PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between It Kiefa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yoshihiro Tashiada (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). It Kiefa has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Kiefa
vs
Tashiada

172 cm
19
160 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

173 cm
18
161 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

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 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, It Kiefa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yoshihiro Tashiada!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Tashiada misses.
Nice sprawl there from Kiefa as Tashiada shoots in.
Kiefa connects with a high kick.
Tashiada misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kiefa is looking to clinch.
Kiefa goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kiefa misses with a series of wild punches.
Tashiada swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kiefa counters with a leg kick.
Tashiada with a poor takedown
and Kiefa counters with a big head kick but Tashiada shrugs it off.
It Kiefa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoshihiro Tashiada.

Tashiada looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kiefa!
Tashiada really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kiefa. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kiefa is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tashiada avoids the attempt from Kiefa to control.
Kiefa is desperately trying to improve his position but Tashiada has a good base and remains in mount.
Kiefa is trying to stand up.
Tashiada looking to control and managing it successfully.

Tashiada is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Kiefa has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Kiefa!

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.
Kiefa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kiefa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Tashiada is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiefa wants to stand but Tashiada has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Tashiada utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kiefa trying to control but Tashiada is working from the bottom.
Tashiada tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tashiada seems keen to control Kiefa's posture.

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.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kiefa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Tashiada swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tashiada misses with a combination
and Kiefa counters with a three punch combo that has Tashiada backing up. Tashiada nods at Kiefa to acknowledge the strikes.
Tashiada misses with a looping right.
Tashiada swings away with a body shot that misses
and Kiefa counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Tashiada with a poor takedown
and Kiefa counters with a big head kick but Tashiada shrugs it off.
Tashiada throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Kiefa rushes Tashiada and presses him up against the cage.
Tashiada with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kiefa is looking to control Tashiada's arms but Tashiada gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kiefa has his back to the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

It Kiefa dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kiefa is looking to clinch.
Tashiada throws a combination that misses

and Kiefa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kiefa prevents Tashiada from breaking the clinch.
Tashiada swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Tashiada wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Tashiada jumps guard but Kiefa stands there with Tashiada around his waist. Tashiada gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kiefa misses with a knee strike.
Kiefa taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tashiada is trying to break free.
Tashiada wants to break free but Kiefa has control.
Kiefa lands a damaging elbow.
Kiefa wants to break free but Tashiada has control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Kiefa.
Tashiada tries to work over Kiefa's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Tashiada can't break the clinch.
Tashiada goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kiefa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Tashiada has him pressed against the cage.
Tashiada tries to break the clinch but Kiefa is controlling the position.
Tashiada can't break the clinch.
Kiefa using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Tashiada jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kiefa walks away with a smile on his face. Tashiada gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Tashiada tries to clinch
and Kiefa counters with a good low kick that Tashiada was not able to check.
Kiefa is looking to clinch.
Kiefa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kiefa counters with a flying knee. Nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiefa throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Yoshihiro Tashiada seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Horrible takedown by Tashiada or perhaps it was just good defense by Kiefa which made him look bad.
It Kiefa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoshihiro Tashiada.
Kiefa doesn't manage to clinch there - Tashiada circles away.
Kiefa lands a head kick!
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Tashiada crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Kiefa - the referee stops the clock and Tashiada gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Kiefa. Tashiada manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Kiefa lands a two punch combo.
Tashiada throws an overhand right that lands on Kiefa's shoulder, as Kiefa tries to avoid the shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kiefa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Tashiada tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kiefa counters with a series of strikes. Tashiada will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kiefa tries to clinch but Tashiada moves out of range.

Tashiada shoots in and bounces Kiefa off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Tashiada is breathing heavily.
Kiefa keeping moving, preventing Tashiada from controlling successfully.
Kiefa is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kiefa throws his legs up looking for a submission but Tashiada uses it to pass to side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tashiada is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Kiefa's shoulder. That is not cool.
Kiefa is trying to get back to his feet.

Tashiada decides to stand up, so the ref orders Kiefa to his feet.
Kiefa slips a jab from Tashiada.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

It Kiefa dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Tashiada misses with a looping right.
Tashiada tries to clinch but Kiefa moves away
and Kiefa counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kiefa misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kiefa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tashiada paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kiefa lands with a slapping head kick.
Kiefa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Tashiada tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kiefa swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tashiada misses with a combination
and Kiefa counters with a big head kick but Tashiada shrugs it off.
Tashiada misses with a takedown attempt - Kiefa sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kiefa throws a combination. Tashiada tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Tashiada takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tashiada closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kiefa connects with a knee to the head.
Kiefa leaning against his opponent.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Tashiada.
Tashiada holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Tashiada is looking to break free of the clinch but Kiefa has double underhooks.

Tashiada pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tashiada closes the distance looking to clinch
and Kiefa counters with a low kick, right behind Tashiada 's knee.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tashiada closes the distance but Kiefa moves to the side
and Kiefa counters with a left and a right that stings Tashiada.

Kiefa clinches with his opponent.
Kiefa landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Tashiada breaks the clinch.
Tashiada looks for a takedown but Kiefa sprawls well.
Tashiada wants to clinch
and Kiefa counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Tashiada clinches but Kiefa breaks the clinch
and Kiefa counters with an outside leg kick.

Kiefa moves into range and clinches up with Tashiada.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tashiada is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Kiefa wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Tashiada tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
It Kiefa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yoshihiro Tashiada.
Kiefa tries to break the clinch but Tashiada is controlling the position.

Tashiada breaks from the clinch.
Tashiada changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kiefa tries to avoid it but Tashiada manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kiefa to the ground. Kiefa escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kiefa fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tashiada.
Kiefa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tashiada paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kiefa throws a right and a left that Tashiada avoids nicely.
Tashiada throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kiefa's waist but Kiefa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tashiada off to one side.
It Kiefa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kiefa circles away from the clinch attempt
and Kiefa counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Tashiada is lucky that one didn't land flush.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kiefa closes the distance and clinches.
Kiefa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kiefa prevents Tashiada from breaking the clinch.
Tashiada takes an elbow to the temple.
Tashiada wants a takedown but no success here.
Knees in the clinch landing for Kiefa.
Nice elbow from Kiefa.
Yoshihiro Tashiada has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kiefa scores with a knee to the head.
It Kiefa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Tashiada is trying to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
It Kiefa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kiefa, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... It Kiefa!