PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Igor Kalashnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Luis Tanko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Igor Kalashnikov has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Kalashnikov
vs
Tanko

183 cm
25
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

176 cm
25
155 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Igor Kalashnikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Luis Tanko!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kalashnikov throws a nice looking combination but Tanko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kalashnikov throws a series of punches but Tanko avoids them all with ease.
Tanko goes for a double leg but Kalashnikov avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kalashnikov continues to drive forward.
Kalashnikov is looking for a counter combo.
Igor Kalashnikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tanko lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Kalashnikov gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Tanko escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tanko looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Tanko on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Tanko throws a head kick but Kalashnikov moves out of range.
Tanko looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kalashnikov wants to clinch.
Horrible takedown attempt by Tanko or perhaps it was just good defense by Kalashnikov, which made it look bad.
Igor Kalashnikov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luis Tanko.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kalashnikov forces Tanko back against the cage and clinches.

Tanko pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tanko shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kalashnikov defends it nicely.
Tanko shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kalashnikov tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Tanko manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kalashnikov swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Tanko.
Kalashnikov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kalashnikov.
Kalashnikov scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Tanko doesn't seem bothered though.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tanko is defended easily by Kalashnikov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalashnikov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kalashnikov stuns Tanko with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Tanko misses with a hook. Kalashnikov ducked under it nicely.

Tanko 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.
Tanko looks winded!
Tanko seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Tanko preventing the sweep.
Tanko trying to control but Kalashnikov is working from the bottom.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tanko pushing down on Kalashnikov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Kalashnikov tries to get to full guard but Tanko has control of the leg.
Kalashnikov is trying to stand up here but Tanko is controlling him well.

Kalashnikov makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Kalashnikov throws a series of punches but Tanko moves out of range.

Tanko closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Tanko lands in his opponent's guard.

Kalashnikov pushes Tanko off and gets back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kalashnikov lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kalashnikov.

Kalashnikov gets caught flat footed, as Tanko shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Tanko is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Tanko stops Kalashnikov from standing up.
Kalashnikov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tanko is one step ahead there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kalashnikov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tanko tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kalashnikov paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Tanko darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Kalashnikov manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Kalashnikov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tanko paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kalashnikov tries to clinch up.
Tanko circles away from the clinch attempt.
A nice combination there by Kalashnikov.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kalashnikov misses with a wild combination.
Kalashnikov throws a right hand that Tanko ducks under and follows up with a left that Tanko also avoids with ease.
Kalashnikov will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Igor Kalashnikov is winning the standup battle so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalashnikov tries to bum rush Tanko with a series of wild strikes but Tanko uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Tanko looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tanko trying to control but Kalashnikov is working from the bottom.
Tanko slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Tanko trying to control the position but Kalashnikov is working away.
Tanko might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kalashnikov haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Tanko lands a nice forearm strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalashnikov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Tanko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Tanko wants to control but Kalashnikov is keeping him busy.
Kalashnikov is pushing Tanko's head away, looking to escape. Tanko manages to hold on to the position though.
Kalashnikov is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Kalashnikov has hold of Tanko's hands but Tanko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tanko not doing much here.
Tanko scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like Tanko is going to stand back up.
Tanko looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Tanko lands with a punch from half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tanko is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tanko tries to stand but can't do so whilst Kalashnikov controls his leg.
Tanko working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Tanko is working for a kimura but Kalashnikov is defending it quite comfortably.

Kalashnikov kicks Tanko off and gets back to his feet.
Kalashnikov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Tanko closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kalashnikov did well to prevent Tanko getting side control.

Kalashnikov manages to escape and get back to his feet!
A punch combination from Kalashnikov misses.
Kalashnikov throws a right hand that Tanko ducks under and follows up with a left that Tanko also avoids with ease.
Kalashnikov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Tanko can do to turn this around?

Tanko closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Tanko tries for a kimura but Kalashnikov is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Kalashnikov dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kalashnikov throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kalashnikov throws a one two combo.
Kalashnikov looks to land a combination but Tanko avoids it well.
Kalashnikov stuns Tanko with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Tanko shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kalashnikov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Tanko controls the position.
Kalashnikov is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Tanko staying calm.

Tanko is trying to get an arm triangle but Kalashnikov is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalashnikov gets back to half guard.
Kalashnikov tries to kick Tanko off but Tanko keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Tanko is stalling here. Kalashnikov is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Tanko seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Kalashnikov has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Tanko is trying to improve his position.
Tanko can't do much from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kalashnikov stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Tanko walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Tanko tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kalashnikov was well out of range. Poor timing from Tanko.
As Tanko looks to move away, Kalashnikov throws a big counter combo but Tanko just gets out of the way.
Kalashnikov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Tanko follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Tanko lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Kalashnikov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Tanko back to the cage. Kalashnikov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Tanko looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tanko doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kalashnikov counters with a three punch combo that has Tanko backing up. Tanko nods at Kalashnikov to acknowledge the strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalashnikov is looking to clinch.
Kalashnikov fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Tanko on the side of the head.
Kalashnikov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Tanko.
Kalashnikov is looking to clinch.
Tanko shoots in but no luck this time.
Igor Kalashnikov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Luis Tanko.
Tanko takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kalashnikov misses with a low kick.
Kalashnikov scores with a three punch combo!
Kalashnikov scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kalashnikov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Tanko swivels and escapes.
Tanko wants to counter with a clinch but Kalashnikov pushes him away.
Igor Kalashnikov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Tanko shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kalashnikov napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kalashnikov is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tanko tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Tanko connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kalashnikov some visible discomfort.
Tanko cracks Kalashnikov with a big right hand but Kalashnikov just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kalashnikov is looking for a sweep.
Tanko wants to stand but Kalashnikov is controlling his arm.
Igor Kalashnikov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tanko is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Tanko tries to stand but Kalashnikov is controlling his head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Kalashnikov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kalashnikov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

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