PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Igor Knokimoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vladimir Splov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Knokimoff
vs
Splov

183 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
25
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Knokimoff!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Splov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Sergei Dronov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Splov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Knokimoff counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Knokimoff swings for the body but Splov moves out of range.

Knokimoff closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Splov quickly recovers to half guard.
Knokimoff stops Splov from getting back to his feet.
Knokimoff takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Splov is looking to escape.
Knokimoff trying to mount his opponent but Splov defends it.

Knokimoff looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Splov is looking for a sweep. Knokimoff is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Splov is trying to stand back up but Knokimoff is controlling him
Splov is trying to control but Knokimoff passes into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Splov is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Knokimoff is controlling him well.
Knokimoff is looking to take a break and control but Splov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Splov is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Knokimoff has just dragged him back down to the mat.

Knokimoff tries for a kimura but Splov is defending well.
Knokimoff wants to lay and pray for a moment but Splov keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Splov tries to improve position but can't.

Knokimoff working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Splov pushes Knokimoff away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Knokimoff gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Splov is trying to improve his position.

Knokimoff is trying to get an arm triangle but Splov is defending well.
Splov looks gassed!
Splov tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knokimoff with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Splov wants to get back to his feet.
Splov is wriggling around trying to escape.
Knokimoff tries to control but Splov wriggling away.
Splov tries to lock up and control but Knokimoff gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four 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.
Splov is squirming around, avoiding Knokimoff's attempts to control the action.
Splov is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
Knokimoff wants to control the pace but Splov is squirming around nicely.

Knokimoff is working for a guillotine from mount but Splov frees his head quite easily.
Knokimoff lands a big shot there that rocks Splov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Splov is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Knokimoff lands a big shot there that rocks Splov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Knokimoff dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Knokimoff tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Splov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Knokimoff throws a head kick but Splov moves out of range.
Splov throws a combination that misses
and Knokimoff counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Knokimoff takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Splov misses with a lunging right hand
and Knokimoff counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Splov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Splov swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Splov uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Knokimoff has time to react.
Splov swings widly with a right hand
and Knokimoff counters with an inside leg kick.
Splov swings widly with a right hand
and Knokimoff counters with a big head kick but Splov shrugs it off.
Knokimoff tries to clinch but Splov moves out of range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Splov throws a right hand that misses

and Knokimoff counters with a nice double leg into side control. Splov won't be happy with that.
Knokimoff working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Knokimoff in side control, just content to control the action for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Splov is looking to regain half guard here but Knokimoff keeps moving and retains side control.
Knokimoff trying to control the action but Splov is working from the bottom.
Splov tries to escape but Knokimoff is in control.

Knokimoff looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Knokimoff tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

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.

Knokimoff thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Knokimoff working the ground and pound.
Splov is not content to let Knokimoff control the position.
Splov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Knokimoff. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Splov wants to get back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Splov can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Knokimoff decides to stand up, so the ref orders Splov to his feet.
Splov stuffs the takedown.
Knokimoff misses with a low kick.
Splov swings widly with a right hand

and Knokimoff counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Knokimoff with a flurry of punches that miss.
Knokimoff forces his way into half guard.
Knokimoff is taking a breather. Splov says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knokimoff prevents Splov from improving his position.
Splov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Knokimoff scores with a couple of nice shots.
Knokimoff with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Splov trying to control here.
Splov scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Knokimoff manages to mount him!
Knokimoff postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Splov looks a forlorn figure.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Knokimoff dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Knokimoff looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Splov is fending him off so far but Knokimoff persists. Nope, Splov circles away and we're back to standing.
Knokimoff with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Splov to score with a decent uppercut.
Knokimoff shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Splov pinned against the cage. Splov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Splov lands with an uppercut that bounces Knokimoff off the cage and back into rage.
Knokimoff shoots in but Splov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Igor Knokimoff. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Splov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knokimoff is looking to land body kicks.
Splov throws a good cross that connects.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knokimoff shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Splov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Splov fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Vladimir Splov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Splov misses with a body shot.
Knokimoff on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Knokimoff misses with a hook
and Splov counters with a right hand to the body.
Splov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Splov rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Knokimoff counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Knokimoff.
Knokimoff has Splov pressed against the cage, preventing Splov from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Splov is trying to break the clinch but Knokimoff has him pressed against the cage.
Splov tries to stall but Knokimoff uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

Knokimoff jumps guard and drags Splov to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Knokimoff throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Knokimoff kicks Splov off and gets to his feet.
Vladimir Splov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Splov misses with a right hand
letting Knokimoff counter with a right hand.
Vladimir Splov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Splov jabs at Knokimoff's body.
Splov misses with a combination
and Knokimoff counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Splov is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A looping hook to the body misses from Splov. Knokimoff does a little dance to reset his feet.
Knokimoff will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Splov misses with a lunging right hand
and Knokimoff counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Splov scores with a three punch combo!
Splov connects with a jab.
Knokimoff closes the distance and clinches up with Splov, looking for a takedown. Knokimoff pushes Splov against the cage but Splov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Nice takedown defense from Splov. No joy for Knokimoff on that attempt.
Splov misses with a double jab.
Splov throws a right hand that misses

and Knokimoff counters with a nice double leg into side control. Splov won't be happy with that.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Splov pushes Knokimoff away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Knokimoff gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Knokimoff moves into full mount!
Knokimoff tries to control but Splov wriggling away.

Knokimoff stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
A punch combination from Splov misses.
Splov falls off balance throwing a combination
and Knokimoff counters with a leg kick.
Splov throws a combination that misses
and Knokimoff counters with a slapping leg kick.
Splov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Splov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Knokimoff buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Knokimoff tries to clinch but Splov is having none of it.
Knokimoff looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Splov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Splov wants it to stay on the feet.
Splov throws a right hand that Knokimoff ducks under and follows up with a left that Knokimoff also avoids with ease.
Splov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Knokimoff makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Splov throws a combination that misses

and Knokimoff counters with a single leg into guard. Splov didn't expect that.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Knokimoff pushes down on Splov's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Knokimoff sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Splov defending well though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Igor Knokimoff showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Knokimoff, 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

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