PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Gary Kasparov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilya Porunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kasparov
vs
Porunov

187 cm
23
197 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
18
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight 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, Gary Kasparov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ilya Porunov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Ivan Kurochkin and Igor Prikhodko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Porunov fails to land with a series of punches.

Kasparov shoots in and gets a takedown into Porunov's guard.
Porunov has his hands on Kasparov's head, controlling the position.

Porunov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Porunov is controlling Kasparov's posture.
Porunov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kasparov being controlled here momentarily.
Porunov tries to strike from the bottom.
Porunov wants to get back to his feet but Kasparov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasparov trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Porunov manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Porunov sitting in guard here, content to control.

Kasparov is working an open guard so Porunov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kasparov leaves Porunov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kasparov shoots for a double leg takedown but Porunov sprawls well. He's pushed Kasparov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Porunov is looking to clinch.
Kasparov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Porunov swivels and escapes.
Porunov slips a jab from Kasparov.

Kasparov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Porunov's half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Porunov works his way to full guard. Good work.

Porunov kicks Kasparov off and gets to his feet.
Kasparov misses with a few strikes there.
Kasparov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Porunov looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kasparov is breathing heavily.
Porunov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kasparov is keeping the position for now.
Porunov controls from within his opponent's guard.
Porunov looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Porunov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Porunov trying to control the position from guard on top but Kasparov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ilya Porunov was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Porunov shoots and misses

and Kasparov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kasparov.
Porunov wants to sweep but no luck.
Porunov is trying to keep Kasparov in close.
Porunov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kasparov.
Kasparov trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Porunov manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kasparov is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Porunov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kasparov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Porunov has Kasparov in his guard.
Kasparov trying to control the position from guard on top but Porunov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Porunov looking for a sweep. Not yet Porunov, not yet.
Porunov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
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 Gary Kasparov will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Porunov on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Porunov wants to clinch up but Kasparov keeps it at a distance.
Kasparov closes the distance and clinches up with Porunov, looking for a takedown. Kasparov pushes Porunov against the cage but Porunov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Porunov misses with a low kick.
Porunov doesn't manage to clinch there - Kasparov circles away.
Kasparov throws a series of strikes that have Porunov backpedaling.
Porunov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kasparov manages to avoid it.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kasparov. Porunov does a little dance to reset his feet.
Gary Kasparov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Porunov has managed to clinch.
Kasparov is trying to break the clinch but Porunov is controlling him.
Porunov is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Kasparov gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Kasparov jumps guard.
Porunov slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Porunov is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Porunov tries to control but Kasparov wriggling away.
Porunov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Kasparov avoids a series of strikes thrown by Porunov.
Kasparov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Porunov tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Porunov controlling his opponent.
Porunov looking to ground and pound but Kasparov is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Porunov has control of Kasparov's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Kasparov regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Porunov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Porunov sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Porunov stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Kasparov doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Porunov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Porunov gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Porunov shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kasparov pinned against the cage. Kasparov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Porunov clinches up against the cage.

Porunov pulls guard successfully.
Kasparov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Porunov is on top in guard.
Kasparov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Porunov controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

OK we're going to have a standup here. Ilya Porunov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kasparov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Porunov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kasparov throws out a loose jab but Porunov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Porunov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilya Porunov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Porunov shoots in for a double leg but Kasparov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Porunov closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kasparov trying to hold on to Porunov's head to control him but Porunov postures up.
Porunov content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Kasparov is trying to stand.
Porunov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Porunov prevents Kasparov from improving his position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Porunov is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ilya Porunov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Porunov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kasparov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Porunov somewhat.

Porunov scores a takedown into full mount!

Porunov has control of Kasparov's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Kasparov regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Kasparov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Porunov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Porunov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Porunov avoids the attempt from Kasparov to control.
Porunov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kasparov is looking to escape.
Porunov throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasparov can't escape the position.

Porunov wants to finish this one by submission but Kasparov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Porunov.
Porunov looking to ground and pound but Kasparov is blocking nicely.
Porunov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Porunov punching from mount but Kasparov doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Porunov wants to finish this one by submission but Kasparov is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Porunov.
Porunov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Porunov throws some wild stikes that Kasparov manages to avoid easily.
Porunov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Ilya Porunov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Porunov tries to control but Kasparov wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ilya Porunov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Porunov 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilya Porunov!