PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Malsom Kima (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Caron (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Caron has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kima
vs
Caron

196 cm
26
265 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

196 cm
26
285 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Malsom Kima!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, John Caron!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Caron avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Kima trying to stall but Caron improves his position.
A nice left hand lands by Kima.
Caron prevents Kima from breaking the clinch.
Caron is looking to control Kima's arms but Kima gets an underhook and turns him. Now Caron has his back to the cage.

Kima jumps guard and drags Caron to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kima looking to hit a scissor sweep but Caron is one step ahead there.
Kima keeping full guard, as Caron tries to pass.
Kima 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.
Caron throwing strikes but missing.
Caron should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Kima keeping moving, preventing Caron from controlling successfully.

Kima kicks Caron off and gets to his feet.
Kima tries to clinch up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kima gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kima is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kima scores with a shoulder strike.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Caron.

Caron manages to break the clinch.
Kima tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Caron manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kima waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Caron.
Kima wants to clinch.
Kima closes the distance looking to clinch
letting Caron counter with a right hand.
Caron has a takedown stuffed.
Kima tries to clinch up.

Caron pushes Kima up against the cage in a clinch.
Kima is trying to drag Caron to the mat but Caron just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Caron blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Caron throws an elbow but misses.
Caron stops a takedown attempt from Kima.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Malsom Kima. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Caron just leaning against Kima, taking a breather.
Kima tries to pull guard but Caron forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Caron escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
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!
Caron tries to clinch but Kima is having none of it.
Caron shoots in for a takedown but Kima shows good takedown defense.
Kima swats away the attempt to clinch by Caron.
Kima tries to clinch but Caron moves out of range.
Jab by Kima.
Caron tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Kima fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Caron, pushing him back against the cage.
Caron can't get the takedown.
Kima is looking for a takedown.
Kima stalling in the clinch but Caron improves position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caron tries for a takedown. No joy.

Caron jumps guard.
Kima trying to control the position from guard on top but Caron is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kima postures up.

Kima avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kima wants to control from the top but Caron keeps moving.

Caron has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kima can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Kima not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Caron looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Caron throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kima sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kima wants to get up but he can't break Caron's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Caron is looking for a triangle but Kima pushes his legs off easily.

Caron is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kima is aware though and is defending well.
Kima wants to control from the top but Caron keeps moving.
Kima trying to stand up but can't free himself from Caron's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Caron 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.
Caron controls Kima momentarily but Kima frees himself.
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 Malsom Kima will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kima tries to clinch but Caron is having none of it.

Kima has managed to clinch.
Caron pushes Kima back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Caron misses with a short punch on the inside.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Kima has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Caron uses from the top position.
Kima is trying to keep Caron in close.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Caron throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Caron throws a big elbow that misses.
Kima avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Caron loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kima is trying to control the position but Caron postures up.
Caron pushing down on Kima's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Caron not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kima is trying to control but can't.
Caron thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kima's head.
Caron has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kima trying to control from the bottom.
Caron sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kima defending well though.
Caron not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Caron wants to control but Kima is keeping him busy.
Caron missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Caron missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Caron trying to mount his opponent but Kima defends it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Kima keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Caron is thwarting Kima's attempts to control the position.
Kima blocking the ground and pound attempt from Caron.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Caron not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Caron thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kima is looking to escape.
Kima wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Caron not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kima trying to control from the bottom.
Kima wants to sweep but Caron has passed to side control!
Caron sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kima is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
The strikes coming from Caron are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Kima is looking to regain half guard here but Caron keeps moving and retains side control.
You can see the frustration on Kima's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Caron tries to score with some ground and pound. Kima controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Caron decides to take the fight back to the feet.
Caron tries for a takedown but Kima sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Caron misses with a wild body shot.

Caron gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Caron throws a head punch that misses.
Caron softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

Caron breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Caron with that takedown attempt.
Caron tries to clinch up.
Caron is looking to clinch but Kima is avoiding it.

Caron closes the distance and clinches.
Caron tries to pull guard but Kima holds him up against the cage and eventually Caron drops back down to his feet.
Malsom Kima has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Caron.
Kima is looking to break free of the clinch but Caron has double underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kima is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Caron pulls guard effortlessly.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kima wants to get up but he can't break Caron's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kima has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kima trying to control but Caron is working from the bottom.
Caron is trying to control the position but Kima postures up.
John Caron has got the better of the ground game so far.
Caron has a closed guard, preventing Kima from standing up.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Caron is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kima scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Caron manages to mount him!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Caron misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Poor strikes thrown by Caron there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Caron showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Caron tries to close the distance and clinch but Kima swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kima misses with a hook.

Caron clinches with his opponent.

Caron breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Caron tries to clinch but Kima is having none of it.
Kima paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kima wants to clinch.
Caron takes a swing at Kima's ribcage but misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kima looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Caron looks to land a left hand but Kima moved out of range nicely.
Caron fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kima fails with an attempt to clinch.
Caron tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kima paws at him with a jab and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Caron tries to close the distance and clinch but Kima swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kima tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Caron manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Kima is looking to clinch but Caron is avoiding it.
Kima lands with a right hand.
Horrible takedown by Kima or perhaps it was just good defense by Caron which made him look bad.
Kima lands with a straight right. Caron didn't see that one coming.
Kima tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kima looks to land a combination but Caron avoids it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kima moves in looking to clinch but Caron pushes him off.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Caron shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kima defends it nicely.
A swing and a miss from Kima.
Caron swats away the attempt to clinch by Kima.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kima connects with a right hand. Caron shakes it off.
Caron shoots in and drives through. Kima sprawls well.
Malsom Kima has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Caron.
Caron leaves Kima with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Caron is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Malsom Kima is winning the standup battle so far.
Kima doesn't manage to clinch there - Caron circles away.

Caron clinches up with Kima and pushes him back against the cage.
Caron is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Caron decides to pull guard.

Caron has his foot on Kima's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kima works his way back into a safe position though.

Kima got a little sloppy there for a moment and Caron has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kima has managed to get both his arms back between Caron's legs - danger averted.
Kima wants to stand but Caron is controlling his posture from full guard.
Caron tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Caron has a closed guard, preventing Kima from standing up.

Caron working for a triangle but Kima defends it easily.
Caron trying to keep a closed guard but Kima is proving a slippery customer.
Kima wants to control from the top but Caron keeps moving.

Caron is looking for a triangle but Kima pushes his legs off easily.

Caron had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kima defends it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Caron has a closed guard, preventing Kima from standing up.
Kima not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Caron not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Caron is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Kima loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kima with a flurry of punches that miss.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kima is looking to stand up but Caron won't let him.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Caron looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kima pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Caron is keeping the position for now.

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 Malsom Kima.
I think Kima 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!