PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Dusan Smirnov (ranked 4278 p4p, 4097 weight class) and Dicki Kickels (ranked 394 p4p, 383 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smirnov
vs
Kickels

178 cm
22
154
1 - 1 - 0

177 cm
19
155
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Voodoo Nutrition

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Dusan Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dicki Kickels!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Tiny Johnson and Chris Downing.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Smirnov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Smirnov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smirnov stays in close to Kickels's body and controls the position.
Smirnov definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Smirnov wants to control from the top but Kickels keeps moving.
Kickels utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Smirnov throws a big right hand that misses.
Kickels wants to sweep here but Smirnov controlling him for the moment.
Kickels has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Finland's Finest MMA Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.

Smirnov thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Smirnov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Smirnov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kickels looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smirnov has gone for a leg lock! Kickels slips out almost immediately though and dives into Smirnov's guard.

A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Smirnov holds on and takes a little breather.

Smirnov looking for a guillotine here but Kickels defends easily.
Kickels trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Smirnov wants to sweep here but Kickels controlling him for the moment.
Kickels looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kickels trying to control but Smirnov is working from the bottom.
Kickels sitting in guard here, content to control.
Smirnov pulls Kickels in close to prevent any damage.
Kickels trying to control the position from guard on top but Smirnov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters, thinking about a standup.
Smirnov is trying to keep Kickels in close.
Kickels stopping the sweep attempt from Smirnov.

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

Smirnov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Smirnov 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.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Smirnov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kickels does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov is working for a kimura but Kickels is defending it quite comfortably.
Kickels is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kickels is still trying to improve position.
Kickels is trying to control but can't.
Smirnov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Smirnov wants to pass the guard but Kickels is defending well.
Smirnov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kickels keeps working.

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.
Kickels has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Smirnov is working away from the top position though.
Smirnov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kickels trying to control from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smirnov controlling the pace.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Kickels is trying to get back to full guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Smirnov keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Dusan Smirnov dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Smirnov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kickels did well to prevent Smirnov getting side control.

Kickels kicks off Smirnov and gets to his feet.
Smirnov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kickels.
Kickels takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Smirnov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kickels did well to prevent Smirnov getting side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kickels trying to control from the bottom.
The fighters are battling for position here. Kickels manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smirnov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Smirnov looking to sit in guard and control but Kickels gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Smirnov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Smirnov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kickels doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kickels manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kickels wants to control from the top but Smirnov keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov keeping full guard, as Kickels tries to pass.

Smirnov working for a triangle but Kickels defends it easily.
Smirnov is pulling down on Kickels's head. It's preventing any offense from Kickels, at least for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Smirnov controls Kickels momentarily but Kickels frees himself.
Kickels trying to control but Smirnov is working from the bottom.
Smirnov controls Kickels momentarily but Kickels frees himself.
Smirnov pulls Kickels in to control the position.
Smirnov continues to stall.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Smirnov misses with a jab, cross combination.

Smirnov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kickels is looking to control Smirnov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kickels avoid being mounted?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kickels keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kickels is staying active underneath Smirnov, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Smirnov thows a huge punch but Kickels dodges it nicely.
Kickels wants to get back to full guard.
Smirnov works his way into side control.
Kickels is not content to let Smirnov control the position.
You can see the frustration on Kickels's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Smirnov looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kickels is avoiding damage well.

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.
Smirnov trying to control the position but Kickels is working away.
Smirnov tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Smirnov trying to control the action but Kickels is working from the bottom.
Smirnov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kickels can do to turn this around?

Smirnov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kickels has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Smirnov but great work by Kickels.
Kickels is looking to take a break and control but Smirnov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Smirnov wants to control but Kickels postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Dusan Smirnov will probably get the nod.
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. 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.

Smirnov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Smirnov showed some decent athleticism there.
Smirnov is trying to control the action in half guard but Kickels is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kickels moves into full guard.
Kickels controlling Smirnov's posture.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kickels wants to sweep but no luck.
Kickels is trying to keep Smirnov in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kickels is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Smirnov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Smirnov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kickels works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

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

Smirnov looking to score a takedown here. Kickels is defending well but Smirnov drives through and ends up in Kickels's guard.
Smirnov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kickels bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Smirnov's guard.

Smirnov keeping full guard, as Kickels tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov wants to sweep but no luck.
Smirnov trying to control the position here.
Kickels controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Smirnov wants to stand up but Kickels is controlling him.
Smirnov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Smirnov holds on and takes a little breather.
Kickels throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov pulls Kickels in close to prevent any damage.
Smirnov trying to control the position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kickels tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Smirnov misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kickels lands a right hook to the body.

Smirnov closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Kickels did well to prevent Smirnov getting side control.
Smirnov is thwarting Kickels's attempts to control the position.
Smirnov controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Smirnov is looking for a kimura but Kickels is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Smirnov to get the leverage.

Smirnov maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Kickels could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Smirnov has cracked it and Kickels is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Smirnov!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Dusan Smirnov!
Dusan Smirnov seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.