PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Dimitri Kasavanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Natalie Renee (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kasavanov
vs
Renee

170 cm
27
168 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

178 cm
19
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very confident

Outkast Clothing Line
Brute

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 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dimitri Kasavanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Natalie Renee!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Kasavanov misses.
Kasavanov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
A swing and a miss from Kasavanov.
Renee darts in trying to clinch
and Kasavanov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kasavanov steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Renee.
Renee lands a head shot.
Kasavanov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kasavanov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Renee to the mat! Renee manages to get full guard.

Renee is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
A right handed body shot lands from Renee.
Renee doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Renee misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kasavanov.
Renee lands a left hand.
Renee lands with a short head shot on the inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kasavanov.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kasavanov working hard to break the clinch.
A short right from Renee.
Renee fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Renee misses with a punch to the body.
Kasavanov tries to circle away but Renee has him pinned against the cage.
A short uppercut from Renee.
Renee lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Renee lands a hook to the side of the head.
Renee misses with a short punch on the inside.
Kasavanov can't break the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Renee.

Kasavanov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kasavanov slips under a jab.
A punch lands to the side of Kasavanov 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Renee tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kasavanov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Renee fails in his attempt to clinch.
Renee fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Renee is looking to clinch.
Renee wants to clinch up but Kasavanov keeps it at a distance.
Renee uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kasavanov.
Renee uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kasavanov.
Renee tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kasavanov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Nice uppercut there from Renee.
Renee is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nice straight punches there by Renee. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Renee.
Renee tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kasavanov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Renee wants to clinch.
Renee with a nice cross.
Kasavanov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Renee throws out the jab.
Natalie Renee is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kasavanov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Renee sees it coming and avoids it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasavanov dodges the punch combination from Renee.
Renee tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kasavanov paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Renee tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Renee takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Renee ducks under a wild hook from Kasavanov.
Kasavanov throws a hook to the side of Renee's head but Renee sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A telegraphed right hand from Kasavanov misses the target.
Kasavanov swats away the attempt to clinch by Renee.

Renee has closed the distance and engaged Kasavanov in a clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Renee.
Renee presses Kasavanov against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Renee lands with a light punch inside.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kasavanov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Renee lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kasavanov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Renee tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Renee scores with a shot to the side of Kasavanov's head.
Kasavanov blocking some punches.
Kasavanov blocks an uppercut.

Kasavanov decides to pull guard.

Kasavanov is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Renee stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kasavanov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kasavanov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Renee engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Renee trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Renee pushes down on Kasavanov's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Natalie Renee dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kasavanov missing with a left hand there. Renee was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Renee tries to clinch but Kasavanov moves out of range.
Renee tries to clinch up but Kasavanov circles away and keeps his distance.
Renee misses with a wild combination.
Kasavanov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Renee.
Renee is looking to clinch.
Renee lands a jab to the head.
Renee lands with a hook. Kasavanov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Renee lands the left hand.
Renee tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Kasavanov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Renee manages to get to full guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Renee wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Renee trying to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kasavanov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Renee is letting Kasavanov control him for a moment.

Kasavanov thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Renee is trying to buck Kasavanov off.
Renee prevents Kasavanov from improving position.
Renee is looking for a sweep.
Renee is trying to control Kasavanov's posture but Kasavanov avoids it.

Kasavanov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Renee has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Renee's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Renee is trying to improve his position.
Renee struggling a bit here.
Renee parries the strikes from Kasavanov easily there. Kasavanov is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Renee to escape.

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

Kasavanov tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kasavanov has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kasavanov lands a few punches from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Renee tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Kasavanov tries for a kimura but Renee is defending well.
Sloppy strikes there by Kasavanov.
Renee manages to get back to half guard.
Renee 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 Renee can do anything to dispel that myth.

Kasavanov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Renee is just riding it out for now. Kasavanov eventually gives up the hold.
Kasavanov throwing shots but Renee is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Renee is looking to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kasavanov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Renee doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kasavanov.
Kasavanov prevents Renee from improving his position.

Kasavanov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Renee is just riding it out for now. Kasavanov eventually gives up the hold.
Renee is trying to stand up here but Kasavanov is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dimitri Kasavanov dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kasavanov throws a jab when Renee was well out of range.
Kasavanov is really struggling to find his range with his punches. Renee's reach advantage is clearly causing him problems.
Renee will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kasavanov throws a hook to the side of Renee's head but Renee sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Renee tries to clinch up.
Renee tries to close the distance and clinch but Kasavanov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kasavanov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kasavanov drops his hands momentarily and Renee takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kasavanov staying out of range there.
Renee tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kasavanov manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kasavanov throws a jab when Renee was well out of range.
Renee scores with a jab to the head.
Renee darts in trying to clinch
and Renee takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kasavanov cracks Renee with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Renee scores with a jab to the head.
Kasavanov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Renee tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kasavanov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kasavanov is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Renee tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kasavanov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A lazy left from Renee finds it's target.
Renee tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kasavanov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Renee tries to clinch up.
Donk. Renee catches Kasavanov right on the button with a cross.

Kasavanov dives in and scores a takedown into Renee's guard.
Kasavanov postures up in Renee's guard and throws a big left but Renee blocks it.
Renee working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kasavanov.
Dimitri Kasavanov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kasavanov landing some decent shots from guard.
Renee controls Kasavanov momentarily but Kasavanov frees himself.
Kasavanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Renee is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Renee avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Renee uses the cage to get back to his feet.
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!
Renee tries to clinch up.
Renee moves in looking to clinch but Kasavanov pushes him off.
Renee stuffs the takedown.
Renee swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kasavanov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Renee tries to clinch there but Kasavanov circles away.

Kasavanov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Renee napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kasavanov prevents Renee from escaping the position.

Kasavanov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Renee is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kasavanov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Renee's head.
Kasavanov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Renee wants to get back to full guard.

Kasavanov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Renee doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kasavanov.

Kasavanov is looking for a kimura here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kasavanov connects with a nice short shot to Renee's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Renee is looking for a sweep. Kasavanov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Renee trying to control here.

Kasavanov is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Renee has managed to free his arm - good work.
Renee has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kasavanov is working away from the top position though.
Kasavanov winds up and cracks Renee with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Renee regains full guard. Nicely done.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Renee trying to keep a closed guard but Kasavanov is proving a slippery customer.

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

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 Dimitri Kasavanov.
I think Kasavanov has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dimitri Kasavanov!
Dimitri Kasavanov managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Outkast Clothing Line, into his post fight interview.