PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Janis Ozolins (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kirill Stein (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ozolins
vs
Stein

180 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

164 cm
18
170 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Janis Ozolins!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kirill Stein!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ozolins moves in looking to clinch but Stein pushes him off.
Ozolins closes the distance and clinches up with Stein, looking for a takedown. Ozolins pushes Stein against the cage but Stein circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ozolins shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Stein as he avoids it easily.
Ozolins closes the distance and clinches up with Stein, looking for a takedown. Ozolins pushes Stein against the cage but Stein circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Janis Ozolins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ozolins wants to clinch up but Stein keeps it at a distance.
Stein should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Ozolins tries to clinch up.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Ozolins lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Stein has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Stein and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Ozolins fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ozolins shoots in looking for a takedown. Stein tries to sprawl out of it but Ozolins keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stein manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Ozolins shoots in and drives through. Stein sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ozolins is trying hard to land a takedown here. Stein sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Ozolins shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Stein pinned against the cage. Stein gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ozolins tries to clinch but Stein moves out of range.
Stein throws out a leg kick but Ozolins moves out of range and Stein only half commits.
A head kick misses from Ozolins.
Ozolins dives in and grabs Stein's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stein pushes down on Ozolins's head and hops out.

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.
Ozolins is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Stein shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ozolins is trying to defend but Stein finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

Stein postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Ozolins to stand up.
Ozolins blocks a head kick by Stein.
Stein throws a head kick that misses
enabling Ozolins to counter with a crisp jab.
Ozolins tries for a takedown but Stein circles away easily

so Stein counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stein stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ozolins swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Stein decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Ozolins tries to land a front kick but Stein steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ozolins misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Stein closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Ozolins tries to bench press Stein off him but Stein keeps the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Stein decides to stand up, so the ref orders Ozolins to his feet.
Ozolins is breathing heavily.
Ozolins misses with a takedown

and Stein counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ozolins!
Stein lands a nice shot to the head.
Stein lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Ozolins tries to strike from the bottom but he's left himself exposed and Stein has taken his back.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Let's hope that Stein 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ozolins swinging wildly here.
Stein moves out of range as Ozolins strikes.
Ozolins will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Stein slips a jab and a cross from Ozolins.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ozolins wants to clinch but Stein slips to the side

and Stein counters with a shoot takedown. Ozolins fights it but they end up in guard.
Stein slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Stein stands up from Ozolins's guard - Stein perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ozolins with a lazy takedown attempt

and Stein counters with a single leg into guard. Ozolins didn't expect that.
Stein looking to pass the guard.

Ozolins working for a triangle but Stein defends it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Ozolins looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Stein passes into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ozolins seems a little lost for a moment, as Stein dominates the positioning.

Stein has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Ozolins misses with a takedown

and Stein counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stein.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stein throwing strikes from guard but Ozolins blocks nicely.
Stein trying to control but Ozolins is working from the bottom.

Stein stands up from Ozolins's guard - Stein perhaps looking for a knockout.
Ozolins with a lazy takedown attempt

and Stein decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ozolins's guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Janis Ozolins. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stein controls from within his opponent's guard.

Stein decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Ozolins, up you get!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ozolins fails with the takedown

and Stein decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ozolins's guard.
Ozolins keeping moving, preventing Stein from controlling successfully.
Stein 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.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirill Stein showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Ozolins throws a series of punches but Stein moves out of range.
Ozolins with a poor takedown

and Stein counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kirill Stein has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ozolins is staying active underneath Stein, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Stein stands up from half guard.
Ozolins looks to clinch

and Stein counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ozolins!
Stein has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stein lands a nice shot to the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Stein working for a submission but Ozolins is keeping him at bay.
Stein controlling his opponent.

Stein get's back to his feet.

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.
A punch combination from Ozolins misses.
Ozolins fails with the takedown

and Stein counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Ozolins!
Stein controlling his opponent.

Stein get's back to his feet.
Janis Ozolins seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Stein feints and as Ozolins raises his hands in defense, Stein changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Stein gets to his feet. Ozolins looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ozolins fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stein manages to avoid it.
Ozolins tries to clinch but Stein moves away

and Stein counters with a shoot takedown. Ozolins fights it but they end up in guard.

Stein stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Ozolins wants to clinch

and Stein counters with a nice double leg into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ozolins 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.

Ozolins isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Stein stacks Ozolins on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Stein!

Stein decides to stand back up. Stein steps back and let's Ozolins get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Stein drives through with a takedown into guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kirill Stein comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Stein 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 25:30
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 25:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kirill Stein!