PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ilya Tsymbilar (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Klaus Kleber (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Tsymbilar
vs
Kleber

167 cm
19
132 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

190 cm
19
140 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ilya Tsymbilar!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Klaus Kleber!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kleber rushes Tsymbilar and presses him up against the cage.

Kleber manages to break the clinch.
Tsymbilar closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kleber circles away.

Kleber rushes Tsymbilar and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kleber is fighting off a takedown attempt but Tsymbilar is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Kleber to the mat. Kleber regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Kleber is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Kleber has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tsymbilar can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Tsymbilar drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tsymbilar jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Tsymbilar stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kleber swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kleber wants to stand up but Tsymbilar is controlling him.
Kleber really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tsymbilar. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kleber looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tsymbilar stops Kleber from standing up.
Tsymbilar trying to control the position from guard on top but Kleber is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kleber working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Kleber. No joy for Tsymbilar on that attempt.
Nice takedown defense from Kleber. No joy for Tsymbilar on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilya Tsymbilar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kleber stuffs the takedown attempt from Tsymbilar. Tsymbilar gets slowly back to his feet.
Tsymbilar fails with the takedown.
Tsymbilar is breathing heavily.

Kleber has taken the fight to the clinch.

Kleber breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kleber moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kleber lands a left and a right that sends Tsymbilar crashing to the canvas! Kleber dives into mount looking to finish!

Tsymbilar is rocked!

It looks like Ilya Tsymbilar has been cut.
A nice elbow there by Kleber.
Oh Tsymbilar is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Kleber fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Tsymbilar seems to have got his legs back now.
Kleber is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Tsymbilar can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Kleber trying to control but Tsymbilar is having none of it.
Kleber working Tsymbilar over with strikes here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kleber looking to control but Tsymbilar is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Tsymbilar is in a horrible position here. Kleber smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kleber with a couple of short strikes.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kleber landing shots from mount.
Tsymbilar is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kleber landing strikes from the mount and Tsymbilar is in trouble!
Tsymbilar is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Tsymbilar might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
A nice elbow there by Kleber.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsymbilar manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Kleber landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Tsymbilar trying to control from the bottom.
Tsymbilar is staying active underneath Kleber, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tsymbilar slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Kleber avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tsymbilar working a defensive guard here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kleber scoring with punches to the head and body.

Tsymbilar has his foot on Kleber's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kleber works his way back into a safe position though.
Kleber wants to stand but Tsymbilar is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kleber working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tsymbilar is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kleber is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kleber wants to stand but Tsymbilar is controlling his posture from full guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Tsymbilar closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kleber to the mat! Kleber manages to get full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Klaus Kleber dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ilya Tsymbilar's cut.
That's time! Tsymbilar's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Tsymbilar fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Tsymbilar misses with a takedown attempt - Kleber sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Kleber moves into the clinch.

Kleber breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ilya Tsymbilar seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tsymbilar takes a head kick and shrugs it off.
Tsymbilar shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kleber as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilya Tsymbilar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kleber!
Kleber tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tsymbilar paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kleber tries to clinch up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kleber.

Kleber decides to stand up, so the ref orders Tsymbilar to his feet.
Tsymbilar fails with the takedown

and Kleber counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kleber.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Tsymbilar is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kleber breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tsymbilar misses with a takedown

and Kleber counters by clinching up.
Kleber gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tsymbilar.
Tsymbilar has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kleber avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.

Kleber breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tsymbilar throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kleber's waist but Kleber gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tsymbilar off to one side.

Kleber has closed the distance and engaged Tsymbilar in a clinch.
Tsymbilar tries to pull guard but Kleber won't allow it.

Kleber manages to break the clinch.
Tsymbilar shoots in for a takedown but Kleber shows good takedown defense.
Kleber lands a high kick!
Tsymbilar tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kleber swivels and escapes.
Kleber with a nice cross.

Kleber rushes Tsymbilar and presses him up against the cage.

Tsymbilar pulls Kleber into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsymbilar controls Kleber momentarily but Kleber frees himself.
Kleber trying to control the position from guard on top but Tsymbilar is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tsymbilar pushes Kleber off and gets back to his feet.
Tsymbilar takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Kleber throws a right hand that Tsymbilar ducks under and follows up with a left that Tsymbilar also avoids with ease.
Tsymbilar fails with the takedown
and Kleber counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Tsymbilar thinking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsymbilar keeps the fight on the outside.
Tsymbilar shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kleber as he jumps to the side.
Kleber tries to clinch there but Tsymbilar circles away.
Tsymbilar misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Kleber gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kleber has had enough of the clinch but Tsymbilar keeps him there for the moment.
Kleber is trying to break the clinch but Tsymbilar has him pressed against the cage.
Tsymbilar blocking some punches.
Kleber wants a takedown.
Tsymbilar tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kleber just stands there and leans against the cage.

Tsymbilar jumps guard.

Tsymbilar looking for a guillotine here but Kleber defends easily.
Kleber pushing down on Tsymbilar's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kleber wants to get back to his feet.

Tsymbilar is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Kleber pulls his head out easily.
Kleber trying to control from half guard but Tsymbilar is working away.
Tsymbilar is pressing down on Kleber's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kleber preventing the sweep.
Tsymbilar lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kleber!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kleber misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Kleber has taken the fight to the clinch.
Tsymbilar is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Kleber breaks the clinch.
Tsymbilar looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kleber is fending him off so far but Tsymbilar persists. Nope, Kleber circles away and we're back to standing.
Tsymbilar walks into a jab.
Kleber misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Tsymbilar with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kleber counters with a stiff right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ilya Tsymbilar. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kleber moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Tsymbilar fails with the takedown

and Kleber counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kleber.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kleber accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kleber postures up in Tsymbilar's guard and throws a big left but Tsymbilar blocks it.
Kleber wanted to stand there but Tsymbilar had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tsymbilar has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kleber can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Tsymbilar is trying to keep Kleber in close.
Kleber preventing the sweep.
Kleber wants to get up but he can't break Tsymbilar's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Tsymbilar manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kleber manages to get himself to full guard.
Tsymbilar stands and throws Kleber's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Tsymbilar advances nicely into full mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tsymbilar trying to control but Kleber is having none of it.
Kleber can't escape the position.
Tsymbilar mounts Kleber! Really nice guard pass there!
Kleber is wriggling around trying to escape.
Tsymbilar trying to control but Kleber is having none of it.
Kleber reaches up to try and control the position but Tsymbilar seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Kleber rolls and tries to escape and now Tsymbilar has his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tsymbilar not allowing Kleber to control his hands.

Tsymbilar has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Kleber has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Kleber tries to escape but he's let his defenses down in doing so and Tsymbilar has slipped in the rear naked choke! Oh, that's tiiiiiiiiight! Kleber is tapping! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Ilya Tsymbilar!