PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Yevgeni Kozlov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jesse Kshymensky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kozlov kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is For those about to Rock. Jesse Kshymensky struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 146.2lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Kozlov
vs
Kshymensky

168 cm
25
155 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

175 cm
27
155 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Yevgeni Kozlov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jesse Kshymensky !
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, Sandra Marshall and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kozlov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kshymensky sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kozlov somewhat.

Kshymensky moves into the clinch successfully.
Kshymensky fails to pull guard.
Kshymensky stops a takedown attempt from Kozlov.
Kozlov missing with knees to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kozlov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Kshymensky is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yevgeni Kozlov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kozlov drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Kshymensky breaks the clinch.
Kozlov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kshymensky .

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov fails with the takedown
and Kshymensky counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Kshymensky thumps Kozlov with a low kick.
Kshymensky lands with a kick to the temple. Kozlov shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kozlov has been working on his balance at Harambe Remembrance Hall, so perhaps that has help him stuff some of the takedown attempts by Kshymensky .
Kozlov misses with a takedown attempt - Kshymensky sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kozlov shoots in for a takedown but Kshymensky shows good takedown defense.
Kshymensky fails to land the takedown.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kshymensky or perhaps it was just good defense by Kozlov, which made it look bad.
Kozlov appears to be looking for a counter takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kshymensky slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kozlov is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kshymensky .
The crowd cheers as Kshymensky lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kozlov doesn't seem phased though.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kozlov dives in and scores a takedown into Kshymensky 's guard.
Kshymensky trying to keep a closed guard but Kozlov is proving a slippery customer.
Kozlov sitting in guard here, content to control.

Kshymensky has his foot on Kozlov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kozlov works his way back into a safe position though.
Kshymensky looks winded!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov throws a big right hand that misses.
Kozlov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kozlov throws a big elbow that misses.
Kozlov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kshymensky is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kshymensky wants to get back to his feet but Kozlov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Kozlov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kshymensky lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Kshymensky connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kshymensky lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Kozlov shoots in but no luck this time.

Kozlov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kshymensky on his heels. He'll look to pass Kshymensky 's guard now, I'm sure.
Kozlov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kshymensky is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Kshymensky dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kshymensky shoots in for a takedown but Kozlov shows good takedown defense.
Kshymensky dives in and grabs Kozlov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kozlov pushes down on Kshymensky 's head and hops out.
Kozlov drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kshymensky sprawls and moves away.
Kshymensky lands a two punch combo.
Kshymensky looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kshymensky pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Kshymensky drives through and clinches with Kozlov against the cage.
Kshymensky is trying to push Kozlov away but Kozlov has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Kozlov is trying to pull guard but Kshymensky turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

Kozlov manages to break the clinch.
Kshymensky lands with a nice combination. Kozlov backs away looking to recover.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kshymensky fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Yevgeni Kozlov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jesse Kshymensky .
Kozlov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kshymensky is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kozlov fails with a takedown attempt.
A cross from Kshymensky lands.
Kshymensky darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Kshymensky has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kshymensky tries a head kick but it misses.
Kozlov tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kshymensky defends well and Kozlov ends up having to push Kshymensky into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
A head kick misses from Kshymensky .
Kozlov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kshymensky keeps Kozlov at a distance using the push kick.
Kshymensky scores with a shot to the body.
Kshymensky lands a slapping body shot.
Jesse Kshymensky seems to be getting the better of the standup.

Kozlov closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Kshymensky quickly recovers to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kshymensky wants to get back to full guard.

Kozlov is working for a submission of some sort.
Kozlov takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kozlov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kozlov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kozlov working Kshymensky over with strikes.
Kshymensky pushes Kozlov off but Kozlov dives into side control.
Kozlov trying to control the action but Kshymensky is working from the bottom.
Kozlov just content to control the position.

Kozlov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kshymensky is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kozlov is working Kshymensky over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kshymensky is not content to let Kozlov control the position.
Kshymensky tries to improve position but can't.
Kozlov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kshymensky keeps working.

Kozlov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kshymensky knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kozlov is chipping away with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jesse Kshymensky showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kozlov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kshymensky shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kozlov feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Kozlov fails to land the takedown.
Kshymensky catches Kozlov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kshymensky goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kshymensky shoots in and gets a takedown into Kozlov's guard.
Kshymensky trying to control the position from guard on top but Kozlov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kshymensky won't allow Kozlov to sweep him here.
Kshymensky takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kozlov has his feet on Kshymensky 's thighs here. He's pushed Kshymensky off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Kshymensky screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:23 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Yevgeni Kozlov!
Yevgeni Kozlov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.