PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Levan Kvirkvelia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Randy Poffo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kvirkvelia
vs
Poffo

173 cm
23
175 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

190 cm
26
185 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Levan Kvirkvelia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Randy Poffo!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Ivan Kurochkin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Poffo throws a leg kick
and Kvirkvelia counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kvirkvelia seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kvirkvelia.
Kvirkvelia circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kvirkvelia throwing a counter right hand but Poffo manages to avoid it.
Kvirkvelia pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
A bone on bone clash there as Kvirkvelia blocks the leg kick.

Kvirkvelia shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Poffo is trying to defend but Kvirkvelia finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kvirkvelia is thwarting Poffo's attempts to control the position.
Poffo wants to improve his position but Kvirkvelia is controlling well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kvirkvelia in particular looking to stall.
Poffo wants to improve his position but Kvirkvelia is controlling well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poffo is still trying to improve position.
Poffo wants to control but Kvirkvelia is keeping busy.
Kvirkvelia looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kvirkvelia is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Poffo makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Poffo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Kvirkvelia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Poffo is keeping the position for now.
Poffo controlling the position.

Poffo throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kvirkvelia wants to pass the guard but Poffo is keeping the position.

Poffo had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kvirkvelia defends it easily.
Kvirkvelia preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia controlling from the top position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Poffo looks to throw a body kick
and Kvirkvelia counters with a nice uppercut.
Kvirkvelia ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Poffo moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Poffo attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Poffo throws a hook to the side of Kvirkvelia's head but Kvirkvelia sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A little feinted left hand from Kvirkvelia on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Poffo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Poffo connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kvirkvelia. Poffo does a little dance to reset his feet.
Poffo missing with a left hand there. Kvirkvelia was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kvirkvelia throwing a counter right hand but Poffo manages to avoid it.
Kvirkvelia fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Poffo cracks Kvirkvelia with an open hand slap.
Poffo slips under a jab.
Poffo scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kvirkvelia goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Poffo on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kvirkvelia blocks the body kick.
Poffo cracks Kvirkvelia with a good jab.
Kvirkvelia throws an overhand right that lands on Poffo's shoulder, as Poffo tries to avoid the shot.
Kvirkvelia bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Poffo's head.
Kvirkvelia throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Poffo counters with a nice uppercut.
Poffo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Poffo blocks a jab.
Poffo feints a counter leg kick.
Nice body kick from Kvirkvelia.
Kvirkvelia swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Poffo finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Kvirkvelia dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Poffo. That did some damage!
Poffo swings widly with a right hand
and Kvirkvelia counters with a body kick.
Kvirkvelia throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Poffo stuffs the takedown attempt from Kvirkvelia. Kvirkvelia gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Levan Kvirkvelia dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Poffo looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
A slapping leg kick lands for Poffo.
Kvirkvelia lets loose with a powerful body kick. Poffo will feel that in the morning.
Good standup being displayed there by Kvirkvelia as he connects with a hook.
Poffo scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Kvirkvelia connects with a leg kick. Poffo looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kvirkvelia connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Poffo throws a leg kick
and Kvirkvelia counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Poffo bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kvirkvelia's head backwards.
Kvirkvelia lands with a thumping leg kick.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kvirkvelia has a takedown stuffed.
Poffo throws a counter combo.
Poffo moves out of range of the body kick.
Poffo misses with a low kick.
Kvirkvelia explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Poffo is predictable there
and Kvirkvelia counters with a leg kick.
Poffo jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Kvirkvelia swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Poffo motions for Kvirkvelia to come forward. Poffo throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kvirkvelia stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Poffo.
Poffo tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Kvirkvelia is able to avoid easily.
Poffo fakes the leg kick and cracks Kvirkvelia in the body.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kvirkvelia.
Kvirkvelia shoots in looking for a takedown. Poffo tries to sprawl out of it but Kvirkvelia keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Poffo manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Poffo throws a leg kick but Kvirkvelia moved away.
Kvirkvelia feinted there with a counter leg kick.
Poffo throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Randy Poffo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Poffo forces Kvirkvelia back against the cage and clinches.
Poffo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poffo lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
A left hand lands to the body for Poffo.
Poffo working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kvirkvelia.
Poffo misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Poffo misses with a short punch on the inside.
Poffo misses with the head strike.
Poffo throws a head punch that misses.
Poffo tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kvirkvelia's elbow.
Poffo swings wildly with an uppercut but Kvirkvelia uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kvirkvelia is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Poffo is keeping busy.
Poffo misses with a punch on the inside.
Poffo swings wildly with an uppercut but Kvirkvelia uses good head movement to avoid it.
Still in the clinch, Kvirkvelia scores with a nice short uppercut.
Poffo swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kvirkvelia breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kvirkvelia looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kvirkvelia looks for the body kick but Poffo saw that one coming.
A nice leg kick lands there from Poffo.
Kvirkvelia moves out of range as Poffo throws a body kick.
Poffo tries to clinch but Kvirkvelia moves away
and Kvirkvelia counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kvirkvelia fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Poffo.
Poffo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kvirkvelia lands a two punch combo.
Poffo cracks the inside of Kvirkvelia's front leg.

Kvirkvelia drives through with a takedown into Poffo's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kvirkvelia content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kvirkvelia engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Poffo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia looking to sit in guard and control but Poffo gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Poffo is fighting to break Kvirkvelia's control of his arms but Kvirkvelia is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kvirkvelia tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kvirkvelia keeping moving, preventing Poffo from controlling successfully.
Kvirkvelia wants to sweep but no luck.
Kvirkvelia preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Poffo working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kvirkvelia's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Levan Kvirkvelia will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kvirkvelia misses the shot to the body.
Kvirkvelia checks the leg kick nicely there.
Poffo throws a low kick, looking for Kvirkvelia's leg but Kvirkvelia calmly moves out of range.
Poffo stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Crunch! Poffo slams his shin into Kvirkvelia's torso.
Poffo connects with a right hand. Kvirkvelia shakes it off.

Kvirkvelia is rocked!
Poffo misses with a left hand
and Kvirkvelia counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Poffo chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kvirkvelia with a poor takedown
and Poffo counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Kvirkvelia is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Poffo tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Poffo scores with a hook to the body. Kvirkvelia takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Poffo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Poffo cracks the inside of Kvirkvelia's front leg.
A jab lands there for Kvirkvelia.
That kick from Poffo tenderised Kvirkvelia's leg. Kvirkvelia is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia shoots in but Poffo avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Poffo lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Kvirkvelia has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kvirkvelia and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Kvirkvelia drops down looking for a counter takedown but Poffo sprawls and moves away.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Kvirkvelia crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Poffo - the referee stops the clock and Kvirkvelia gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Poffo. Kvirkvelia manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Poffo looks for the body kick but Kvirkvelia saw that one coming.
Poffo lands a slapping body shot.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kvirkvelia ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Poffo lands with a kick to the ribs.
Kvirkvelia attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kvirkvelia will be looking to protect his midsection after taking some solid kicks to the body.
Poffo misses with a kick to the body
and Kvirkvelia counters with a good low kick that Poffo was not able to check.
A decent looking cross lands there for Poffo.
Poffo throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Kvirkvelia checks a leg kick.
Nice jab there from Kvirkvelia.
Randy Poffo has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Levan Kvirkvelia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia ducks under a wild hook from Poffo.
Kvirkvelia takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kvirkvelia.

Kvirkvelia scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Poffo is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Poffo is trying to maintain the position but Kvirkvelia is very close to passing his half guard.
Poffo is staying active underneath Kvirkvelia, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kvirkvelia is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Poffo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

Kvirkvelia got a little sloppy there for a moment and Poffo has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kvirkvelia has managed to get both his arms back between Poffo's legs - danger averted.
Poffo wants to sweep but no luck.
Kvirkvelia content to stall in guard here.
Poffo is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's four 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.
Poffo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kvirkvelia.

Kvirkvelia gets tackled into the cage by Poffo. Poffo maintains the clinch.
Kvirkvelia blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kvirkvelia blocks a body shot from Poffo.
Poffo tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Poffo swings wildly with an uppercut but Kvirkvelia uses good head movement to avoid it.
Poffo lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kvirkvelia backwards.
Kvirkvelia blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Poffo misses with a hook to the ribs.
Poffo lands an uppercut.

And that's the end of the fight!
Randy Poffo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kvirkvelia has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a draw!