PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Martin Cardenas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Igor Kalashnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Cardenas
vs
Kalashnikov

173 cm
24
178 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

183 cm
25
165 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Martin Cardenas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Igor Kalashnikov!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kalashnikov scores with a three punch combo!
Kalashnikov looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
No joy there for Kalashnikov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Cardenas misses with a head kick.

Cardenas feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Cardenas's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kalashnikov keeping moving, preventing Cardenas from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kalashnikov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Cardenas controls the pace.
Cardenas has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardenas stands up over Kalashnikov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Cardenas working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cardenas stays in close to Kalashnikov's body and controls the position.
Kalashnikov is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Cardenas dives into side control.

Cardenas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

Kalashnikov bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Kalashnikov throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kalashnikov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kalashnikov misses with a few strikes there.
Cardenas tries to counter by clinching up but Kalashnikov breaks away and moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalashnikov throws a one two combo.
Cardenas fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Kalashnikov avoids it really well and circles away.
Kalashnikov leaves Cardenas with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kalashnikov misses with a body shot.
Cardenas went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

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

Kalashnikov moves into range and clinches up with Cardenas.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Cardenas breaks the clinch.
Kalashnikov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cardenas lands with a nice body kick.
Cardenas lands a nice looking kick to the body. Kalashnikov takes a step back to recover.
Cardenas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cardenas fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martin Cardenas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kalashnikov throws a series of punches but Cardenas moves out of range.
Cardenas scores with a head kick. Kalashnikov tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kalashnikov throws a right and a left that Cardenas avoids nicely.
Cardenas tries to counter by clinching up but Kalashnikov breaks away and moves out of range.
Cardenas tries to clinch but Kalashnikov is having none of it.
Despite the aggression on Kalashnikov's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardenas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
We've been informed that Kalashnikov has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Cardenas tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kalashnikov lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Cardenas fails with a takedown attempt.
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!
Cardenas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kalashnikov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Cardenas. Cardenas circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Cardenas drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kalashnikov wants to get back to his feet but Cardenas is dominant here and he's now got Kalashnikov's back!
Kalashnikov is trying to get back to his feet but Cardenas has full control of the position and if anything, Kalashnikov has just worked his way into a worse spot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Igor Kalashnikov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Cardenas darts in and clinches Kalashnikov up against the cage.
Kalashnikov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cardenas smiles and moves away.
Cardenas shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kalashnikov pinned against the cage. Kalashnikov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kalashnikov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Cardenas counters with a two punch combo.
Kalashnikov shoots in for a takedown but Cardenas shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Kalashnikov drives through and clinches with Cardenas against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cardenas is trying to drag Kalashnikov to the mat but Kalashnikov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Kalashnikov is breathing heavily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Cardenas lands with a left to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Cardenas's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Martin Cardenas is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Kalashnikov forces Cardenas back against the cage and clinches.
Cardenas stalls.
Cardenas jumps guard but Kalashnikov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Martin Cardenas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cardenas jumps guard but Kalashnikov turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Cardenas tries to pull guard but Kalashnikov holds him up against the cage and eventually Cardenas drops back down to his feet.
Cardenas tries to pull guard but Kalashnikov forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Cardenas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kalashnikov misses with a few strikes there.
Kalashnikov misses with a series of wild punches.
Kalashnikov stuffs the takedown.
Cardenas showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kalashnikov.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalashnikov attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
As Kalashnikov looks to move away, Cardenas throws a big counter combo but Kalashnikov just gets out of the way.
Cardenas shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Kalashnikov as he avoids it easily.
Cardenas dives in for a single leg takedown but Kalashnikov sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.

Cardenas tries to keep at a distance but Kalashnikov has taken the fight into the clinch.

Cardenas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kalashnikov swings away with a body shot that misses
and Cardenas counters with a head kick.
Cardenas connects with a leg kick. Kalashnikov looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Igor Kalashnikov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kalashnikov throws a leg kick
and Cardenas counters with a two punch combo.
Cardenas tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kalashnikov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Cardenas somewhat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kalashnikov throws a body shot but no joy.
Cardenas wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Cardenas throws a nice outside leg kick.
Cardenas throws a head kick but Kalashnikov moves out of range.

Kalashnikov instigates a clinch.
Cardenas is trying to pull guard but Kalashnikov turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Cardenas escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Cardenas lands a high kick!
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 Martin Cardenas will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Kalashnikov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Cardenas circles away quickly and effectively.
Cardenas throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Cardenas misses with a head kick.
Kalashnikov stalks Cardenas and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Cardenas's face. Cardenas staggers backwards, shaken.
Cardenas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kalashnikov throws a left and a right that both miss

and Cardenas moves into the clinch.

Cardenas breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kalashnikov tries to bum rush Cardenas with a series of wild strikes but Cardenas uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kalashnikov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kalashnikov blocks a head kick by Cardenas.
Cardenas dodges the punch combination from Kalashnikov.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kalashnikov tries to sprawl but Cardenas drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Cardenas prevents Kalashnikov from standing back up.
Kalashnikov is staying active underneath Cardenas, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kalashnikov wants to get back to his feet.

Cardenas is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kalashnikov defends it well.
Cardenas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kalashnikov has hold of Cardenas's hands but Cardenas slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kalashnikov scrambles, trying to get to his feet, but Cardenas manages to mount him!
Kalashnikov is trying to stand.
Cardenas controlling from mount.
Cardenas landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cardenas is landing with some decent strikes but Kalashnikov is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Cardenas lands a big elbow.
Cardenas lands a big shot there that rocks Kalashnikov but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Cardenas lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kalashnikov wants to try and get back to his feet.
Cardenas scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kalashnikov?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Cardenas looking to secure an arm triangle but Kalashnikov defends it well.
Kalashnikov is trying to escape the mount.
Kalashnikov swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Cardenas trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kalashnikov wants to hold on but Cardenas pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Cardenas is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kalashnikov can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Kalashnikov wants to try and get back to his feet.
Cardenas landing strikes, looking to finish!
Cardenas controlling his opponent.
Kalashnikov is trying to stand up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kalashnikov swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Kalashnikov wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Cardenas lands a nice shot to the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Martin Cardenas showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Cardenas 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Martin Cardenas!