PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bulgarian Kickboxer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Koba Kye (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kickboxer comes to the cage accompanied by Paul Hertzog - The Eagle Lands. Koba Kye told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Kickboxer
vs
Kye

180 cm
25
190 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

179 cm
25
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Intelligent

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Bulgarian Kickboxer!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Koba Kye!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Vladimir Khabensky and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kye drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Kye is trying to get an arm triangle but Kickboxer is defending well.
Kye trying to control the action but Kickboxer is working from the bottom.
Kickboxer is trying to get back to half guard.

Kye swings around for an armbar but Kickboxer sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kye's guard.
Kickboxer has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kickboxer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kye is keeping the position for now.
Kye can't keep his opponent in guard - Kickboxer advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kickboxer passes to full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kickboxer wants to control the pace but Kye is squirming around nicely.

Kickboxer jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Kye manages to avoid the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kye is not content to let Kickboxer control the position.
Kye felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Kickboxer is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kye is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Kickboxer is trying to get an arm triangle but Kye is defending well.

That's two 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.
Kye can't do much from the bottom here.
Kickboxer is looking to take a break and control but Kye is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kye is trying to improve his position.

Kickboxer tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kickboxer has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kye tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kickboxer looking to control but instead Kye has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Kye holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Kickboxer moves nicely into side control.
Kickboxer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kye keeps working.

Kickboxer goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kye has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kickboxer but great work by Kye.
Kickboxer takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Kickboxer is looking for a sweep.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kye goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kickboxer has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kye but great work by Kickboxer.

Kickboxer goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kye has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kickboxer but great work by Kye.

Kye working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kye trying to control the position but Kickboxer is working away.
Kickboxer tries to buck Kye off but Kye is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Kye looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kickboxer is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Koba Kye will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kickboxer gets off balance looking for a body kick

and Kye counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Kye seems to be looking for submissions.
Kickboxer is staying active underneath Kye, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kickboxer manages to get to full guard.
Kickboxer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kye slips nicely into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kye is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kickboxer has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kye trying to control from half guard but Kickboxer is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kye is looking for a kimura but Kickboxer is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kye to get the leverage.
Kye is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Kye is in close to Kickboxer's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Kickboxer working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kye doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kye manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kickboxer lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kye keeping full guard, as Kickboxer tries to pass.
Kye controlling Kickboxer's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kickboxer pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kye is keeping the position for now.
Koba Kye has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kickboxer passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Kickboxer looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Kye wants to control but Kickboxer postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kickboxer goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Kye rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Kickboxer's guard! Nice work there by Kye!
Kye is working Kickboxer over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kye trying to control but Kickboxer is working from the bottom.
Kye engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kye slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kye is looking to take a break and control but Kickboxer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kickboxer manages to get back to half guard.

Kickboxer actively working from the bottom here.

Kye is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kickboxer sees it coming and defends easily.
Kye working Kickboxer over with strikes.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Kye is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Kye is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Kickboxer doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kye.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koba Kye showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kickboxer throws a leg kick that is checked

and Kye counters with a takedown into side control.
Kickboxer is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Kye off and has taken his back!

Kickboxer is looking for a choke. Kye gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Kye manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Kye working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kye won't allow Kickboxer to sweep him here.

Kickboxer looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kye has picked Kickboxer up and slammed him! Kickboxer can't keep hold of the triangle and Kye manages to pass to side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kickboxer gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Kye is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kickboxer sees it coming and defends easily.
Kickboxer tries to get to full guard but Kye has control of the leg.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kickboxer regains full guard. Nicely done.

Kickboxer looking for a guillotine here but Kye defends easily.
Kye showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Kye is pushing down on Kickboxer's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kickboxer is fighting to maintain full guard but Kye has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kye 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.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Kickboxer actively working from the bottom here.
Kye wants to take a breather but Kickboxer is having none of it.
Kickboxer wants to get back to full guard.
Kickboxer manages to get to full guard.

Kickboxer looking for a guillotine here but Kye defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kye is in close to Kickboxer's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kye passes Kickboxer's left leg - he's now in half guard.

Kye is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kickboxer wants to improve his position but Kye is controlling well.

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

That's four 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.
Kickboxer regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kye has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kye scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Kye stands up and waves to Kickboxer to follow him.
Kickboxer lands a high kick!
Kickboxer throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Kye counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kye prevents Kickboxer from improving his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kye lands a nice short elbow.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Koba Kye really dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kye shoots in and gets a takedown into Kickboxer's guard.

Kickboxer has his foot on Kye's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kye works his way back into a safe position though.
Kye is working Kickboxer over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

Kickboxer pushes a forearm under Kye's chin to create some space. He's escaped his hips and pivoted quickly for an armbar! Can he extend the arm? Yes, Kye is tapping out! Damn, that was fast!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:33 of round 4, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Bulgarian Kickboxer!
Bulgarian Kickboxer is the new middleweight champion!
Bulgarian Kickboxer tried to hype himself up post fight but didn't word it too well and it ended up with him sounding like a bit of a tool.