PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Reza Katebi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Simenkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sergei Simenkov is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Katebi
vs
Simenkov

175 cm
30
165 lbs
14 - 15 - 1

165 cm
40
169 lbs
23 - 14 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Beaver Jooce!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Montreal, Reza Katebi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 1, fighting out of New York, Sergei Simenkov!
The judges for this bout are Alec Ball, Trevor Gratis and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Katebi lands a nice looking body shot.
The fighters circling - Katebi throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Katebi lands with a kick to the temple. Simenkov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Katebi does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Katebi blocks a head kick by Simenkov.
Katebi swinging wildly here.
Katebi misses with a body shot.
Katebi has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.

Simenkov moves into the clinch.

Katebi breaks from the clinch.
Katebi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Reza Katebi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Simenkov misses with a body kick.
Simenkov fails with the takedown.

Simenkov drives through and clinches with Katebi against the cage.
Simenkov is looking for a takedown.
Simenkov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Simenkov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Katebi is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Reza Katebi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergei Simenkov.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Katebi breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Simenkov throws a sloppy body shot
and Katebi counters with a series of strikes. Simenkov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Simenkov gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Katebi.
Simenkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Katebi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Katebi uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Simenkov moves forwards but Katebi connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Simenkov blocks a head kick by Katebi.
Katebi connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Simenkov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Simenkov staying out of range there.
Katebi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Katebi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Simenkov moves away.
Simenkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Katebi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Katebi appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Katebi throws out a loose jab but Simenkov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Katebi misses with a straight right.
Katebi pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Simenkov back to the cage. Katebi follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Katebi lands a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simenkov shoots in but no luck this time.
Simenkov takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Simenkov clinches up against the cage.

Katebi pulls guard successfully.
Simenkov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Simenkov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Simenkov forces his way into half guard.
Ground and pound from Simenkov.
Simenkov is looking to take a break and control but Katebi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Katebi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simenkov working over Katebi with some ground and pound. Katebi looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Simenkov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Katebi!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Simenkov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Katebi tries to reverse the position but Simenkov maintains control.
Katebi is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Simenkov pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Simenkov lands a big elbow.
Simenkov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Katebi can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Simenkov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Katebi is rocked!
Katebi sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Oh Katebi is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Katebi is trying to control but can't.
Katebi seems to have got his legs back now.
Simenkov seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Katebi wants to control but Simenkov is keeping busy.
Katebi is pressing down on Simenkov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Simenkov must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Katebi keeping moving, preventing Simenkov from controlling successfully.
Simenkov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Katebi taking punishment in the form of punches.
Katebi keeps Simenkov under control for a moment.
Katebi takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
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 Reza Katebi will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Simenkov as Katebi tries to tie him up.
Katebi struggles to land a body shot inside as Simenkov controls his hands.
Simenkov is trying to drag Katebi to the mat but Katebi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Katebi working hard to break the clinch.
Simenkov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A nice right hand lands inside from Katebi.
Simenkov has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Katebi after a bit of a struggle.
Katebi is pressed up against the cage. Simenkov has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Katebi down to the mat. Katebi avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Reza Katebi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergei Simenkov.
Simenkov on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Simenkov walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Reza Katebi is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simenkov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Katebi is fending him off so far but Simenkov persists. Nope, Katebi circles away and we're back to standing.
Simenkov connects with a high kick.
Simenkov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Katebi lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Simenkov slips a jab and a cross from Katebi.
Simenkov stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Katebi.

Simenkov has managed to clinch.
Simenkov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Katebi.
Katebi prevents a takedown attempt there.
A short uppercut from Katebi.
Katebi is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Katebi is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Simenkov is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katebi wants to get back to striking at distance but Simenkov won't allow it.
Simenkov tries for a takedown but Katebi manages to get underhooks.

Simenkov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Simenkov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
A solid leg kick lands there for Katebi.
Simenkov takes one on the chin but seems OK.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Katebi misses the shot to the body.
Katebi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Simenkov can do to turn this around?
Simenkov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Katebi pinned against the cage. Katebi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Katebi attempts a counter takedown but Simenkov avoids it well and moves away.
A lazy left from Katebi finds it's target.

Katebi tries to sprawl but Simenkov drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Katebi is trying to control but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katebi is pressing down on Simenkov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Simenkov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Simenkov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Katebi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Simenkov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Katebi is keeping the position for now.
Simenkov lands a couple of digs.
Simenkov chips away with some ground and pound.
Simenkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Katebi manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Simenkov manages to get himself to full guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Katebi stands up over Simenkov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simenkov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Katebi is working Simenkov over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Katebi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Katebi throwing strikes from guard but Simenkov blocks nicely.
Katebi trying to control the position from guard on top but Simenkov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Katebi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Katebi's corner is telling him to maintain position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Katebi looks to land a left hand but Simenkov moved out of range nicely.
Katebi avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Katebi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Simenkov was well out of range. Poor timing from Katebi.
Simenkov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Katebi as he jumps to the side.
Simenkov is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Katebi.
Simenkov tries to clinch up.
Katebi swings for the body but Simenkov moves out of range.
Katebi throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Katebi throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Katebi throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Simenkov counters with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Simenkov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Katebi manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Katebi lands with a good body shot.

Simenkov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Katebi to the mat! Katebi manages to get full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Simenkov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Katebi's head.
Simenkov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Simenkov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Katebi has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Simenkov has managed to get both his arms back between Katebi's legs - danger averted.
Simenkov throws a big elbow that misses.

Katebi is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Simenkov defends well.
Simenkov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Simenkov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Simenkov tries to free his leg and advance position but Katebi is retaining full guard.
Katebi is trying to hold Simenkov in close to prevent damage but Simenkov has managed to pass into half guard.

Katebi actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Simenkov lands a nice short elbow.
Katebi is trying to get back to full guard.
Simenkov trying to control the action but Katebi is working from the bottom.
Simenkov throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Katebi to regain full guard.
Simenkov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Simenkov stands up over Katebi, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Katebi is looking for a triangle but Simenkov pushes his legs off easily.
Simenkov is pushing down on Katebi's leg trying to pass to half guard. Katebi is fighting to maintain full guard but Simenkov has managed to sneak the leg through.
Katebi is trying to maintain the position but Simenkov is very close to passing his half guard.
Simenkov scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Katebi is not content to let Simenkov control the position.
Simenkov lands strikes from half guard.
Sergei Simenkov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Simenkov lands with a punch from half guard.
Katebi is looking for a sweep. Simenkov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Katebi wants to control but Simenkov is keeping busy.
Simenkov trying to pass the guard but Katebi defending well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simenkov trying to control the action but Katebi is working from the bottom.
Simenkov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Katebi's head.
Katebi wants to control but Simenkov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Simenkov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Simenkov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Katebi keeps working.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Katebi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Katebi misses with a low kick.
Nice takedown defense from Katebi. No joy for Simenkov on that attempt.
Simenkov shoots in and drives through. Katebi sprawls well.
Katebi is looking to counter the offense by Simenkov and move into the clinch.
Reza Katebi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sergei Simenkov.
Nice defenses there by Simenkov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close third round but Sergei Simenkov just about did enough to take it.
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.

A leg kick checked by Simenkov.

Katebi scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Simenkov is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Simenkov is trying to improve his position.

Katebi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Simenkov manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Katebi not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Simenkov wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Simenkov landing strikes from the bottom.
Katebi wants to control but Simenkov is keeping him busy.
Katebi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Katebi is working for a submission here. He's got hold of the far side arm and he's looking for a kimura. He's cranking on the arm and he's got it! Simenkov is tapping out! Ouch, that looked like it hurt!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:35 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Reza Katebi!