PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Kharinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Johan Abenes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kharinov
vs
Abenes

175 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

173 cm
22
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Kharinov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Johan Abenes!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Konstantin Menshow.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice sprawl there from Abenes as Kharinov shoots in.
Kharinov slips a jab and a cross from Abenes.
Kharinov throws a right and a left that Abenes avoids nicely.
Kharinov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Abenes moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

Abenes closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Abenes lands in his opponent's guard.

Abenes stands and steps away. Kharinov gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Kharinov tries to bum rush Abenes with a series of wild strikes but Abenes uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Abenes dodges the punch combination from Kharinov.
Abenes lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

Abenes drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kharinov being controlled for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abenes's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kharinov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Abenes on the ground.
Abenes throws an elbow but Kharinov slips to the side and avoids it well.

Abenes has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Kharinov misses with a wild combination.

Kharinov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kharinov is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kharinov avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Abenes is looking to stand up but Kharinov isn't so interested in that idea.
Abenes controlling the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kharinov wants to stand but Abenes is controlling his posture from full guard.
Abenes has Kharinov pulled in close to control his posture.

Abenes pushes Kharinov off and scrambles back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Abenes dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Abenes fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kharinov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Abenes as he avoids it easily.
Kharinov tries a head kick but it misses.

Kharinov gets caught flat footed, as Abenes shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Abenes drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kharinov dives on top into guard.
Abenes 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.

Abenes has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kharinov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kharinov stands up from Abenes's guard - Kharinov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Abenes fails to land the takedown.
A nice combination there by Abenes.
Kharinov closes the distance and lands a one-two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abenes avoids the head kick by Kharinov.
Abenes fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Vladimir Kharinov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Johan Abenes.
Kharinov tries to clinch there but Abenes circles away.
Abenes closes the distance and clinches up with Kharinov, looking for a takedown. Abenes pushes Kharinov against the cage but Kharinov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
No luck for Kharinov with that takedown attempt.
Kharinov tries for a takedown but Abenes circles away easily

and Abenes decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kharinov's guard.
Abenes controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abenes won't allow Kharinov to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Abenes slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johan Abenes showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

A swing and a miss from Kharinov.
Abenes avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kharinov misses with a takedown attempt

and Abenes counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Abenes decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kharinov, up you get!

Abenes scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Abenes looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Abenes remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abenes working the ground and pound.
Kharinov is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Let's hope that Abenes has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Johan Abenes has got the better of the ground game so far.

Despite being in the dominant position, Johan Abenes just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Abenes forces Kharinov back against the cage and clinches.
Kharinov wants to get back to striking at distance but Abenes won't allow it.
Kharinov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Abenes manages to pull guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kharinov is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Abenes has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Kharinov is looking to defend but Abenes has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Kharinov! Abenes pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Kharinov taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Johan Abenes!