PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyov Kirijenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Khalifa Khalifa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khalifa is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Habibi Ya Nour El Ain. Khalifa Khalifa has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kirijenko
vs
Khalifa

195 cm
32
220 lbs
22 - 20 - 1

190 cm
33
205 lbs
17 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 20 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Lyov Kirijenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Khalifa Khalifa!
The judges for this bout are Ben Watson, Chris Dean and Damien Edna.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Khalifa blocks a jab.
Khalifa throws a nice looking combination but Kirijenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kirijenko looks to throw the jab but Khalifa is out of range.
Khalifa takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kirijenko tries to score a power double leg takedown but Khalifa sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kirijenko somewhat.
Kirijenko swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kirijenko throws a right and a left that Khalifa avoids nicely.
Kirijenko scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Khalifa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Kirijenko throws a hook but Khalifa blocks it.
Khalifa avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Khalifa dives in and grabs Kirijenko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kirijenko pushes down on Khalifa's head and hops out.
Kirijenko scores with a hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kirijenko decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kirijenko performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Kirijenko tries to pass to full mount but Khalifa defends it.
Kirijenko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Khalifa is not content to let Kirijenko control the position.
Kirijenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kirijenko is looking to take a break and control but Khalifa is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Khalifa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Khalifa felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Khalifa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Khalifa is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Lyov Kirijenko.
Kirijenko connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kirijenko.
Kirijenko shoots in looking for a takedown but Khalifa manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Kirijenko's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyov Kirijenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Khalifa throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kirijenko wants to slow Khalifa down by chopping away at his legs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kirijenko drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kirijenko postures up in Khalifa's guard and throws a big left but Khalifa blocks it.
Kirijenko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Khalifa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kirijenko 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.
Kirijenko sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Khalifa's guard.

Kirijenko seems to be looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalifa is trying to control but can't.
Kirijenko sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Khalifa defending well though.
Khalifa has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kirijenko is working away from the top position though.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Khalifa tries to roll over but Kirijenko keeps him under control.
Kirijenko has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Khalifa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kirijenko.
Kirijenko not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Khalifa is looking to improve his position.
Kirijenko is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Khalifa avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kirijenko.
Kirijenko winds up and cracks Khalifa with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Khalifa is refusing to be controlled, as Kirijenko sits in half guard.
Khalifa moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Kirijenko not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Khalifa is working an open guard so Kirijenko takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Khalifa throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kirijenko sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Kirijenko shoots in and gets a takedown into Khalifa's guard.
Khalifa controls Kirijenko momentarily but Kirijenko frees himself.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kirijenko trying to control but Khalifa is working from the bottom.
Khalifa is pulling down on Kirijenko's head. It's preventing any offense from Kirijenko, at least for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyov Kirijenko dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kirijenko thows a left - swing and a miss!
Decent striking displayed by Kirijenko there.

Kirijenko closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Khalifa's guard.
Kirijenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Khalifa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Khalifa wants to improve his position but instead Kirijenko has moved into half guard.
Kirijenko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kirijenko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Khalifa tries to roll over but Kirijenko keeps him under control.
Kirijenko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Khalifa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kirijenko controlling the action here.
Lyov Kirijenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirijenko prevents Khalifa from standing back up.
Khalifa trying to control but Kirijenko postures up.
Khalifa manages to get to full guard.

Kirijenko drops back looking for a leg! Khalifa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Khalifa manages to kick Kirijenko off! Kirijenko jumps back into Khalifa's guard.
Kirijenko postures up.
Kirijenko in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Khalifa avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kirijenko with a flurry of punches that miss.
Khalifa keeping full guard, as Kirijenko tries to pass.
Khalifa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kirijenko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Khalifa keeping moving, preventing Kirijenko from controlling successfully.
Khalifa is controlling Kirijenko's posture.
Khalifa working a defensive guard here.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kirijenko pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Khalifa is keeping the position for now.
Khalifa manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Khalifa raining down shots from the mount!
Kirijenko tries to reverse the position but Khalifa maintains control.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Khalifa looking to control but Kirijenko is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kirijenko can't escape the position.
Kirijenko is working hard here to advance position.
Kirijenko is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kirijenko manages to regain half guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kirijenko on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Khalifa throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Khalifa lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kirijenko is looking for a sweep. Khalifa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Khalifa wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kirijenko keeps working.
Kirijenko has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Khalifa is working away from the top position though.
Kirijenko is positioning himself well to prevent Khalifa advancing to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kirijenko is looking to control Khalifa's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kirijenko avoid being mounted?

We're going to have a standup here because Lyov Kirijenko wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Good exchange - Kirijenko coming out on top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyov Kirijenko dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kirijenko throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Khalifa slips a jab from Kirijenko.
Khalifa tries to move into range but Kirijenko moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kirijenko catches Khalifa with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kirijenko lands a really nice looking cross but Khalifa seems unphased.
Kirijenko throws a hook but Khalifa blocks it.
Khalifa looks for a takedown but Kirijenko sprawls well.

Kirijenko gets a double leg takedown into Khalifa's guard.
Khalifa looking for a sweep. Not yet Khalifa, not yet.
Kirijenko's corner is telling him to maintain position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Khalifa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Khalifa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kirijenko postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kirijenko content to stall in guard here.
Khalifa is trying to keep Kirijenko in close.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Khalifa avoids the head kick by Kirijenko.
Kirijenko connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Khalifa's hands.
Khalifa moves out of range of the body kick from Kirijenko.
Khalifa Khalifa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko looks to score with a jab to the body but Khalifa is just out of range.
Kirijenko tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Khalifa is able to avoid easily.
Khalifa misses with a straight left.
Kirijenko uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Khalifa has time to react.
Kirijenko catches Khalifa with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
A leg kick checked by Khalifa.
Kirijenko lunges at Khalifa with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Khalifa's hand.
Kirijenko listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
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!
Kirijenko fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kirijenko misses with a hook.
Kirijenko jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Khalifa pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khalifa slips a jab from Kirijenko.
Kirijenko's jab looks to have found its range, popping Khalifa under the eye.
Khalifa has a takedown stuffed.

Khalifa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Kirijenko!
Khalifa in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Kirijenko struggling a bit here.
Kirijenko is looking for a sweep.
Kirijenko is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Kirijenko wants to control but Khalifa postures up.
Kirijenko is looking to regain half guard here but Khalifa keeps moving and retains side control.

Khalifa is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Kirijenko is trying to escape and Khalifa transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Kirijenko is forced to tap! Nice work there by Khalifa! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Khalifa Khalifa!
Khalifa Khalifa decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.