko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bolobanko, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Wagner Zegers scores the fight for Sergey Bolobanko!
Judge Daniel Blasius scores the fight for Sergey Bolobanko!
Judge Paulsen Ambrosius scores the fight for Sergey Bolobanko!

Sergey Bolobanko wins by unanimous decision!