PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dimitri Kliment (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Smirnov
vs
Kliment

180 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

217 cm
22
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Smirnov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dimitri Kliment!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kliment closes this distance looking for a takedown but Smirnov circles away.
Smirnov throws a one two combo.
Kliment tries a head kick but it misses.

Kliment gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Smirnov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Kliment is trying to keep Smirnov in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kliment has his foot on Smirnov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smirnov works his way back into a safe position though.

Kliment looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Smirnov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kliment wants to control but Smirnov postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov scores with punches from side control.
Smirnov wants to control but Kliment is keeping him busy.
Smirnov is breathing heavily.
Smirnov is really struggling to control Kliment but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Smirnov scoring with punches from side control.
Kliment is letting Smirnov control him for a moment.
Kliment is looking to reverse the position.
Smirnov tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Kliment sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Kliment is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Smirnov pulls his head out easily.

Kliment pushes Smirnov off and gets back to his feet.
Smirnov fails with the takedown

and Kliment counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kliment manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Smirnov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kliment turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kliment manages to end up in side control.
Smirnov wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Kliment is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smirnov is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kliment is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Smirnov will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Smirnov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Smirnov tries to get out of the position.
Smirnov is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Kliment thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kliment wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Smirnov, who protects the arm well.
Kliment trying to control the position but Smirnov is working away.

Kliment thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Smirnov tries to bench press Kliment off him but Kliment keeps the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Dimitri Kliment will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Smirnov's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kliment connects with a high kick.

Smirnov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Kliment!
Kliment manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Smirnov blocks the strikes from Kliment.
Smirnov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kliment trying to control here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kliment is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Smirnov is staying active.
Smirnov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kliment defending well though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov wants to pass to mount but Kliment is defending the position.
Kliment wants to control but Smirnov is keeping busy.
Kliment regains full guard. Nicely done.

Kliment has his foot on Smirnov's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Smirnov works his way back into a safe position though.
Smirnov looking to sit in guard and control but Kliment gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Smirnov working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kliment doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kliment manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kliment trying to control but Smirnov is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kliment looking to sit in guard and control but Smirnov gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Smirnov chips away with some ground and pound.

Kliment throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Smirnov escapes and throws Kliment's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Kliment takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kliment down.
Kliment is trying to control Smirnov's posture but Smirnov avoids it.
Kliment is looking for a sweep.
Smirnov scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kliment regains half guard there - taking advantage of Smirnov's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.
Smirnov wants to pass to mount but Kliment is defending the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

Kliment looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Smirnov throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Smirnov throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kliment lets loose with a powerful body kick. Smirnov will feel that in the morning.
Smirnov swats away the attempt to clinch by Kliment.
Kliment throws a head kick that Smirnov semi-blocks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Dimitri Kliment will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Vladimir Smirnov's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kliment tries to clinch but Smirnov moves out of range.
No luck for Smirnov with that takedown attempt.
Kliment fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Smirnov looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Kliment paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Kliment tries to clinch but Smirnov moves out of range.
Kliment delivers a nice body kick.
Donk. Kliment catches Smirnov right on the button with a cross.

Kliment has closed the distance and engaged Smirnov in a clinch.

Kliment's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Kliment!
Kliment throws a head kick but Smirnov moves out of range.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Smirnov on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kliment lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov fails in his attempt to clinch.

Kliment scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Smirnov punching from the bottom.
Kliment thows a huge punch but Smirnov dodges it nicely.
Smirnov trying to control from the bottom.

Kliment postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Smirnov to stand up.
Kliment scores with a head kick.
Kliment cracks Smirnov with an open hand slap.
Kliment lands with a slapping head kick.

Smirnov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Kliment manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Smirnov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kliment working for submissions but it's allowed Smirnov to get to half guard.
Kliment missing with punches from the bottom.
Kliment wants to control but Smirnov is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Smirnov trying to control the pace.
Kliment wants to control but Smirnov is keeping busy.

Kliment actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kliment is looking to control Smirnov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kliment avoid being mounted?

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kliment tries for a takedown but Smirnov circles away easily

so Smirnov counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Smirnov looking to pass the guard.
Smirnov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dimitri Kliment is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Kliment keeping moving, preventing Smirnov from controlling successfully.
Vladimir Smirnov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smirnov missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

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 Vladimir Smirnov.
I think Kliment 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 28:30
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Dimitri Kliment!