PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kekush Vladislav (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Knokimoff (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Vladislav
vs
Knokimoff

180 cm
21
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
18
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight 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, Kekush Vladislav!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Knokimoff!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Konstantin Menshow and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vladislav with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Knokimoff looks gassed!
Vladislav throws a leg kick but Knokimoff sees it coming and moves out of range.
Vladislav throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
An inside leg kick lands from Vladislav.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A bone on bone clash there as Knokimoff blocks the leg kick.
Vladislav lands a nice leg kick that just misses Knokimoff's sensitive parts.
Kekush Vladislav seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vladislav fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vladislav pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Knokimoff takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Knokimoff takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Vladislav fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vladislav throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.

Vladislav drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Vladislav working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Knokimoff's head.
Vladislav scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Vladislav landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vladislav working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vladislav pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Knokimoff is keeping the position for now.

Vladislav stands up from Knokimoff's guard - Vladislav perhaps looking for a knockout.
Vladislav throws a nice outside leg kick.
A leg kick checked by Knokimoff.

Vladislav gets the takedown into side control.
Vladislav working the body and head with strikes.
Knokimoff is looking for a sweep.
Knokimoff is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Vladislav off and has taken his back!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knokimoff is trying to stick to Vladislav's back but Vladislav is turning into Knokimoff. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Knokimoff's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Vladislav.
Vladislav with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vladislav scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Knokimoff is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Vladislav distracts Knokimoff with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Vladislav pushes down on Knokimoff's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Knokimoff on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Knokimoff is looking to escape.
Vladislav seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Vladislav thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knokimoff moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Knokimoff is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Knokimoff manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Good work by Knokimoff as he checks the leg kick.
Vladislav swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Knokimoff counters with a nice uppercut.

Knokimoff scores a takedown into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knokimoff breaks from Vladislav's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Vladislav throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Knokimoff working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Knokimoff wants to finish this one by submission but Vladislav is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Knokimoff.
Vladislav wants to hold on but Knokimoff pushes him away.
Vladislav's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Knokimoff has hold of Vladislav's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Vladislav manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Vladislav really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kekush Vladislav dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Vladislav tries to clinch but Knokimoff moves out of range.
Kekush Vladislav is winning the standup battle so far.
Knokimoff is looking to clinch.
Kekush Vladislav is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vladislav lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Vladislav looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Vladislav is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Vladislav misses with a combination

and Knokimoff counters with a single leg into guard. Vladislav didn't expect that.

Vladislav looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Vladislav is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vladislav is looking to sweep but instead, Knokimoff has passed into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Vladislav tries to get to full guard but Knokimoff has control of the leg.
Vladislav 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knokimoff is taking a breather. Vladislav 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.
Vladislav looks like he's trying to stand up.

Knokimoff is working for a kimura but Vladislav is defending it quite comfortably.
Vladislav has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Knokimoff is working away from the top position though.

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.

Knokimoff is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Vladislav has managed to free his arm - good work.
Vladislav regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vladislav is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vladislav keeping moving, preventing Knokimoff from controlling successfully.
Knokimoff seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Knokimoff wants to pass the guard but Vladislav is keeping the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vladislav throws a couple of heel strikes.
Vladislav looking to hit a scissor sweep but Knokimoff is one step ahead there.
Knokimoff wants to control from the top but Vladislav keeps moving.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Vladislav looking for a sweep. Not yet Vladislav, not yet.
Vladislav is working hard here to advance position.
Knokimoff really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vladislav. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Igor Knokimoff wasn't active enough on the ground.

Knokimoff shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Knokimoff must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vladislav looking for a guillotine here but Knokimoff defends easily.
Vladislav looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Knokimoff drops back looking for a leg! Vladislav is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Vladislav manages to kick Knokimoff off! Knokimoff jumps back into Vladislav's guard.
Knokimoff postures up in Vladislav's guard and throws a big left but Vladislav blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Knokimoff showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Vladislav's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Knokimoff keeps the fight on the outside.

Knokimoff shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Knokimoff showed some decent athleticism there.
Vladislav manages to get to full guard.

Vladislav is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Knokimoff wants to control from the top but Vladislav keeps moving.
Vladislav manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Knokimoff working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vladislav with good strikes from the mount here!
Knokimoff throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.
Vladislav fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Vladislav working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Vladislav lands a big shot there that rocks Knokimoff but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Vladislav is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Knokimoff can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
A nice elbow there by Vladislav.
Knokimoff wants to control but Vladislav is having none of it.
Vladislav lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vladislav landing strikes from the mount.
Knokimoff wants to get back to his feet.
Vladislav working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Knokimoff wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Knokimoff sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Knokimoff is looking to control Vladislav's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Knokimoff avoid being mounted?
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Vladislav lands a nice short elbow.
Knokimoff tries to get to full guard but Vladislav has control of the leg.
Vladislav scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knokimoff on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Knokimoff looking for submissions off his back.
Knokimoff wants to control but Vladislav is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Knokimoff regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vladislav passes into half guard.
Kekush Vladislav overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vladislav scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Vladislav throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Vladislav is looking for a kimura here.
Vladislav wants to control but Knokimoff is keeping him busy.

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.
Vladislav throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Knokimoff makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Knokimoff.
Vladislav is looking to work some ground and pound but Knokimoff has wrist control.
Vladislav working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Vladislav tries to free his leg and advance position but Knokimoff is retaining full guard.

Knokimoff is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Vladislav is aware though and is defending well.
Vladislav pushing down on Knokimoff's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Vladislav is trying to control the action in half guard but Knokimoff is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kekush Vladislav showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vladislav has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 29:28
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kekush Vladislav!