PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Phoenix Salaas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vetaliy Kleva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Phoenix Salaas has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Salaas
vs
Kleva

189 cm
25
202 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
22
188 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Knockout power

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, Phoenix Salaas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vetaliy Kleva!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Salaas gets a double leg takedown into Kleva's guard.
Salaas is in close to Kleva's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Salaas throws a big right hand that misses.
Salaas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Kleva kicks Salaas off and gets to his feet.
Salaas with a poor takedown

and Kleva decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Salaas's guard.
Kleva throwing strikes but missing.
Kleva trying to control the position from guard on top but Salaas is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salaas controls Kleva momentarily but Kleva frees himself.
Kleva lands a couple of elbows.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kleva gets to his feet. Salaas looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Salaas fails with the takedown

and Kleva decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Salaas's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kleva trying to control but Salaas is working from the bottom.

Kleva decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Kleva shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Kleva throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Salaas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Salaas is breathing heavily.
Kleva with a flurry of punches that miss.

Kleva drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kleva jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Salaas is working an open guard so Kleva takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Kleva tries to sprawl but Salaas drives through with a takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kleva avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Salaas.
Salaas sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kleva defending well though.
Kleva blocking the ground and pound attempt from Salaas.

Salaas is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kleva has managed to free his arm - good work.
Salaas is stalling here. Kleva is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Salaas seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Kleva has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Salaas's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Salaas pushes Kleva away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Kleva gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salaas parries the strikes from Kleva easily there. Kleva is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Salaas to escape.
Kleva working the head and body with strikes.

Kleva decides to stand back up.

Salaas looking to score a takedown here. Kleva is defending well but Salaas drives through and ends up in Kleva's guard.
Salaas postures up in Kleva's guard and throws a big left but Kleva blocks it.
Kleva has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kleva working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Salaas.
Salaas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kleva is keeping the position for now.
Salaas wants to control from the top but Kleva keeps moving.
Salaas is really struggling to control Kleva but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Salaas has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kleva keeping full guard, as Salaas tries to pass.
Salaas working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salaas stops Kleva from standing up.
Kleva keeping full guard, as Salaas tries to pass.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Salaas stands up over Kleva, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Salaas fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kleva sprawls well initially but Salaas persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kleva can do anything to dispel that myth.
Salaas wants to take a breather but Kleva is having none of it.
Salaas looks to land a strike but Kleva avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Salaas accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Salaas looking to sit in guard and control but Kleva gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Salaas seems keen to control Kleva's posture.
Kleva throwing strikes from guard but Salaas blocks nicely.
Salaas working a defensive guard here.
Kleva is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kleva wants to control from the top but Salaas keeps moving.

Kleva drops back looking for a leg! Salaas is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Salaas manages to kick Kleva off! Kleva jumps back into Salaas's guard.
Salaas keeping moving, preventing Kleva from controlling successfully.
Salaas 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kleva wants to control from the top but Salaas keeps moving.
Kleva postures up.

We're going to have a standup here because Phoenix Salaas wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Salaas shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kleva decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Salaas's guard.
Kleva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Vetaliy Kleva has got the better of the ground game so far.
Salaas working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kleva.
Kleva stops Salaas from standing up.

Kleva gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Salaas tries for a takedown but Kleva circles away easily

and Kleva counters by moving into the clinch.
Kleva looking to throw knees to the head but Salaas is blocking nicely.
Salaas tries to circle away but Kleva has him pinned against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salaas wants to break the clinch but can't.
Kleva letting Salaas take a breather here.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kleva just misses with a elbow thrown towards Salaas's brow.

Kleva breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Salaas has his takedown stuffed

and Kleva counters with a single leg into guard. Salaas didn't expect that.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phoenix Salaas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kleva thows a big elbow that misses.

Kleva stands and steps away. Salaas gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kleva fails in his attempt to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Kleva as Salaas shoots in.
Kleva is looking to clinch but Salaas is avoiding it.
Salaas shoots in looking for a takedown but Kleva manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Salaas's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

Kleva changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Salaas looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Salaas is pushing Kleva's head away, looking to escape. Kleva manages to hold on to the position though.
Kleva throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kleva misses with the ground and pound.
Salaas is trying to get back to his feet.

Kleva decides to stand back up.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kleva feints and as Salaas raises his hands in defense, Kleva changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Salaas knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kleva on the ground.

Kleva thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kleva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kleva pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Salaas is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kleva scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kleva has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Salaas is proving hard to escape from.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vetaliy Kleva showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Salaas drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Salaas tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kleva's legs.
Salaas is trying to move to mount but Kleva reverses beautifully and ends up in Salaas's guard.
Kleva throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Salaas works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Kleva stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Kleva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Salaas with a poor takedown
and Kleva counters with a nice kick to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Salaas gets a takedown into half guard.
Salaas is just content to waste time from the top position. Kleva takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Salaas trying to control the position from guard on top but Kleva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Salaas trying to move into half guard but instead Kleva has managed to sweep!
Kleva with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kleva accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kleva trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Salaas has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

Kleva decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Salaas, up you get!
Salaas stuffs the takedown.
Kleva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Salaas.

Kleva has taken the fight to the clinch.
Salaas can't break the clinch.
Kleva misses with a knee to the head.
Salaas wants to get back to striking at distance but Kleva won't allow it.
Salaas wants to get back to striking at distance but Kleva won't allow it.
Salaas wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kleva with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kleva keeps control of Salaas as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salaas tries to break free but Kleva pushes him back against the cage.
Salaas is trying to push Kleva away but Kleva has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Kleva breaks the clinch.
Salaas gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kleva counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Phoenix Salaas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kleva looks to land a strike but Salaas avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Salaas wants to stand but Kleva is controlling the position.
Kleva trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Salaas avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kleva thows a big elbow that misses.
Salaas manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kleva manages to get himself to full guard.
Salaas trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salaas trying to move into half guard but instead Kleva has managed to sweep!
Salaas is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kleva is controlling him.
Kleva working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Kleva stands up and waves to Salaas to follow him.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!

Salaas gets a takedown into half guard.
Salaas is looking to take a break and control but Kleva is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Vetaliy Kleva.
Well Kleva has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vetaliy Kleva!