PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zhenis Kaliev (ranked 4138 p4p, 4102 weight class) and Bramm Rubin (ranked 403 p4p, 400 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kaliev
vs
Rubin

186 cm
25
160
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
160
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zhenis Kaliev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Bramm Rubin!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kaliev feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kaliev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rubin keeping moving, preventing Kaliev from controlling successfully.
Kaliev 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.
Rubin tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Rubin looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kaliev passes into half guard.
Kaliev is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kaliev looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaliev prevents Rubin from standing back up.
Kaliev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rubin defending well though.
Rubin preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Kaliev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Rubin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kaliev.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaliev prevents Rubin from improving his position.
Kaliev working over Rubin with some ground and pound. Rubin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Rubin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rubin is staying active underneath Kaliev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Kaliev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rubin is just riding it out for now. Kaliev eventually gives up the hold.
Rubin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kaliev is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kaliev is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rubin sees it coming and defends easily.
Kaliev really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kaliev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rubin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kaliev trying to pass the guard but Rubin defending well.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kaliev connects with a nice short shot to Rubin's temple.
Kaliev perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kaliev lands strikes from half guard.
Rubin trying to control here.
Kaliev landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice strikes from Kaliev there.

Kaliev is working for a kimura but Rubin is defending it quite comfortably.
Rubin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kaliev.
Kaliev drops an elbow to the side of Rubin's head.
Kaliev scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

Rubin looking for submissions off his back.
Rubin looks winded!
Kaliev slips a nice elbow through Rubin's hands, connecting with Rubin's forehead.
Kaliev lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaliev lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kaliev seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kaliev drops an elbow to the side of Rubin's head.
Kaliev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Rubin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Rubin wants to get back to his feet.
Kaliev lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kaliev trying to control from half guard but Rubin is working away.
Kaliev scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rubin has hold of Kaliev's hands but Kaliev slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rubin trying to control but Kaliev postures up.
Kaliev wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rubin keeps working.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zhenis Kaliev dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kaliev fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Rubin to the ground. Kaliev is now in Rubin's guard.
Rubin controls Kaliev momentarily but Kaliev frees himself.
Kaliev landing with the ground and pound.
Kaliev works over Rubin with some ground and pound from guard.
Kaliev controlling from the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rubin trying to keep a closed guard but Kaliev is proving a slippery customer.
Kaliev working some strikes from top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaliev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kaliev's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Rubin trying to control the position.
Rubin is breathing heavily.
Rubin might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kaliev haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Kaliev stands up over Rubin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rubin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Kaliev postures up and lands a big shot to Rubin's brow.
Kaliev lands a couple of digs.
Kaliev working some strikes from top position.
Kaliev lands a couple of digs.
Kaliev is in close to Rubin's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Rubin is rocked!
Kaliev prevents Rubin from getting back to his feet.
Kaliev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Rubin's head.
Rubin is still in real trouble! Can Kaliev finish him?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaliev scoring with punches to the head and body.
Rubin can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kaliev controls the pace.
Kaliev stands up over Rubin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kaliev lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kaliev lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kaliev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kaliev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kaliev stands up over Rubin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kaliev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Rubin has momentary wrist control but Kaliev slips an elbow through the middle.
Kaliev lands a couple of elbows.
Kaliev distracts Rubin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rubin keeping moving, preventing Kaliev from controlling successfully.
Kaliev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kaliev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kaliev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rubin can do to turn this around?
Kaliev chips away with some ground and pound.

Kaliev 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.
Kaliev scoring with some ground and pound.
Kaliev engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Rubin seems to have recovered his senses.
Kaliev working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Rubin's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaliev landing with the ground and pound.
Kaliev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kaliev wants to pass the guard but Rubin is keeping the position.
Kaliev with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kaliev scoring with some ground and pound.
Rubin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kaliev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Rubin looking to control.
Kaliev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kaliev postures up and lands a big shot to Rubin's brow.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Zhenis Kaliev dominated that second round.
That's time! Kaliev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kaliev closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Rubin did well to prevent Kaliev getting side control.
Rubin tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Kaliev has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The referee warns Rubin that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Kaliev putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Kaliev postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Rubin looks a forlorn figure.
Rubin is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kaliev lands a big elbow.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rubin is trying desperately to improve position.
Rubin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Oooooh, big shot lands for Kaliev! Rubin is hurt baaadly! Kaliev is firing away with more strikes - Rubin is covering up... the ref is warning him to do something. He's just covering up though still and the ref has to step in to end the fight! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Zhenis Kaliev!
Zhenis Kaliev decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.