PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Zhasulan Boranbayev (ranked 4778 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kaplan Temrezov (ranked 25418 p4p, 0 weight class). Kaplan Temrezov is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Boranbayev
vs
Temrezov

177 cm
25
157 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

175 cm
25
157 lbs
3 - 8 - 1

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zhasulan Boranbayev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kaplan Temrezov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Fedor Mirinova and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Boranbayev gets the takedown into side control.
Temrezov tries to bench press Boranbayev off him but Boranbayev keeps the position.
Boranbayev working away.
Temrezov is trying to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Temrezov seems a little lost for a moment, as Boranbayev dominates the positioning.
Temrezov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Temrezov can do anything to dispel that myth.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boranbayev wants to control but Temrezov is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boranbayev in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Boranbayev trying to control the position but Temrezov is working away.
Temrezov wants to control but Boranbayev postures up.
The strikes coming from Boranbayev are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Temrezov parries the strikes from Boranbayev easily there. Boranbayev is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Temrezov to escape.
Boranbayev wants to control but Temrezov is keeping him busy.
Boranbayev is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's two 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.
Temrezov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Temrezov parries the strikes from Boranbayev easily there. Boranbayev is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Temrezov to escape.
You can see the frustration on Temrezov's face as Boranbayev controls the position.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Boranbayev misses with the combination.

Boranbayev closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Temrezov to the mat! Temrezov manages to get full guard.
Boranbayev trying to control the position from guard on top but Temrezov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Temrezov trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Boranbayev postures up in Temrezov's guard and throws a big left but Temrezov blocks it.
Boranbayev postures up.
Boranbayev's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Temrezov working a defensive guard here.
Boranbayev looking to pass the guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Boranbayev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

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.

Boranbayev gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Boranbayev tries to circle away but Temrezov has him pinned against the cage.

Temrezov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Temrezov tries for a takedown but Boranbayev circles away easily

and Boranbayev counters by clinching up.
Temrezov tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Boranbayev smiles and moves away.
Boranbayev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Temrezov swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Temrezov shoots in but Boranbayev avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Zhasulan Boranbayev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaplan Temrezov.
Boranbayev misses with the combination.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Temrezov swats away the attempt to clinch by Boranbayev.
Temrezov steps in looking to clinch after the strikes miss from Boranbayev.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zhasulan Boranbayev dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Boranbayev tries to clinch up.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Temrezov! But no joy.

Temrezov has closed the distance and engaged Boranbayev in a clinch.

Temrezov's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zhasulan Boranbayev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Temrezov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Boranbayev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
As Temrezov tries to get set, Boranbayev tries to push him back and clinch up but Temrezov manages to avoid the attempt.

Temrezov clinches.
Temrezov tries a knee to the head but Boranbayev blocks it.
Temrezov blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Temrezov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Nice sprawl there from Temrezov as Boranbayev shoots in.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Boranbayev looking to score a takedown here. Temrezov is defending well but Boranbayev drives through and ends up in Temrezov's guard.

Temrezov is scooting his butt against the cage and has managed to get back to his feet. Boranbayev presses him back against the cage, presumably looking to take the fight back to the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Boranbayev as Temrezov tries to tie him up.
Boranbayev has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Temrezov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Boranbayev keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Boranbayev appears to be looking for a big counter.
Temrezov is breathing heavily.
Temrezov looks for a takedown but Boranbayev sprawls well.
Zhasulan Boranbayev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kaplan Temrezov.

Boranbayev scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Temrezov tries to buck Boranbayev off but Boranbayev is having none of it.
Temrezov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Boranbayev throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Boranbayev tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Temrezov is trying to escape the position but Boranbayev is controlling the position.
Boranbayev wants to stand but Temrezov has his arm trapped.
Boranbayev working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Temrezov is trying to get back to half guard.
You can see the frustration on Temrezov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Boranbayev in side control, throwing shots but Temrezov defends.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Boranbayev slows the pace down.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Boranbayev.

Boranbayev is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Temrezov's half guard.
Temrezov trying to control but Boranbayev postures up.
Boranbayev slows the pace down in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Boranbayev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Boranbayev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Temrezov defending well though.
Temrezov is looking to control Boranbayev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Temrezov avoid being mounted?
Boranbayev throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Temrezov is looking for a sweep. Boranbayev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Boranbayev performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Temrezov tries for a takedown but Boranbayev sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Temrezov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Boranbayev swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kaplan Temrezov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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!

Boranbayev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Boranbayev throws a leg kick but Temrezov moved away.
Temrezov is trying to avoid his opponent's strikes and get into the clinch.

Temrezov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.

Boranbayev looking for a guillotine here but Temrezov defends easily.
Boranbayev is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Temrezov can do to turn this around?

Boranbayev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Temrezov defends it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Temrezov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boranbayev is trying to control the position from the bottom.

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

Temrezov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Boranbayev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Boranbayev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Temrezov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Temrezov looking to control.

Temrezov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Boranbayev doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Boranbayev manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Boranbayev seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two 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.
Boranbayev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Boranbayev seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Boranbayev throws a strike but Temrezov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Temrezov trying to control but Boranbayev is working from the bottom.
Temrezov postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Boranbayev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Temrezov is aware though and is defending well.
Temrezov trying to control the position from guard on top but Boranbayev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Temrezov looking to sit in guard and control but Boranbayev gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Boranbayev wants to stand but Temrezov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Temrezov is looking to sweep but instead, Boranbayev has passed into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Boranbayev in particular looking to stall.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Temrezov is trying to control but can't.
Temrezov looks like he's trying to stand up.
Boranbayev looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Temrezov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Boranbayev is working away from the top position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Temrezov won't allow Boranbayev to pass to mount.

Temrezov has one foot on Boranbayev's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

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 Zhasulan Boranbayev.
Well Boranbayev has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Zhasulan Boranbayev!