PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Evgeni Klebanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ryan Taylor (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Klebanov comes to the cage accompanied by Your Worst Nightmare. Ryan Taylor told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Klebanov
vs
Taylor

168 cm
23
166 lbs
3 - 0 - 1

170 cm
19
167 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 3 - 0 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Evgeni Klebanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ryan Taylor!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Aleksandr Martynov and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Klebanov drops his hands momentarily and Taylor takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Taylor scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Klebanov tries to score with a low kick but Taylor moves his leg out of the way.

Klebanov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Taylor sprawls well initially but Klebanov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Klebanov wants to take a breather but Taylor is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Taylor is looking to improve his position.

Klebanov wants to work for an arm triangle but Taylor is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Klebanov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Taylor is just riding it out for now. Klebanov eventually gives up the hold.
The fighters are battling for position here. Taylor manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klebanov being controlled here momentarily.

Klebanov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Taylor manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Klebanov has Taylor in his guard.
Klebanov is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Taylor moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Klebanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Taylor is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Klebanov from controlling successfully.
Klebanov sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Taylor's guard.

Taylor is defending against the submission attempts here by Klebanov.
Taylor moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Taylor lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Klebanov!
Taylor pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taylor is in the full mount, landing strikes.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Taylor cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Taylor wants to control the pace but Klebanov is squirming around nicely.
Taylor avoids the attempt from Klebanov to control.
Taylor with a couple of short strikes.
Klebanov can't escape the position.
Taylor throws some wild stikes that Klebanov manages to avoid easily.
Taylor lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Klebanov's face.
Taylor landing punches.
Klebanov is looking to improve his position but Taylor isn't that keen on the idea.
Klebanov is breathing heavily.
Taylor putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Taylor cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Klebanov is rocked!
Taylor fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Oh Klebanov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Taylor fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taylor thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Taylor unloading with bombs!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Taylor dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Horrible takedown by Klebanov or perhaps it was just good defense by Taylor which made him look bad.
Klebanov seems to have got his legs back now.

Taylor closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Klebanov did well to prevent Taylor getting side control.
Taylor misses with a head shot. Klebanov uses the momentum to regain guard.
Klebanov keeping full guard, as Taylor tries to pass.
Taylor stopping the sweep attempt from Klebanov.
Taylor thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klebanov is trying to control the position but Taylor postures up.
Klebanov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Taylor is one step ahead there.
Taylor working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Taylor with a flurry of punches that miss.
Klebanov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Taylor throwing strikes from guard but Klebanov blocks nicely.
Ryan Taylor has got the better of the ground game so far.
Taylor postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Taylor throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Klebanov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taylor trying to control but Klebanov is working from the bottom.
Klebanov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Taylor missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Taylor thows a big elbow that misses.
Klebanov is trying to keep Taylor in close.

Klebanov has his foot on Taylor's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Taylor works his way back into a safe position though.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Good exchange - Taylor coming out on top.
Klebanov misses with a takedown
and Klebanov takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Taylor shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Taylor showed some decent athleticism there.
Taylor performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Klebanov is looking to control Taylor's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Klebanov avoid being mounted?
Taylor missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Klebanov wants to sweep but Taylor has passed to side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taylor working the ground and pound.
Klebanov is trying to improve his position.
Klebanov takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Taylor is looking to take a break and control but Klebanov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Taylor throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Taylor lands an elbow.
Taylor grinds an elbow into Klebanov's temple.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ryan Taylor showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Klebanov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Klebanov won't allow Taylor to sweep him here.
Klebanov trying to control but Taylor is working from the bottom.
Klebanov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Klebanov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Taylor is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Taylor has escaped and now he's on top!
Taylor is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Taylor with a flurry of punches that miss.
Klebanov keeping moving, preventing Taylor from controlling successfully.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klebanov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Taylor accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Taylor working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Klebanov's head.
Klebanov controls Taylor momentarily but Taylor frees himself.
Taylor throws a strike but Klebanov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Taylor looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Taylor keeping moving, preventing Klebanov from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Klebanov is really struggling to control Taylor but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Taylor seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taylor scores with a nice strike.
Taylor connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Taylor counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Klebanov shoots and misses
and Taylor counters with a series of strikes. Klebanov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Evgeni Klebanov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A left lands for Taylor.
Taylor lands with a hook. Klebanov tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Klebanov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Taylor counters with a takedown into side control.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Evgeni Klebanov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Klebanov takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Klebanov is trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov struggling a bit here.
Taylor tries to score with some ground and pound. Klebanov controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Ryan Taylor is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Taylor lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Taylor is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Klebanov will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Klebanov taking punishment in the form of punches.
Taylor working the ground and pound from side control.
Taylor lands some shots froms side control.
The ground and pound from Taylor seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ryan Taylor comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Taylor has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 27:30
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ryan Taylor!