PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dane Kane (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Smirnov has chosen Oy To Ne Vecher as his entrance music. Dane Kane had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Kane
vs
Smirnov

190 cm
25
210 lbs
7 - 13 - 0

182 cm
20
217 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 7 - 13 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dane Kane!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexei Smirnov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kane changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Smirnov tries to avoid it but Kane manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Smirnov to the ground. Smirnov escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Smirnov tries to counter by closing the distance.
Kane keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kane is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Smirnov.

Smirnov has closed the distance and engaged Kane in a clinch.
Smirnov tries a body shot but Kane blocks it.

Smirnov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Smirnov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kane seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Smirnov working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Smirnov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kane keeping moving, preventing Smirnov from controlling successfully.
Smirnov looking to sit in guard and control but Kane gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Kane advances to half guard.
Kane seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smirnov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kane content to control rather than advance.
Smirnov wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kane wants to pass the guard but Smirnov is defending well.
Smirnov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Smirnov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kane looking to pass the guard.
Smirnov 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.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kane is looking to advance position but Smirnov has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kane wants to control but Smirnov is having none of it.
Smirnov thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Kane is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kane regains half guard.
Kane is trying to get back to full guard.
Smirnov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kane is refusing to be controlled, as Smirnov sits in half guard.
Smirnov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kane is looking to improve his position.
Smirnov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kane defending well though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smirnov is looking to take a break and control but Kane is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kane keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Smirnov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kane is staying active underneath Smirnov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kane.
Smirnov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexei Smirnov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smirnov closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Smirnov lands in his opponent's guard.
Kane is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smirnov is controlling him.

Kane is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Smirnov is aware though and is defending well.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kane holds on and takes a little breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kane working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smirnov.
Smirnov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Smirnov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kane is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Smirnov throws a lazy uppercut
and Kane counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Smirnov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kane was well out of range. Poor timing from Smirnov.

Kane gets a clinch.

Kane has clasped his hands together around Smirnov's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Alexei Smirnov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kane looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Smirnov is avoiding damage well.
Smirnov is not content to let Kane control the position.
Kane creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov tries to improve position but can't.

Kane decides to stand back up.
Smirnov takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kane closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Smirnov trying to control the position but instead, Kane has worked for underhooks and has pushed Smirnov into the cage.

Smirnov wants the takedown. Kane is fighting it off but Smirnov persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Kane's guard against the cage.
Smirnov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kane is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kane is controlling Smirnov's posture.

Smirnov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kane is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kane has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kane wants to control from the top but Smirnov keeps moving.
Kane is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Kane is looking to stand up but Smirnov won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kane postures up in Smirnov's guard and throws a big left but Smirnov blocks it.
Smirnov being controlled here, momentarily.
Smirnov keeping moving, preventing Kane from controlling successfully.
Kane throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Smirnov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smirnov is trying to control the position but Kane postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Smirnov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Kane counters with a series of strikes. Smirnov will be more careful next time no doubt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dane Kane dominated that second round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Kane shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smirnov pinned against the cage. Smirnov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Dane Kane seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Smirnov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

Kane breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kane walks into a stiff left hand from Smirnov.

It looks like Dane Kane has been cut.

Smirnov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Smirnov trying to control but Kane is working from the bottom.

Kane has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Smirnov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov throws a big elbow that misses.
Smirnov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kane pulls Smirnov in to control the position.
Kane working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smirnov.
Smirnov controlling from the top position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Smirnov shoots in and bounces Kane off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Kane is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kane working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Smirnov.

Kane has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Smirnov has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kane successfully pulls guard.
Smirnov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kane is keeping the position for now.
Kane wants to stand and escape but Smirnov is having none of it.
Smirnov throws an elbow that misses. Kane uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Smirnov's guard. Nice move by Kane!

We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Smirnov can do anything to dispel that myth.

Kane gets to his feet. Smirnov looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Smirnov tries to keep at a distance but Kane has taken the fight into the clinch.

Kane decides to pull guard.
Smirnov makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kane pulls Smirnov in close to prevent any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smirnov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smirnov is looking to work some ground and pound but Kane has wrist control.

Kane is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Smirnov landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smirnov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kane holds on and takes a little breather.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alexei Smirnov.
I think Smirnov 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29

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