PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Levan Kvirkvelia (ranked 3084 p4p, 333 weight class) and Chocolate Al (ranked 11073 p4p, 704 weight class). Levan Kvirkvelia could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Chocolate Al's chin.

Kvirkvelia
vs
Al

173 cm
28
175 lbs
14 - 13 - 1

188 cm
42
180 lbs
17 - 11 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
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 14 - 13 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Levan Kvirkvelia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 1, fighting out of New York, Chocolate Al!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Robert Douchet and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kvirkvelia tries to clinch up.
Kvirkvelia works Al's body with a nice hook.
Kvirkvelia defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Al.
Kvirkvelia swings for the body but Al moves out of range.
Kvirkvelia shoots in for a takedown but Al shows good takedown defense.

Kvirkvelia forces Al back against the cage and clinches.
Kvirkvelia wants to break free but Al has control.
Al prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kvirkvelia throws a head punch that misses.
Al pressing his opponent against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Al's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Al darts in looking for a takedown but Kvirkvelia gets double underhooks and turns Al into the cage.

Kvirkvelia has managed to clinch.
Kvirkvelia stalling against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Levan Kvirkvelia has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Chocolate Al.

Al is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kvirkvelia is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Al to the mat. Al regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.

Al is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Kvirkvelia presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Kvirkvelia is working for takedown but Al is calmly controlling the position for now.
Al wants a takedown.
Kvirkvelia goes for a takedown in the clinch but Al prevents it.

Al manages to break the clinch.
Kvirkvelia throws a body shot but no joy.
Al shoots in for a takedown but Kvirkvelia shows good takedown defense.
Kvirkvelia tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Al paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kvirkvelia tried to score with a low kick but Al checks it.
A head kick misses from Kvirkvelia.
Kvirkvelia closes this distance looking for a takedown but Al circles away.
Al is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al checks a low kick from Kvirkvelia.
Al shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kvirkvelia tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Al is able to avoid easily.
Al throws a counter combo.

Kvirkvelia looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Al is not content to let Kvirkvelia control the position.
Al has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kvirkvelia is working away from the top position though.

Kvirkvelia is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kvirkvelia trying to control from half guard but Al is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al gets back to full guard.
Kvirkvelia might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Al throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

Kvirkvelia avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kvirkvelia sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Al's guard.
Al looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kvirkvelia sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Al defending well though.

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

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.
Al tries to get to full guard but Kvirkvelia has control of the leg.
Kvirkvelia missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kvirkvelia trying to control the action but Al is working from the bottom.
Al has hold of Kvirkvelia's hands but Kvirkvelia slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Al is pressing down on Kvirkvelia's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kvirkvelia wants to control from the top but Al keeps moving.
Kvirkvelia tries to free his leg and advance position but Al is retaining full guard.
Kvirkvelia missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Al is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Al looking for a sweep. Not yet Al, not yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Levan Kvirkvelia dominated that 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.

Kvirkvelia swats away the attempt to clinch by Al.
Al defending well as Kvirkvelia loads up on a big left hand.
Levan Kvirkvelia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kvirkvelia changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Al looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kvirkvelia remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Al is not content to let Kvirkvelia control the position.
Kvirkvelia 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.
Al manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kvirkvelia's best efforts.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kvirkvelia looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kvirkvelia in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia wants to take a breather but Al is having none of it.
Kvirkvelia seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Kvirkvelia is looking for a kimura here.
Al is looking to improve his position.

That's two 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.
Kvirkvelia looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Al with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kvirkvelia is trying to control the action in half guard but Al is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Al misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Al manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Kvirkvelia keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Kvirkvelia wants a takedown.
Kvirkvelia tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Al smiles and moves away.
Al keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kvirkvelia tries to clinch but Al is having none of it.
Kvirkvelia misses with a straight right.
Al with the counter takedown but Kvirkvelia avoids it easily.
Kvirkvelia pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Kvirkvelia closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Al quickly recovers to half guard.

Al pushes Kvirkvelia off and gets back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia connects with a solid leg kick.

Al shoots in and bounces Kvirkvelia off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Al trying to control but Kvirkvelia is working from the bottom.
Al has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at The Takeover. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Al is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Kvirkvelia is pulling down on Al's head to control his posture.
Al missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
We've been hearing good reports from Kvirkvelia's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Al trying to control the position from guard on top but Kvirkvelia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Al tries to stand but Kvirkvelia is controlling from the bottom.
Al sitting in guard here, content to control.
Chocolate Al has got the better of the ground game so far.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Horrible takedown attempt by Al or perhaps it was just good defense by Kvirkvelia, which made it look bad.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
No joy there for Kvirkvelia, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kvirkvelia will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Al feints the counter takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Levan Kvirkvelia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Al uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kvirkvelia.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Chocolate Al will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Al takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
No luck for Al with that takedown attempt.

Kvirkvelia closes the distance and clinches.

Al pulls guard.
Kvirkvelia is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Kvirkvelia works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Al trying to control here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kvirkvelia is looking to advance position but Al won't allow it.
Al is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Al works his way to full guard. Good work.
Al trying to keep a closed guard but Kvirkvelia is proving a slippery customer.
Kvirkvelia cracks Al with a solid left hand.
Kvirkvelia lands a couple of decent looking shots.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kvirkvelia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kvirkvelia passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Al is trying to control Kvirkvelia's posture but Kvirkvelia avoids it.
Al takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Kvirkvelia is looking to take a break and control but Al is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ground and pound from Kvirkvelia seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Al is looking to regain half guard here but Kvirkvelia keeps moving and retains side control.
Kvirkvelia scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kvirkvelia is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Kvirkvelia postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kvirkvelia trying to control the action but Al is working from the bottom.

Kvirkvelia is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Al has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Al is looking to regain half guard here but Kvirkvelia keeps moving and retains side control.
Al wants to control but Kvirkvelia postures up.
Kvirkvelia in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Al tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Kvirkvelia presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Al is squirming around, avoiding Kvirkvelia's attempts to control the action.
Al tries to hold on but Kvirkvelia pushes him away.
Al sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kvirkvelia prevents Al from improving his position.
Al moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kvirkvelia content to stall in guard here.
Kvirkvelia postures up in Al's guard and throws a big left but Al blocks it.
Kvirkvelia wants to pass the guard but Al is keeping the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Al is pulling down on Kvirkvelia's head to control his posture.
Al wants to sweep here but Kvirkvelia controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Levan Kvirkvelia showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kvirkvelia has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Elvis Blanc scores the fight 29:28
Judge Robert Douchet scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Smith scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Levan Kvirkvelia!
A victorious Levan Kvirkvelia thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.