PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Suren Kalik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Davidkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Kalik
vs
Davidkin

160 cm
18
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
18
138 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight 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, Suren Kalik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Davidkin!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kalik clinches up with Davidkin and pushes him back against the cage.

Kalik jumps guard and drags Davidkin to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Davidkin stops Kalik from standing up.
Davidkin 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.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Davidkin wants to control from the top but Kalik keeps moving.
Davidkin preventing the sweep.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Igor Davidkin.
Davidkin circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kalik lands a body shot.
Kalik misses with a takedown attempt - Davidkin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Davidkin closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Davidkin content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Davidkin prevents Kalik from escaping the position.
Kalik is being controlled here.
Kalik might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Let's hope that Davidkin has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Igor Davidkin.
Davidkin takes a kick to the side of the head.
Suren Kalik seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalik misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Davidkin has his takedown stuffed

and Kalik counters with a takedown into side control.
Davidkin manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Davidkin trying to control the pace.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davidkin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
I looks like Davidkin might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Igor Davidkin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kalik tries for a takedown but Davidkin circles away easily

and Davidkin counters with a single leg into guard. Kalik didn't expect that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kalik being controlled here, momentarily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Davidkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Kalik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Davidkin might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kalik kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Igor Davidkin wasn't active enough on the ground.
Kalik misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kalik could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Davidkin doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kalik counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Davidkin!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Suren Kalik will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Davidkin closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Davidkin lands in his opponent's guard.
Davidkin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Davidkin postures up.
Davidkin is stalling in the full guard.
Kalik keeping moving, preventing Davidkin from controlling successfully.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Davidkin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Igor Davidkin wasn't active enough on the ground.
Kalik tries to clinch

and Davidkin counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalik wants to control but Davidkin postures up.
Kalik is looking to regain half guard here but Davidkin keeps moving and retains side control.
Davidkin wants to control but Kalik is keeping him busy.
Davidkin content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Kalik is trying to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kalik trying his best to control but Davidkin has mounted him.
Davidkin controlling from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Igor Davidkin wasn't active enough on the ground.
Kalik tries for a takedown but Davidkin circles away easily

and Davidkin counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Davidkin.
Davidkin controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Igor Davidkin.
Kalik shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Davidkin counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kalik won't be happy with that.
Kalik is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Davidkin content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Kalik is looking for a sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Davidkin showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're 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.

Kalik shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Davidkin decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kalik's guard.
Davidkin is stalling in the full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Igor Davidkin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kalik throws a right and a left that both miss.

Davidkin shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kalik manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Davidkin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Davidkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Kalik is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Davidkin is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Igor Davidkin hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Kalik shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Davidkin is trying to defend but Kalik finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Davidkin manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Davidkin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Davidkin pulls Kalik in to control the position.
Davidkin looking to control.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kalik wants to pass the guard but Davidkin is keeping the position.
Davidkin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Igor Davidkin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kalik looks to land a right hand but Davidkin moved out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Davidkin gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kalik counters with a single leg into guard. Davidkin didn't expect that.
Davidkin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Davidkin seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Davidkin keeping full guard, as Kalik tries to pass.
Kalik preventing the sweep.
Davidkin pulls Kalik in close to prevent any damage.
Kalik has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Kalik looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Davidkin!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Igor Davidkin.
I think Davidkin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Igor Davidkin!