PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kazuma Kiryu (ranked 724 p4p, 949 weight class) and Yevgeny Ignatov (ranked 108 p4p, 138 weight class). Kazuma Kiryu had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Kiryu
vs
Ignatov

184 cm
27
194
6 - 4 - 0

189 cm
28
194
13 - 8 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Heavy handed

Conviction

Akuma Wear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Kazuma Kiryu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Yevgeny Ignatov!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Donald Grub and Steven Brown.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kiryu takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
Ignatov ducks under a wild hook from Kiryu.
Kiryu rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Ignatov counters with a nice leg kick.
Ignatov ducks under a wild hook from Kiryu.
Kiryu throws the kick towards the body but Ignatov avoids it.
Ignatov loads up on a big right hand but Kiryu slips the punch.
Kiryu tries to land a body kick
and Ignatov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kiryu throws a front kick aimed at Ignatov's knee but Ignatov avoids it well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ignatov sizes up Kiryu with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Ignatov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
A low kick from Kiryu misses
and Ignatov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
A jab from Kiryu misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ignatov is looking to slow Kiryu down with leg kicks.
Kiryu looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Kiryu takes one to the chin there.
Kiryu scores with a push kick.
Kiryu throws a body shot but no joy.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ignatov! But no joy.
Kiryu misses with a left hand
and Ignatov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kiryu throws a hook to the side of Ignatov's head but Ignatov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Kiryu waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ignatov.
Ignatov now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Kiryu shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Ignatov now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
A chopping leg kick lands by Ignatov.
Kiryu feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ignatovs jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov staying out of range there.
Ignatov only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Ignatov has tried to improve his agility in the runup to this fight.
Ignatov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ignatov moves out of range of the body kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kiryu ducks under a wild hook from Ignatov.
A telegraphed right hand from Kiryu misses the target.
Kiryu lands a leg kick that knocks Ignatov off balance momentarily.
Good work by Kiryu as he checks the leg kick.
Ignatov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kiryu ducks under a wild hook from Ignatov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov loads up on a big right hand but Kiryu slips the punch.
Kiryu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ignatov moves away.
Kiryu throws a lazy uppercut
and Ignatov counters with a good low kick that Kiryu was not able to check.
Ignatov throws out a loose jab but Kiryu uses good head movement to avoid it.
A low kick from Kiryu misses
and Ignatov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ignatov looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Kiryu throws an off balance right hand
and Ignatov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kiryu pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Ignatov avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Kiryu connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kiryu has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Ignatov chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ignatov throws a lazy right hand but Kiryu sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Ignatov takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ignatov looking to land some kicks to the body here.
A low kick lands for Ignatov.
Kiryu throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Kiryu misses with a jab, cross combination.
Nice defenses there by Ignatov.
Ignatov scoring well with a low kick there.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ignatov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Kiryu is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Kiryu misses with a left hand
and Ignatov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Jab by Ignatov.
Ignatov scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kiryu ducks right into an uppercut from Ignatov.
Ignatov slips a jab from Kiryu.
Ignatov only half commits to the counter leg kick.
Kiryu throws a leg kick
enabling Ignatov to counter with a crisp jab.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kiryu punishes Ignatov's body with a nice straight punch.
Kiryu slips under a jab from Ignatov.
A quick step to the side and Kiryu tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kiryu scores with a nice right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiryu throws a poor cross that misses
and Ignatov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Kiryu misses with a low kick.
Kiryu misses with a kick to the body.
It seemed like Ignatov was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Ignatov has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ignatov there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ignatov turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kiryu throws an off balance right hand
and Ignatov counters with a stiff right hand.
Kiryu tries to score with a low kick but Ignatov moves his leg out of the way.
Kiryu misses with a wild body shot.
Kiryu throws a right and a left that both miss.
A slow jab from Kiryu misses its intended target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu throws a hook to the side of Ignatov's head but Ignatov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ignatov connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kiryu's hands.
Kiryu uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ignatov.
Kiryu walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kiryu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ignatov.
Kiryu takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kiryu defending well as Ignatov loads up on a big left hand.
Kiryu half committed to a counter leg kick.
Yevgeny Ignatov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kiryu throws a right hand that misses
and Ignatov counters with an inside leg kick.
Kiryu slips under a jab from Ignatov.
Kiryu throws a big counter combination but Ignatov scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu throws a body shot but no joy.
Kiryu takes a swing at Ignatov's ribcage but misses.
Ignatov lands an overhand right.
Ignatov connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kiryu's hands.
Kiryu throws a predictable looking body shot
and Ignatov connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ignatov lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ignatov scores with a kick to the midsection.
Nice defenses there by Ignatov.
A little jabbing left from Ignatov on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kiryu throws out a leg kick but Ignatov moves out of range and Kiryu only half commits.
Kiryu paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kiryu bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
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!
Kiryu throws a lazy right hand but Ignatov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kiryu backing away here, and Ignatov unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Ignatov misses with a wild body shot.
Ignatov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Kiryu throws a leg kick but Ignatov moved away.
Kiryu with the inside leg kick.
A shot to the body from Kiryu misses
and Ignatov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kiryu misses with a right hand
and Ignatov counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Yevgeny Ignatov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ignatov scores with a jab to the body.
Some bone on bone action there as Ignatov checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ignatov.
Kiryu moves away from the strike by Ignatov.
Kiryu thows a leg kick but Ignatov checks it
and Kiryu takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kiryu looks to score with a jab to the body but Ignatov is just out of range.
Kiryu throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ignatov scores with a body shot.
Kiryu throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kiryu throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ignatov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiryu throws a lazy head kick
and Ignatov finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for Ignatov.
Kiryu misses with a hook.
Kiryu looks to score with a jab to the body but Ignatov is just out of range.
Ignatov lands with an uppercut that bounces Kiryu off the cage and back into range.
Ignatov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Kiryu throws a leg kick
and Ignatov counters with a nice leg kick.
Kiryu ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ignatov moves away.
Ignatov scores with the left hand. Kiryu knows he should have avoided that one.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
Ignatov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kiryu at a distance.
Ignatov throws a right hand that misses
and Kiryu counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kiryu moves out of range as Ignatov strikes.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kiryu throws a jab when Ignatov was well out of range.
Yevgeny Ignatov is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ignatov with the inside leg kick.
Kiryu misses the jab.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Kiryu.
Ignatov scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kiryu connects with a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiryu closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kiryu takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Ignatov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ignatov catches Kiryu with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kiryu lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A low kick from Kiryu misses
and Ignatov counters with a nice uppercut.
Ignatov throws a lazy body kick
and Kiryu counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Ignatov thinking.
Kiryu ducks under a wild hook from Ignatov.
Ignatov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kiryu.
Ignatov swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Ignatov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ignatov cracks Kiryu with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Kiryu tries to land a front kick but Ignatov steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Kiryu ducks under a wild hook from Ignatov.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kiryu throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Ignatov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ignatov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ignatov misses with a looping left.
Kiryu throwing a counter right hand but Ignatov manages to avoid it.
Kiryu misses with a series of wild punches.
Kazuma Kiryu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kiryu on the wrong end of a nice hook.

And that's the end of the fight!
Yevgeny Ignatov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ignatov has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 27:30

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