PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vasilliy Kazakov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lativ Ilram (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lativ Ilram has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kazakov
vs
Ilram

163 cm
26
146 lbs
8 - 0 - 0

180 cm
26
155 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

VALOR Clothing - Everything $20

Island's Forbidden Fruits

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vasilliy Kazakov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Lativ Ilram!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Franklin, Winston Alpacca and Sandra Marshall.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ilram gets caught napping as Kazakov dives in and scores a takedown. Ilram manages to retain guard.

Ilram looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ilram working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kazakov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Kazakov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Kazakov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ilram is just riding it out for now. Kazakov eventually gives up the hold.
Kazakov takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilram wants to get back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ilram trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Kazakov manages to pass to mount!
Kazakov content just to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Kazakov's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Ilram is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kazakov mounts Ilram! Really nice guard pass there!
Ilram is looking to improve his position but Kazakov isn't that keen on the idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kazakov avoids the attempt from Ilram to control.
Kazakov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ilram tries to hold on but Kazakov pushes him away.
Kazakov moves to the back.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ilram rolls, trying to escape but Kazakov keeps control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasilliy Kazakov dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kazakov looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Kazakov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ilram can do to turn this around?

Kazakov is looking for a kimura here.
Ilram wants to control but Kazakov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kazakov is controlling the pace.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ilram is trying to maintain the position but Kazakov is very close to passing his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazakov wants to pass to mount but Ilram is defending the position.
Kazakov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Ilram!
Kazakov looking to control and managing it successfully.

Kazakov looking to secure an arm triangle but Ilram defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kazakov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kazakov avoids the attempt from Ilram to control.
Kazakov controlling the pace for now.
Ilram is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazakov content just to control the position here.
Ilram tries to hold on but Kazakov postures up.
Kazakov tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Ilram can't escape the position.
Kazakov content just to control the position here.
Further stalling from Kazakov.
Kazakov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kazakov avoids the attempt from Ilram to control.
Kazakov controlling the position easily from mount.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasilliy Kazakov dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kazakov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Ilram trying to keep a closed guard but Kazakov is proving a slippery customer.
Kazakov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kazakov seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ilram for as long as he can get away with.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kazakov tries to free his leg and advance position but Ilram is retaining full guard.

Ilram working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Kazakov has passed into half guard!
Ilram won't allow Kazakov to pass to mount.
Vasilliy Kazakov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilram tries to roll over but Kazakov keeps him under control.
Well, if Kazakov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Kazakov tries to pass to full mount but Ilram defends it.

That's two 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.
Ilram is trying to control but can't.
Kazakov wants to free his trapped foot but Ilram is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kazakov controlling the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kazakov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
A jab from Ilram finds it's way through Kazakov's defenses.

Kazakov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kazakov content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Kazakov continues to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilram is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kazakov off and has taken his back!
Ilram is trying to stick to Kazakov's back but Kazakov is turning into Ilram. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Ilram's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kazakov.
Kazakov 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.

Kazakov got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ilram has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kazakov has managed to get both his arms back between Ilram's legs - danger averted.
Kazakov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazakov passes Ilram's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Ilram is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kazakov pulls his head out easily.

Ilram with the active half guard here but Kazakov passes nicely into side control.
Kazakov staying calm.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kazakov has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasilliy Kazakov clearly takes that round.
That's time! Kazakov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Ilram loads up on a big right hand but Kazakov slips the punch.
Ilram misses with a combination

and Kazakov counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Kazakov controls from within his opponent's guard.
This is a sustained period of stalling by Kazakov.
Kazakov postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ilram had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kazakov defends it easily.
Ilram trying to keep a closed guard but Kazakov is proving a slippery customer.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazakov advances position into side control!
Ilram is letting Kazakov control him for a moment.
Ilram tries to bench press Kazakov off him but Kazakov keeps the position.
Kazakov is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Ilram will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's two 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.
Ilram wants to control but Kazakov postures up.
Kazakov just content to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kazakov blocks a jab.

Ilram gets caught napping as Kazakov dives in and scores a takedown. Ilram manages to retain guard.
Kazakov advances to half guard.
Ilram tries to kick Kazakov off but Kazakov keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kazakov looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

Ilram is defending against the submission attempts here by Kazakov.
Kazakov is thwarting Ilram's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kazakov is looking to advance position but Ilram won't allow it.
Kazakov prevents Ilram from improving his position.
Ilram trying to control from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kazakov not doing much here.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

Kazakov is looking for a kimura but Ilram is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kazakov to get the leverage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vasilliy Kazakov had his way with Lativ Ilram in that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ilram misses with the combination.

Kazakov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ilram quickly recovers to half guard.
Ilram wants to get back to full guard.
Ilram is trying to maintain the position but Kazakov is very close to passing his half guard.
Kazakov not doing much here.
Kazakov trying to pass the guard but Ilram defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kazakov is working for a kimura but Ilram is defending it quite comfortably.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilram trying to control from the bottom.

Ilram looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kazakov moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Ilram.
Ilram being controlled for a moment.
Vasilliy Kazakov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
If it seems like I'm not saying a lot, it's just because Kazakov is stinking the place up with his stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Vasilliy Kazakov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kazakov.

Kazakov scores with a takedown into Ilram's guard.

Ilram looking for a guillotine here but Kazakov defends easily.
Kazakov sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kazakov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kazakov might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Ilram looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kazakov passes into half guard.
Lativ Ilram has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kazakov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vasilliy Kazakov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kazakov, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 50:45
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight 50:45
Judge Sandra Marshall scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vasilliy Kazakov!
Vasilliy Kazakov retains his featherweight title!