PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Cheik Imbula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Levan Kvirkvelia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Imbula comes to the cage accompanied by ~Apache~. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Imbula
vs
Kvirkvelia

185 cm
21
186 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

173 cm
21
175 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

KAISER

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Cheik Imbula!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Levan Kvirkvelia!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kvirkvelia misses with a lunging right hand
and Imbula counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kvirkvelia's knee momentarily.
Imbula swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Kvirkvelia changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Kvirkvelia looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Imbula loads up on a big right hand but Kvirkvelia slips the punch.
Kvirkvelia jabs Imbula right on the nose. Imbula blinks but takes it well.
Kvirkvelia bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Kvirkvelia has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Imbula.
Imbula pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Imbula throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kvirkvelia throws a lazy body kick
and Imbula counters with a nice uppercut.
A solid leg kick lands there for Kvirkvelia.
Kvirkvelia keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Kvirkvelia lands a lovely overhand right.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Imbula cracks Kvirkvelia with a big right hand that sends him to the floor! Kvirkvelia looks wobbly but he's sprung back up to his feet straight away… can Imbula finish him?

Kvirkvelia is rocked!
Kvirkvelia ducks under a wild hook from Imbula.
Kvirkvelia is still on wobbly legs! Can Imbula finish him?

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kvirkvelia scores with a takedown into Imbula's guard.
Imbula can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kvirkvelia controls the pace.
Kvirkvelia seems to have recovered his senses.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Imbula is trying to keep Kvirkvelia in close.
Kvirkvelia throws a big right hand that misses.
Imbula keeping moving, preventing Kvirkvelia from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kvirkvelia accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Imbula 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.
Kvirkvelia tries to free his leg and advance position but Imbula is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia trying to control the position from guard on top but Imbula is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Imbula looking for a sweep. Not yet Imbula, not yet.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Imbula lands a lovely overhand right.
Nice cross by Imbula.
Kvirkvelia looks to score with a jab to the body but Imbula is just out of range.
Kvirkvelia throws a body kick that misses.
Imbula moves into range and connects with a jab.
Imbula fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kvirkvelia.
Kvirkvelia misses with a low kick.
Imbula feinted there with a counter leg kick.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kvirkvelia throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Imbula tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Kvirkvelia is in Imbula's guard.
Kvirkvelia in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia distracts Imbula with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Imbula looking to control.
Kvirkvelia looking to pass the guard.
Kvirkvelia trying to control the position from guard on top but Imbula is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Imbula looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kvirkvelia is one step ahead there.
Kvirkvelia has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Imbula pulls Kvirkvelia in close to prevent any damage.
Kvirkvelia postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kvirkvelia throwing strikes but missing.
Kvirkvelia trying to control but Imbula is working from the bottom.
Kvirkvelia passes Imbula's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kvirkvelia wants to take a breather but Imbula is having none of it.

Kvirkvelia is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kvirkvelia is thwarting Imbula's attempts to control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Cheik Imbula 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.

Kvirkvelia throws a nice inside leg kick.
Imbula throws out a powerful jab.
Kvirkvelia throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Imbula is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Kvirkvelia throws a head kick that half lands.
Kvirkvelia checks a leg kick.
Kvirkvelia throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Imbula fires out a quick counter leg kick but Kvirkvelia just manages to avoid it.
Kvirkvelia steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Imbula.
Kvirkvelia tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Kvirkvelia misses with a body kick.
Imbula throws a leg kick

and Kvirkvelia counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kvirkvelia.
Imbula has control of Kvirkvelia's left arm, preventing Kvirkvelia from doing any damage.
Kvirkvelia slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia looking to sit in guard and control but Imbula gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Imbula trying to control the position from guard on top but Kvirkvelia is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kvirkvelia 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.
Kvirkvelia keeps trying to improve his position.
We've been hearing good reports from Imbula's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Imbula wants to pass the guard but Kvirkvelia is keeping the position.
Imbula controls from within his opponent's guard.

Kvirkvelia is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Imbula is aware though and is defending well.
Imbula wants to pass the guard but Kvirkvelia is keeping the position.
Kvirkvelia working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Imbula is stalling in the full guard.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Nice defenses there by Kvirkvelia.
And Kvirkvelia tries to counter it with a takedown but Imbula pushes his down on his head and steps out.
Imbula misses with a wild body shot.
Imbula moves out of range of the body kick.
Imbula is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kvirkvelia.
Imbula takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Imbula.
Kvirkvelia throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kvirkvelia fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Kvirkvelia throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Imbula was covering up waiting for the punch and Kvirkvelia finishes the takedown easily into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kvirkvelia is fighting to break Imbula's control of his arms but Imbula is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Kvirkvelia trying to control but Imbula is working from the bottom.
Kvirkvelia connects with a couple of short punches.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kvirkvelia looking to pass the guard.
Imbula not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Levan Kvirkvelia showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. And we move into the final round!

Kvirkvelia jabs at Imbula's body.
Kvirkvelia scores with a jab. Imbula acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kvirkvelia swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kvirkvelia doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kvirkvelia cracks the inside of Imbula's front leg.
Imbula throws an overhand right that lands on Kvirkvelia's shoulder, as Kvirkvelia tries to avoid the shot.
Kvirkvelia fakes the leg kick and cracks Imbula in the body.
Kvirkvelia throws the kick towards the body but Imbula avoids it.

Kvirkvelia looking to score a takedown here. Imbula is defending well but Kvirkvelia drives through and ends up in Imbula's guard.
Kvirkvelia trying to control but Imbula is working from the bottom.
Imbula seems keen to control Kvirkvelia's posture.
Imbula working a defensive guard here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kvirkvelia sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Imbula's guard.
Kvirkvelia takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Kvirkvelia seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Imbula does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Imbula is looking to improve his position.
Kvirkvelia wants to lay and pray for a moment but Imbula keeps working.
Kvirkvelia lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kvirkvelia trying to control from half guard but Imbula is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Kvirkvelia prevents Imbula from improving his position.
Imbula gets full guard.
Imbula trying to keep a closed guard but Kvirkvelia is proving a slippery customer.
Imbula can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kvirkvelia controls the pace.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kvirkvelia closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kvirkvelia lands in his opponent's guard.
Kvirkvelia looking to pass the guard.
Imbula is trying to control the position but Kvirkvelia postures up.
Levan Kvirkvelia has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kvirkvelia content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kvirkvelia trying to control but Imbula is working from the bottom.
Kvirkvelia pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Imbula is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Imbula is pulling down on Kvirkvelia's head to control his posture.
Kvirkvelia won't allow Imbula to sweep him here.
Kvirkvelia wants to control from the top but Imbula keeps moving.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Imbula is trying to hold Kvirkvelia in close to prevent damage but Kvirkvelia has managed to pass into half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Imbula trying to hold on to Kvirkvelia's head to control him but Kvirkvelia postures up.
Kvirkvelia seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Imbula does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

And that's the end of the fight!
Levan Kvirkvelia comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kvirkvelia has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Levan Kvirkvelia!
A relieved looking Levan Kvirkvelia thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.
The defeated Cheik Imbula had this to say: 'Congratulations to my opponent. Boss, give me another fight ASAP!'.