PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Joshua Dexter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evgeni Klebanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Klebanov is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Your Worst Nightmare. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Dexter
vs
Klebanov

182 cm
24
165 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

168 cm
24
166 lbs
4 - 3 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

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 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Joshua Dexter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Evgeni Klebanov!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A solid leg kick lands there for Klebanov.
Dexter is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Klebanov keeps the fight on the outside.
Klebanov lands a jab to Dexter's midsection.
Dexter misses with a looping right.
Dexter tries to clinch but Klebanov is having none of it.
Klebanov is looking to chop away at Dexter's legs.
Klebanov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Dexter uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Klebanov.
Klebanov keeps the fight on the outside.
Dexter doesn't manage to clinch there - Klebanov circles away.

Dexter darts in and clinches Klebanov up against the cage.
Dexter blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dexter misses with the head strike.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Klebanov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Klebanov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Klebanov misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Klebanov misses with the head strike.
Dexter lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Dexter slowing the pace effectively.
Dexter is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Dexter lands with a right to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Klebanov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Klebanov seems keen to control Dexter's posture.
Klebanov looking for a sweep. Not yet Klebanov, not yet.

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.
Dexter wants to stand but Klebanov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dexter won't allow Klebanov to sweep him here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Klebanov is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Evgeni Klebanov will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Dexter tries to close the distance and clinch but Klebanov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dexter avoids the body shot from Klebanov.

Dexter gets caught flat footed, as Klebanov shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Dexter is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Klebanov is controlling him.
Dexter keeping moving, preventing Klebanov from controlling successfully.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Dexter utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dexter 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.
Klebanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Dexter is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Klebanov wants to pass the guard but Dexter is keeping the position.
Dexter keeping moving, preventing Klebanov from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Klebanov just misses with a punch to the body.
Dexter throws a good cross that connects.
Dexter fails with an attempt to clinch.

Dexter has taken the fight to the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Dexter.
Dexter lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Dexter lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Dexter is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Dexter pushes Klebanov back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

Klebanov lands a takedown into guard.
Klebanov is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Evgeni Klebanov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

A good leg kick by Klebanov.
Dexter fails in his attempt to clinch.
Klebanov shoots in for a takedown but Dexter shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Joshua Dexter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Klebanov wants to clinch up but Dexter keeps it at a distance.
Dexter tries to clinch up
and Klebanov makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Dexter tries to clinch but Klebanov moves away
and Klebanov counters with a leg kick.
Dexter tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Klebanov counters with a good low kick that Dexter was not able to check.
Dexter closes the distance looking to clinch
and Klebanov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Dexter throws a series of punches but Klebanov avoids them all with ease.

Klebanov drives through and clinches with Dexter against the cage.
Klebanov tries to throw a body punch but Dexter avoids it by throwing Klebanov back against the cage.
Dexter lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Dexter digs a right hand into Klebanov's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Klebanov's gas tank.
Klebanov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Klebanov tries a body shot but Dexter blocks it.
Dexter swings wildly with an uppercut but Klebanov uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dexter digs a right hand underneath Klebanov's ribcage. Klebanov let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Klebanov lands a body shot.
Klebanov lands a shoulder strike.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Klebanov.
Dexter blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Klebanov struggles to land a body shot inside as Dexter controls his hands.
Dexter misses with the head strike.
Dexter misses with a punch to the body.
Dexter scores with a hook to the body.
Dexter pushes Klebanov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Klebanov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Dexter scores with a shoulder strike.
Dexter scores with a hook to the body.
Klebanov jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Dexter walks away with a smile on his face. Klebanov gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Joshua Dexter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeni Klebanov.
Klebanov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Dexter moves away.
Klebanov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Joshua Dexter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dexter tries to close the distance and clinch but Klebanov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Dexter closes the distance looking to clinch

and Klebanov counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dexter trying to remain calm as Klebanov controls from the top position.
Dexter is not content to let Klebanov control the position.
Dexter tries to improve position but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dexter prevents Klebanov from moving into mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Klebanov staying calm.

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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 27:30

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