PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Jannis Arvanitidis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harvi Kalaso (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kalaso is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Hank Williams SR. . Jannis Arvanitidis had a look across the ring there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Arvanitidis
vs
Kalaso

169 cm
27
155 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

174 cm
37
159 lbs
32 - 26 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Damnfield clothing

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 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jannis Arvanitidis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 32 - 26 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Harvi Kalaso!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arvanitidis misses with a double jab.
Arvanitidis lands with a shot to the body.
Kalaso tries a head kick but it misses.
Kalaso tries to clinch up but Arvanitidis circles away and keeps his distance.
Arvanitidis fails to land the takedown.
The crowd cheers as Arvanitidis lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kalaso doesn't seem phased though.
An inside leg kick from Kalaso misses.
Kalaso tries to close the distance and clinch up but Arvanitidis swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Arvanitidis tries for a takedown but Kalaso circles away easily
and Kalaso counters with a lovely shot to the body.

Kalaso looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Arvanitidis!
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.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Arvanitidis really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Arvanitidis is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kalaso lands a big elbow.
Kalaso cracks Arvanitidis with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Kalaso goes for an armbar but Arvanitidis turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Arvanitidis.
Arvanitidis slips nicely into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arvanitidis wants to stand up but Kalaso is controlling the position.
Arvanitidis is trying to control. Kalaso wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kalaso trying to hold on to Arvanitidis's head to control him but Arvanitidis postures up.

Arvanitidis seems to be working for a kimura but Kalaso defends the submission attempt.

Kalaso is defending against the submission attempts here by Arvanitidis.
Kalaso trying to control but Arvanitidis postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kalaso has one foot on Arvanitidis's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Kalaso is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Arvanitidis's half guard.
Arvanitidis works his way to full guard. Good work.

Arvanitidis is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kalaso defends well.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kalaso trying to control the position from guard on top but Arvanitidis is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Kalaso avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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.
Arvanitidis manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Arvanitidis get's back to his feet.

Kalaso drives through and clinches with Arvanitidis against the ropes.
Arvanitidis is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Kalaso gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jannis Arvanitidis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kalaso breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Arvanitidis bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.

Arvanitidis decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Kalaso tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Arvanitidis manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kalaso tries to clinch up but Arvanitidis circles away and keeps his distance.
Arvanitidis throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kalaso lands with a right hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kalaso swinging wildly here.

Kalaso gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Arvanitidis is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kalaso tries to pull guard but Arvanitidis holds him up against the ropes and eventually Kalaso drops back down to his feet.
Kalaso is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Arvanitidis is defending well.

Kalaso manages to break the clinch.
Arvanitidis dodges the punch combination from Kalaso.
Arvanitidis shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kalaso pinned against the ropes. Kalaso gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kalaso lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Arvanitidis fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kalaso avoids it really well and circles away.
Arvanitidis just misses with a punch to the body.
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 Jannis Arvanitidis will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Arvanitidis shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Kalaso counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Arvanitidis misses with a jab, cross combination.
Arvanitidis throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

Kalaso scores with a takedown into Arvanitidis's guard.
Arvanitidis bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kalaso's guard.
Arvanitidis trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kalaso's guard.

Kalaso is looking for a triangle but Arvanitidis pushes his legs off easily.
Kalaso is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Arvanitidis gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Kalaso displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Arvanitidis.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arvanitidis tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Arvanitidis scores with the left hand. Kalaso knows he should have avoided that one.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kalaso tries to clinch there but Arvanitidis circles away.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kalaso tries to clinch but Arvanitidis is having none of it.
Kalaso throws a sloppy head kick

and Arvanitidis counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Arvanitidis wants to control from the top but Kalaso keeps moving.

Kalaso looking for a guillotine here but Arvanitidis defends easily.
Kalaso looking for a sweep. Not yet Kalaso, not yet.
Arvanitidis wants to control from the top but Kalaso keeps moving.
Arvanitidis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Arvanitidis wants to stand but Kalaso has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Arvanitidis trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Arvanitidis drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kalaso manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Arvanitidis has Kalaso in his guard.
Arvanitidis wants to sweep but no luck.
Kalaso pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Arvanitidis is keeping the position for now.
Arvanitidis looking for a sweep. Not yet Arvanitidis, not yet.
Kalaso throwing strikes but missing.

Arvanitidis looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Kalaso has picked Arvanitidis up and slammed him! Arvanitidis can't keep hold of the triangle and Kalaso manages to pass to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kalaso wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Arvanitidis, who protects the arm well.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.

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.
Arvanitidis is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Kalaso's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Arvanitidis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kalaso pulls his head out easily.
Kalaso throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kalaso is trying to control the action in half guard but Arvanitidis is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalaso takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Arvanitidis is trying to get back to full guard.

Arvanitidis looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Arvanitidis is looking to improve his position.
Kalaso trying to control the action but Arvanitidis is working from the bottom.

Kalaso is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Arvanitidis looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Arvanitidis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kalaso pulls his head out easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jannis Arvanitidis will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kalaso shoots in and bounces Arvanitidis off the ropes to secure the takedown into guard.

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

Arvanitidis is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kalaso pulls his head out easily.
Kalaso seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Arvanitidis does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Arvanitidis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Arvanitidis has his foot on Kalaso's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kalaso works his way back into a safe position though.
Arvanitidis keeping moving, preventing Kalaso from controlling successfully.
Arvanitidis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kalaso.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arvanitidis is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kalaso wants to control from the top but Arvanitidis keeps moving.
Kalaso throws a strike but Arvanitidis rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Arvanitidis wants to control from the top but Kalaso keeps moving.

Arvanitidis has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Kalaso to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Arvanitidis is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Kalaso pulls down on the head and he's put Arvanitidis to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:53 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Harvi Kalaso!
After the fight, Harvi Kalaso was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.