PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between HB Pencil (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evgeni Klebanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Klebanov's choice of entrance music: Your Worst Nightmare. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Pencil
vs
Klebanov

180 cm
22
160 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

168 cm
23
166 lbs
3 - 3 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, HB Pencil!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Evgeni Klebanov!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pencil fails with the takedown.

Klebanov instigates a clinch.
Pencil has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Pencil has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Klebanov uses from the top position.
Klebanov won't allow Pencil to get back to his feet.
Klebanov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pencil working a defensive guard here.
Klebanov sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Pencil escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Klebanov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Pencil is wriggling around but Klebanov manages to pass to half guard.
Klebanov frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov content just to control the position here.
Let's hope that Klebanov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Pencil tries to reverse the position but Klebanov maintains control.

That's four 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.
Pencil is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Pencil is desperately trying to improve his position but Klebanov has a good base and remains in mount.
Klebanov takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeni Klebanov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Pencil looks to clinch
and Klebanov counters with a nice leg kick.
Klebanov misses the shot to the body.
Pencil wants to clinch
and Klebanov counters with a nice leg kick.
Klebanov is looking to clinch.

Klebanov moves into the clinch.
Klebanov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Pencil's elbow.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Pencil looking to slow down the pace here.
Pencil wants a takedown but no success here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pencil stalling in the clinch but Klebanov improves position.
Klebanov keeps control of Pencil as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Klebanov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Pencil or not.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pencil blocks a body shot from Klebanov.
Pencil blocks a body shot from Klebanov.
Pencil is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Pencil has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Klebanov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Klebanov lands a body punch.
Pencil can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for HB Pencil. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pencil has Klebanov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Klebanov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Pencil tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Klebanov smiles and moves away.

That's two 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.
A looping hook to the body misses from Klebanov. Pencil does a little dance to reset his feet.
Klebanov throws a body punch but Pencil moves out of range.

Klebanov gets caught flat footed, as Pencil shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Pencil postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Klebanov is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Pencil, into his guard.
Klebanov is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Pencil looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Klebanov controlling from the top position.

That's four 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.

Pencil is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeni Klebanov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Klebanov is looking to clinch.
Klebanov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Pencil paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Klebanov ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Klebanov takes a swing at Pencil's ribcage but misses.
Klebanov throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Pencil gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Klebanov counters by clinching up.
Klebanov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Pencil tries to stall but Klebanov uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Klebanov on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Klebanov tries to throw a body punch but Pencil avoids it by throwing Klebanov back against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Pencil - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pencil on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Klebanov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Klebanov tries to work over Pencil's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Pencil wants a takedown but no success here.
Klebanov misses with a punch to the body.
Klebanov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Klebanov fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Pencil doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
HB Pencil has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Pencil wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for HB Pencil. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Pencil tries to break free but Klebanov pushes him back against the cage.
Pencil is trying to drag Klebanov to the mat but Klebanov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Klebanov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Pencil blocks a body shot from Klebanov.
Klebanov pushes Pencil back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Klebanov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Pencil looking to slow down the pace here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov scores with a nice hook to the head.
Pencil holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Klebanov swings wildly with an uppercut but Pencil uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short left from Klebanov.
A right hand to the body from Klebanov.
Klebanov tries to throw a body punch but Pencil avoids it by throwing Klebanov back against the cage.
Klebanov misses with a punch on the inside.
Klebanov tries to work over Pencil's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

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.
Klebanov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Klebanov misses with a punch to the body.
Pencil has a couple of punches blocked by Klebanov.
Klebanov gets underhooks to prevent Pencil's takedown attempt.
Klebanov working aggressively here.
Pencil looking to stall.
Klebanov cracks Pencil with a nice body shot.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Klebanov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.

Pencil works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Pencil trying to control the position from guard on top but Klebanov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evgeni Klebanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Klebanov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 27:30
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evgeni Klebanov!