PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bogdan Vasiliev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Kilgore (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vasiliev comes to the cage accompanied by Rush - Big Money. James Kilgore is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Vasiliev
vs
Kilgore

180 cm
25
185 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

188 cm
22
193 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Canadian Fighter Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Bogdan Vasiliev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, James Kilgore!
The judges for this bout are Mauricio Rocha, Matheus Silva and Felipe Paraventi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kilgore is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vasiliev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Vasiliev throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Vasiliev darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Vasiliev is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Vasiliev wants to control but Kilgore is keeping him busy.

Vasiliev is trying to work for a kimura but Kilgore is defending well.
Kilgore is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kilgore slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Vasiliev trying to control the position from guard on top but Kilgore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kilgore working a defensive guard here.
Kilgore is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

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.
Vasiliev wants to stand but Kilgore is controlling his posture from full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kilgore tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Vasiliev paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kilgore shoots and misses

and Vasiliev counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Vasiliev.
Vasiliev tries to score a body lock takedown but Kilgore shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Vasiliev on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kilgore fails to pull guard.
Bogdan Vasiliev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Kilgore.
Vasiliev fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Vasiliev leaning his opponent against the cage.
Kilgore tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Vasiliev just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kilgore has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Vasiliev is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Kilgore misses with a punch on the inside.
Kilgore is looking to break free of the clinch but Vasiliev has double underhooks.
Kilgore looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vasiliev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kilgore throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kilgore drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kilgore misses with a takedown attempt
and Vasiliev counters with a series of strikes. Kilgore will be more careful next time no doubt.
Kilgore tries to clinch but Vasiliev moves away

and Vasiliev counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Vasiliev has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Vasiliev gets to his feet. Kilgore looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

Vasiliev has taken the fight to the clinch.
Kilgore wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Vasiliev is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Kilgore can't fight it off and eventually Vasiliev manages to take the fight to the floor. Kilgore looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vasiliev looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasiliev tries to stand but Kilgore is controlling from the bottom.
Vasiliev trying to control the position from guard on top but Kilgore is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vasiliev wanted to stand there but Kilgore had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bogdan Vasiliev dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fight stays on the outside here - Vasiliev looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kilgore leaves Vasiliev with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kilgore tries to clinch but Vasiliev moves away

and Vasiliev counters by clinching up.
Vasiliev is trying to break the clinch but Kilgore has him pressed against the cage.
Vasiliev lands with a light punch inside.
Vasiliev tries for a takedown. No joy.
Kilgore fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Vasiliev tries to break the clinch but Kilgore is controlling the position.
Kilgore working hard to break the clinch.
Kilgore working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Vasiliev tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kilgore takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kilgore wants to break free but Vasiliev has control.
Kilgore wants to break the clinch but can't.

Vasiliev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vasiliev closes the distance looking to clinch

and Kilgore holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kilgore stops a takedown attempt from Vasiliev.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Bogdan Vasiliev. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Vasiliev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Vasiliev has a takedown stuffed.
Kilgore tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Vasiliev holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kilgore has Vasiliev pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Vasiliev manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Kilgore lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

It looks like Bogdan Vasiliev has been cut.
Vasiliev keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Kilgore's efforts to push away.

Vasiliev breaks from the clinch.
Kilgore keeps the fight on the outside.
A combination from Kilgore does no damage.
Kilgore closes the distance but Vasiliev moves to the side

and Vasiliev counters by moving into the clinch.
Kilgore tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Vasiliev smiles and moves away.
Vasiliev tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kilgore counters with a lovely straight right hand!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Vasiliev clinches up with Kilgore and pushes him back against the cage.
Vasiliev taking a breather.
Vasiliev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kilgore smiles and moves away.
Vasiliev misses with the combination.
Kilgore displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Kilgore tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Vasiliev counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kilgore's guard now.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vasiliev trying to control but Kilgore is working from the bottom.
Vasiliev looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasiliev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kilgore works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Vasiliev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kilgore swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kilgore is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Vasiliev is controlling him.
Vasiliev wants to get up but he can't break Kilgore's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kilgore looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kilgore 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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kilgore tries to clinch up

and Vasiliev holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Kilgore goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vasiliev prevents it.
Kilgore is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Vasiliev gets control of Kilgore's arms and successfully pulls guard. Vasiliev will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Vasiliev working a defensive guard but Kilgore manages to pass into side control anyway.

Kilgore looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Kilgore tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
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 Bogdan Vasiliev will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Bogdan Vasiliev's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Vasiliev moves into the clinch.
Kilgore lands a nice knee to the body.
Vasiliev is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kilgore pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kilgore putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Vasiliev in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kilgore tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Kilgore jumps guard and drags Vasiliev to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Kilgore keeping moving, preventing Vasiliev from controlling successfully.
Kilgore 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.
Vasiliev pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kilgore is keeping the position for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vasiliev gets to his feet. Kilgore looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Kilgore tries to clinch but Vasiliev moves away

and Vasiliev counters by moving into the clinch.
Vasiliev keeps control of Kilgore as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Kilgore keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Vasiliev's efforts to push away.

Vasiliev's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vasiliev thows a body shot but no joy.

Vasiliev drives through and clinches with Kilgore against the cage.
Vasiliev stops a takedown attempt from Kilgore.

Kilgore gets control of Vasiliev's arms and successfully pulls guard. Kilgore will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Kilgore keeping full guard, as Vasiliev tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vasiliev not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Vasiliev gets to his feet - Kilgore follows without any prompting.
Kilgore tries for a takedown but Vasiliev circles away easily

and Vasiliev counters by moving into the clinch.

Vasiliev escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kilgore wants to clinch

and Vasiliev counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Vasiliev.

Kilgore drags the fight down to the ground.
Kilgore wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasiliev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kilgore swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vasiliev wants to get up but he can't break Kilgore's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vasiliev wants to control from the top but Kilgore keeps moving.
Vasiliev is really struggling to control Kilgore but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Vasiliev wants to stand and escape but instead Kilgore has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.

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.
Vasiliev looking for a sweep. Not yet Vasiliev, not yet.
James Kilgore has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kilgore trying to stand up but can't free himself from Vasiliev's guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kilgore tries to clinch but Vasiliev moves away

and Vasiliev counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Vasiliev goes for a takedown attempt but Kilgore pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kilgore throws a combination that misses

and Vasiliev counters with a takedown into side control.
Kilgore tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Vasiliev easily slips into full mount!
Vasiliev throwing strikes but Kilgore recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Bogdan Vasiliev is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vasiliev tries to stand and escape but Kilgore is controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bogdan Vasiliev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vasiliev 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 Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight 30:27
Judge Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bogdan Vasiliev!