PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Yevgenyevich Beschastnykh (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mads Soren Kassler (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Yevgenyevich Beschastnykh
vs
Soren Kassler

174 cm
27
155 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

176 cm
21
158 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter striker
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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Yevgenyevich Beschastnykh!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Mads Soren Kassler!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Beschastnykh shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kassler's guard.
Kassler trying to keep a closed guard but Beschastnykh is proving a slippery customer.
Kassler utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kassler wants to sweep but no luck.
Kassler is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Kassler working for a triangle but Beschastnykh defends it easily.
Kassler is looking to stand up but Beschastnykh isn't so interested in that idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beschastnykh trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Beschastnykh's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Beschastnykh stopping the sweep attempt from Kassler.
Beschastnykh controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Beschastnykh scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Beschastnykh works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kassler trying to control but Beschastnykh flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Beschastnykh trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Kassler doesn't escape.
Beschastnykh lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Beschastnykh.
Kassler can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Beschastnykh controls the position.
Beschastnykh is not going to allow Kassler to sit and survive in this position.
Kassler tries to escape but Beschastnykh has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kassler breaks Beschastnykh's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Kassler tries to free his leg and advance position but Beschastnykh is retaining full guard.
Kassler slips nicely into half guard.
Beschastnykh works his way to full guard. Good work.
Beschastnykh trying to control the position here.
Kassler preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Yevgenyevich Beschastnykh dominated that round.
That's time! Beschastnykh's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Beschastnykh shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Beschastnykh was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kassler wants to control but Beschastnykh is having none of it.
Beschastnykh breaks from Kassler's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Beschastnykh controlling from the full mount.
Beschastnykh's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kassler tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Beschastnykh takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Beschastnykh cracks Kassler with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

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.
Kassler wants to control but Beschastnykh is having none of it.
Beschastnykh controlling from mount.
Kassler is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kassler wants to control but Beschastnykh is having none of it.
Beschastnykh prevents Kassler from getting the reversal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kassler is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Beschastnykh controlling from mount.
Kassler is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Beschastnykh controlling the position easily from mount.

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.
Kassler tries to lock up and control but Beschastnykh gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Beschastnykh controlling from mount.
Vladimir Yevgenyevich Beschastnykh overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kassler is desperately trying to improve his position but Beschastnykh has a good base and remains in mount.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Yevgenyevich Beschastnykh dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Beschastnykh fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Kassler sprawls well initially but Beschastnykh persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Beschastnykh stands up from half guard.

Beschastnykh shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kassler napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kassler is looking for a sweep.
Beschastnykh in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kassler is trying to get back to half guard.
Beschastnykh gets to mount! Kassler was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
Kassler is looking to improve his position but Beschastnykh isn't that keen on the idea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Beschastnykh scoring with strikes but Kassler is staying in there.
Kassler is looking to get to half guard.
Kassler wants to control but Beschastnykh is having none of it.
Beschastnykh controlling his opponent.

That's two 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.
Beschastnykh landing strikes from the mount and Kassler is in trouble!
Kassler working to try and regain half guard.
Kassler regains half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kassler blocking the ground and pound attempt from Beschastnykh.
Beschastnykh looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Beschastnykh works his foot free and advances to mount.
Kassler is in all sorts of trouble here.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

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.
Beschastnykh punishing his opponent with strikes.
Beschastnykh has his opponent pinned against the ropes, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kassler's face.
Vladimir Yevgenyevich Beschastnykh is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Beschastnykh controlling his opponent.
Kassler can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Yevgenyevich Beschastnykh showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Beschastnykh has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight for Vladimir Yevgenyevich Beschastnykh!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Vladimir Yevgenyevich Beschastnykh!
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Vladimir Yevgenyevich Beschastnykh!

Vladimir Yevgenyevich Beschastnykh wins by unanimous decision!