PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Harvi Kalaso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jannis Arvanitidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kalaso comes to the ring accompanied by Hank Williams SR. . Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Kalaso
vs
Arvanitidis

174 cm
35
159 lbs
30 - 24 - 0

169 cm
25
155 lbs
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

[CBK] LEGAL HIGHS « AJFC↑ TRIPLE 160Q ®

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 30 - 24 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Harvi Kalaso!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jannis Arvanitidis!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch up but Arvanitidis swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Arvanitidis gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Arvanitidis wants to sweep here but Kalaso controlling him for the moment.

Arvanitidis looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kalaso trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kalaso trying to control the position from guard on top but Arvanitidis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Arvanitidis wants to sweep but no luck.
Kalaso wants to control from the top but Arvanitidis keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Harvi Kalaso just wasn't active enough.
Arvanitidis works over Kalaso's head and body with a nice combination.
Arvanitidis moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Arvanitidis, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kalaso tries to clinch but Arvanitidis moves out of range.
Kalaso steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Arvanitidis.
Kalaso throws a sloppy head kick and Arvanitidis moves out of range easily.
Arvanitidis fails with a takedown attempt.
Arvanitidis misses with the combination.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kalaso looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Kalaso shoots in and gets a takedown into Arvanitidis's guard.
Kalaso trying to control but Arvanitidis is working from the bottom.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kalaso with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arvanitidis not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Arvanitidis working for submissions but it's allowed Kalaso to get to half guard.

Arvanitidis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kalaso 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.
Arvanitidis tries to roll over but Kalaso keeps him under control.

Arvanitidis actively working from the bottom here.
Kalaso controlling the action here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Arvanitidis wants to get back to full guard but Kalaso has passed into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arvanitidis manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Arvanitidis is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kalaso sees it coming and defends easily.

Arvanitidis seems to be looking for submissions.

Kalaso is defending against the submission attempts here by Arvanitidis.
Kalaso trying to control from the bottom.
Kalaso slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Arvanitidis must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Arvanitidis wants to control from the top but Kalaso keeps moving.
Arvanitidis is fighting to break Kalaso's control of his arms but Kalaso is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Arvanitidis is controlling him.
Arvanitidis pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kalaso is keeping the position for now.

Kalaso escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Arvanitidis gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kalaso keeping moving, preventing Arvanitidis from controlling successfully.

Kalaso has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Arvanitidis off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Arvanitidis misses with the combination.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kalaso throws a series of punches but Arvanitidis moves out of range.
Harvi Kalaso seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Arvanitidis shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
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 Harvi Kalaso will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Arvanitidis gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kalaso to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kalaso throwing strikes but missing.

Arvanitidis has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kalaso can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kalaso not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kalaso pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Arvanitidis is keeping the position for now.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Arvanitidis keeping moving, preventing Kalaso from controlling successfully.
Arvanitidis is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Arvanitidis escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kalaso gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Arvanitidis looking for a guillotine here but Kalaso defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalaso controlling from the top position.
Kalaso passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kalaso takes a little break here. Arvanitidis wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Kalaso is looking to take a break and control but Arvanitidis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Arvanitidis tries to bench press Kalaso off him but Kalaso keeps the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arvanitidis can't do much from the bottom here.
Kalaso slows the pace down.

Kalaso looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
A lull in the action here as Kalaso stalls from top position.
Kalaso wants to control but Arvanitidis is keeping him busy.
Arvanitidis is trying to control Kalaso's posture but Kalaso avoids it.
Arvanitidis is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kalaso trying to control the position but Arvanitidis is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arvanitidis manages to get back to half guard.

Arvanitidis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Arvanitidis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Arvanitidis won't allow Kalaso to pass to mount.

Arvanitidis looking for submissions off his back.

Arvanitidis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kalaso pulls his head out easily.
Kalaso is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kalaso prevents Arvanitidis from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso moves nicely into side control.
Arvanitidis is looking to reverse the position.
Arvanitidis is not content to let Kalaso control the position.
Kalaso cracks Arvanitidis with a big right hand but Arvanitidis just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kalaso working away.
Arvanitidis tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kalaso wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Arvanitidis prevents Kalaso from moving into mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kalaso is looking to take a break and control but Arvanitidis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Arvanitidis is looking to reverse the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kalaso is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Arvanitidis is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
You can see the frustration on Arvanitidis's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kalaso tries to clinch there but Arvanitidis circles away.
No luck for Arvanitidis with that takedown attempt.

Kalaso shoots in and gets a takedown into Arvanitidis's guard.
Kalaso in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Arvanitidis keeping moving, preventing Kalaso from controlling successfully.

Arvanitidis throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Arvanitidis is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kalaso is aware though and is defending well.
Kalaso trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kalaso postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kalaso advances to half guard.
Arvanitidis is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalaso wants to take a breather but Arvanitidis is having none of it.
Still in half guard, Kalaso seems content to control.
Kalaso works his foot free and advances to mount.
Kalaso landing strikes from the mount and Arvanitidis is in trouble!
Arvanitidis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kalaso is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Kalaso is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Kalaso can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Arvanitidis is looking to escape.
Arvanitidis is working to get back to half guard.
Kalaso punishing his opponent with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso prevents Arvanitidis from getting the reversal.
Kalaso controlling from mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kalaso lands a nice shot to the head.
Kalaso wants to control the pace but Arvanitidis is squirming around nicely.
Kalaso is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Arvanitidis is trying desperately to improve position.
Kalaso postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Arvanitidis looks a forlorn figure.
Arvanitidis tries to lock up and control but Kalaso gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kalaso landing punches.

Arvanitidis is rocked!
Kalaso postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Arvanitidis in real trouble here! The ref calls for Arvanitidis to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Harvi Kalaso!
Harvi Kalaso retains his lightweight title!
In his post fight interview, Harvi Kalaso started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.