PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Ivanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mile Kekin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kekin has chosen Love and Drinking as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Ivanov
vs
Kekin

185 cm
21
205 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

180 cm
21
205 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Yuri Ivanov!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Mile Kekin!
The judges for this bout are Yasuomi Hirokawa, Shirou Masuda and Yukihiro Shimada.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ivanov digs a good hook to Kekin's body.
Kekin connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kekin will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ivanov works the jab nicely.
Kekin misses with a double jab
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

Ivanov scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kekin regains half guard, as Ivanov was trying to land strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kekin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Ivanov looks to land a strike but Kekin avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Ivanov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kekin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Ivanov is looking to work some ground and pound but Kekin has wrist control.
Ivanov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kekin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ivanov looking to sit in guard and control but Kekin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ivanov wants to sweep here but Kekin controlling him for the moment.
Kekin trying to control but Ivanov is working from the bottom.
Ivanov wants to sweep here but Kekin controlling him for the moment.

That's two 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.
Ivanov trying to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kekin gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ivanov.
Kekin lands with a shot to the body.
Kekin connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ivanov lands a nice shot that snaps Kekin's head back.
Kekin throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kekin misses with a hook. Ivanov ducked under it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov slips a straight right by Kekin.
Ivanov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kekin misses with an uppercut

and Ivanov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kekin's guard now.
Ivanov throws a big right hand that misses.
Ivanov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Ivanov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kekin's head.
Ivanov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Kekin is not content to let Ivanov control the position.
Ivanov throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov content to control rather than advance.
Ivanov with the ground and pound but Kekin uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Kekin controls Ivanov momentarily but Ivanov frees himself.
Ivanov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ivanov postures up.
Kekin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Ivanov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kekin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ivanov lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kekin at a distance.
Ivanov takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ivanov swings for the body but Kekin moves out of range.
Ivanov changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Ivanov is looking to wear down Kekin with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kekin throws a leg kick

and Ivanov counters with a shoot takedown. Kekin fights it but they end up in guard.
Kekin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ivanov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kekin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ivanov lands a couple of elbows.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Kekin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Ivanov throws a big right hand that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kekin is controlling Ivanov's posture.
Ivanov throws and elbow that misses. Kekin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ivanov's guard. Nice move by Kekin!
Ivanov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kekin manages to get himself to full guard.
Ivanov 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.
Ivanov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ivanov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ivanov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov postures up in Kekin's guard and throws a big left but Kekin blocks it.
Ivanov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ivanov throwing strikes from guard but Kekin blocks nicely.
Kekin is looking to stand up but Ivanov isn't so interested in that idea.
Kekin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kekin not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kekin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ivanov.
Yuri Ivanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kekin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ivanov.
Ivanov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ivanov postures up in Kekin's guard and throws a big left but Kekin blocks it.
Ivanov scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Ivanov looking to sit in guard and control but Kekin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ivanov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kekin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Ivanov is on top in guard.
Kekin seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Kekin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kekin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Ivanov's guard.
Kekin postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Ivanov dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kekin throws an overhand right that lands on Ivanov's shoulder, as Ivanov tries to avoid the shot.
Kekin misses with a looping right.
Kekin feints and then cracks Ivanov's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Ivanov down.

Kekin gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kekin controls Ivanov momentarily but Ivanov frees himself.
Ivanov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kekin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ivanov trying to control but Kekin is working from the bottom.
Ivanov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kekin is keeping the position for now.
Ivanov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ivanov tries to free his leg and advance position but Kekin is retaining full guard.
Ivanov wants to control from the top but Kekin keeps moving.
Ivanov throws a big right hand that misses.
Ivanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kekin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ivanov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

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.
Ivanov throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ivanov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ivanov looking to sit in guard and control but Kekin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ivanov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ivanov looking to control.
Ivanov trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Kekin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kekin stopping the sweep attempt from Ivanov.
Kekin trying to control but Ivanov is working from the bottom.
Ivanov throwing strikes off his back to little effect.
Ivanov trying to keep a closed guard but Kekin is proving a slippery customer.
Ivanov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kekin puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

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.
Kekin has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ivanov bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Ivanov works over Kekin with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ivanov wants to control from the top but Kekin keeps moving.
Ivanov is looking to work some ground and pound but Kekin has wrist control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Ivanov clearly takes that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kekin misses with an uppercut

so Ivanov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kekin wants to sweep here but Ivanov controlling him for the moment.
Kekin is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ivanov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ivanov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ivanov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ivanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kekin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ivanov is looking to work some ground and pound but Kekin has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ivanov trying to control but Kekin is working from the bottom.
Ivanov working some strikes from top position.
Ivanov wants to control from the top but Kekin keeps moving.
Kekin avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ivanov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ivanov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's two 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.
Ivanov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kekin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ivanov trying to control but Kekin is working from the bottom.
Kekin looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ivanov is one step ahead there.
Kekin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kekin wants to sweep here but Ivanov controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov distracts Kekin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Ivanov trying to control but Kekin is working from the bottom.
Ivanov won't allow Kekin to sweep him here.
Ivanov is working Kekin over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kekin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Ivanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kekin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov thows a big elbow that misses.
Kekin wants to stand up but Ivanov is controlling him.
Ivanov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ivanov wants to control but Kekin is keeping him busy.
Kekin blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ivanov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Ivanov had his way with Mile Kekin in that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kekin misses the body punch
and Ivanov counters with a right hand to the body.
Ivanov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kekin throws out a powerful jab.

Kekin gets caught flat footed, as Ivanov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Ivanov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ivanov wants to control from the top but Kekin keeps moving.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ivanov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ivanov trying to control but Kekin is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Yuri Ivanov.
Kekin misses with a right hand
and Ivanov counters with a left to the body.
Kekin misses with a left hand

so Ivanov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ivanov throws and elbow that misses. Kekin uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ivanov's guard. Nice move by Kekin!
Ivanov is trying to keep Kekin in close.
Kekin prevents Ivanov from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kekin stopping the sweep attempt from Ivanov.
Kekin trying to control the position from guard on top but Ivanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kekin showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Mile Kekin has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Kekin swings for the body but Ivanov moves out of range.
Ivanov fails with a takedown attempt.
Ivanov just misses with a punch to the body.
Ivanov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Ivanov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kekin staying out of range there.
Kekin fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ivanov on the side of the head.

It looks like Yuri Ivanov has been cut.

Kekin rushes Ivanov and presses him up against the ropes.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kekin.

Ivanov breaks from the clinch.
Kekin tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ivanov was well out of range. Poor timing from Kekin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ivanov thows a body shot but no joy.
Ivanov slips a jab from Kekin.
Ivanov with a hook.
Ivanov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kekin moves away.
Ivanov slips under a jab from Kekin.
Mile Kekin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ivanov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kekin as he jumps to the side.
Kekin's corner calls for a 1-2. Kekin obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Ivanov ducks under a wild hook from Kekin.
Ivanov misses with an uppercut
and Kekin counters with a straight right hand.
Kekin swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Ivanov counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Mile Kekin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kekin keeping control of the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Ivanov lands a nice short elbow.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Yuri Ivanov.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Ivanov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yasuomi Hirokawa scores the fight 50:45
Judge Shirou Masuda scores the fight 50:45
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Yuri Ivanov!
Yuri Ivanov is the new light heavyweight champion!