PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Levan Kvirkvelia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shane Wellman Iv (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Shane Wellman Iv has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kvirkvelia
vs
Wellman Iv

173 cm
24
175 lbs
7 - 5 - 1

185 cm
27
177 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

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 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Levan Kvirkvelia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shane Wellman Iv!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wellman Iv throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Kvirkvelia counters with a shoot takedown. Wellman Iv fights it but they end up in guard.
Kvirkvelia controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kvirkvelia stopping the sweep attempt from Wellman Iv.
Wellman Iv trying to keep a closed guard but Kvirkvelia is proving a slippery customer.
Wellman Iv being controlled here, momentarily.
Kvirkvelia forces his way into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kvirkvelia slows the pace down in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kvirkvelia is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Wellman Iv doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kvirkvelia.
Wellman Iv trying to get back to full guard but Kvirkvelia takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

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.
Kvirkvelia tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Wellman Iv is squirming around, avoiding Kvirkvelia's attempts to control the action.
Wellman Iv wants to control but Kvirkvelia is having none of it.
Kvirkvelia fails to take his opponent's back.
Wellman Iv is desperately trying to improve his position but Kvirkvelia has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Kvirkvelia controlling from the full mount.
Kvirkvelia cracks Wellman Iv with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kvirkvelia wants to control the pace but Wellman Iv is squirming around nicely.
Wellman Iv tries to hold on but Kvirkvelia postures up.
Wellman Iv can't escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kvirkvelia has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Kvirkvelia throws some wild stikes that Wellman Iv manages to avoid easily.
Kvirkvelia controlling the pace for now.
Wellman Iv tries to control Kvirkvelia's body but Kvirkvelia pushes him off. Wellman Iv squirms to his side and now Kvirkvelia has his back!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Good control from Kvirkvelia.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Levan Kvirkvelia dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Wellman Iv throws the left hand but Kvirkvelia avoids the punch easily.
Wellman Iv misses with a wild body shot.
Wellman Iv throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Kvirkvelia stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Wellman Iv slips a jab and a cross from Kvirkvelia.
Kvirkvelia cracks the inside of Wellman Iv's front leg.
Kvirkvelia connects with a single shot there.
Kvirkvelia throws a leg kick but Wellman Iv sees it coming and checks it nicely.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kvirkvelia checks a leg kick.
Wellman Iv scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Wellman Iv misses with a straight left.
Kvirkvelia connects with an inside leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wellman Iv lands a slapping body shot.
Kvirkvelia chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kvirkvelia misses with a leg kick.
Wellman Iv looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Wellman Iv moves out of range of the strikes.
A telegraphed right hand from Wellman Iv misses the target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wellman Iv just misses with a punch to the body.
Kvirkvelia misses with a hook.
A low kick from Kvirkvelia is predictable there
enabling Wellman Iv to counter with a crisp jab.
Wellman Iv throws out a loose jab but Kvirkvelia uses good head movement to avoid it.
Shane Wellman Iv is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kvirkvelia turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Wellman Iv swings for the body but Kvirkvelia moves out of range.
Shane Wellman Iv seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wellman Iv throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Wellman Iv thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kvirkvelia connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Kvirkvelia scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Wellman Iv takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Kvirkvelia is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Wellman Iv can do to turn this around?
Wellman Iv lands a nice shot to the body.
Wellman Iv keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kvirkvelia moves out of range as Wellman Iv throws a body kick.
Kvirkvelia attempts a counter takedown but Wellman Iv avoids it well and moves away.
Wellman Iv throws a leg kick but Kvirkvelia sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kvirkvelia half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Wellman Iv ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kvirkvelia moves away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wellman Iv takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Wellman Iv swings widly with a right hand

and Kvirkvelia counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Wellman Iv!
Kvirkvelia trying to control the position but Wellman Iv is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wellman Iv is looking to reverse the position.
You can see the frustration on Wellman Iv's face as Kvirkvelia controls the position.
Wellman Iv wants to control but Kvirkvelia postures up.
Kvirkvelia trying to control the action but Wellman Iv is working from the bottom.
Kvirkvelia sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Wellman Iv is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wellman Iv is looking for a sweep.
Kvirkvelia scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Wellman Iv to see if he's OK.
Wellman Iv tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kvirkvelia wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kvirkvelia is working Wellman Iv over with some ground and pound from side control.
Wellman Iv holds on to Kvirkvelia's head and controls the position momentarily.
Kvirkvelia wants to lay and pray for a moment but Wellman Iv keeps working.

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.

Kvirkvelia is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Wellman Iv is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kvirkvelia scores with punches from side control.
Kvirkvelia trying to control the position but Wellman Iv is working away.
A lull in the action here as Kvirkvelia stalls from top position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Levan Kvirkvelia dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Jab, jab by Wellman Iv - just one landing.
Nice defenses there by Kvirkvelia.
Kvirkvelia uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Wellman Iv.
Wellman Iv connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kvirkvelia swings for the body but Wellman Iv moves out of range.
Good work by Wellman Iv as he checks the leg kick.
Kvirkvelia avoids the body shot from Wellman Iv.
Kvirkvelia pivots, looking for a leg kick but Wellman Iv is out of range and Kvirkvelia settles back down.
Wellman Iv takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Crunch! Kvirkvelia slams his shin into Wellman Iv's torso.
Wellman Iv checks a leg kick.
It seemed like Wellman Iv was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Wellman Iv swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Wellman Iv connects with a good right hand that stumbles Kvirkvelia. Kvirkvelia circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Kvirkvelia tries for a takedown but Wellman Iv sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kvirkvelia scores with a shot to the body.
Kvirkvelia with a jab.
Kvirkvelia throws a push kick but Wellman Iv slaps the foot to one side.
Kvirkvelia misses with a hook to the body
and Wellman Iv connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Wellman Iv misses with a hook

and Kvirkvelia counters with a single leg into guard. Wellman Iv didn't expect that.
Wellman Iv looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kvirkvelia looking to pass the guard.
Kvirkvelia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Wellman Iv not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Levan Kvirkvelia is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wellman Iv can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kvirkvelia controls the pace.
Kvirkvelia wants to pass the guard but Wellman Iv is keeping the position.
Kvirkvelia controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kvirkvelia looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Wellman Iv looks to throw the jab but Kvirkvelia is out of range.
Levan Kvirkvelia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wellman Iv looks to land a left hand but Kvirkvelia moved out of range nicely.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Wellman Iv throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kvirkvelia sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Kvirkvelia closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Wellman Iv did well to prevent Kvirkvelia getting side control.
Kvirkvelia controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia is looking to advance position but Wellman Iv won't allow it.
Wellman Iv wants to get back to full guard.
Kvirkvelia seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Shane Wellman Iv has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kvirkvelia seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Wellman Iv for as long as he can get away with.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A big left from Wellman Iv misses.
Wellman Iv slaps away a takedown attempt from Kvirkvelia, before circling back to the center of the mat.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kvirkvelia scores with a punch to the head.
Kvirkvelia staying out of range there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Levan Kvirkvelia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kvirkvelia, 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:26
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Levan Kvirkvelia!
A relieved looking Levan Kvirkvelia thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.