PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Ishi Kiki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evgeni Klebanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Klebanov comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Your Worst Nightmare kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kiki
vs
Klebanov

173 cm
27
167 lbs
17 - 11 - 1

168 cm
27
166 lbs
18 - 5 - 1

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ishi Kiki!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 5 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Evgeni Klebanov!
The judges for this bout are Frank Dennis, Daniel Franklin and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Klebanov throws a leg kick but Kiki sees it coming and moves out of range.
Kiki waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Klebanov.
Kiki just misses with a punch to the body.
Klebanov throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kiki getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Klebanov does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kiki scores with a nice head shot.
Kiki rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Klebanov counters with a left to the body.
Klebanov moves away from the strike by Kiki.
Kiki throws a lazy uppercut

and Klebanov counters by clinching up.
Kiki lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kiki has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Klebanov struggles to land a body shot inside as Kiki controls his hands.
Kiki misses with a hook from the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klebanov lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kiki.
Kiki fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kiki working aggressively here.
Klebanov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kiki stalling in the clinch.
Kiki throws a punch but it's blocked by Klebanov.
Klebanov tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
A nice left hand lands by Kiki.
Klebanov tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kiki's elbow.
Klebanov doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Klebanov lands with a short punch from the clinch.
A body shot lands from Klebanov.
Kiki misses with a hook from the clinch.
A head punch on the inside from Klebanov fails to land.
Kiki misses with the head strike.
Kiki lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Still in the clinch, Klebanov scores with a nice short uppercut.
Klebanov softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kiki breaks from the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiki throws an off balance right hand
and Klebanov counters with a nice leg kick.
Klebanov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kiki paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nice defenses there by Klebanov.
Klebanov ducks under a wild hook from Kiki.
Kiki missing with a left hand there. Klebanov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kiki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kiki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Klebanov avoids the body shot from Kiki.
Klebanov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kiki misses with a hook
and Klebanov counters with a left to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiki catches Klebanov with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kiki throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Nice takedown defense from Kiki. No joy for Klebanov on that attempt.
Nice shot lands for Kiki.
Klebanov scoring well with a low kick there.
Nice defenses there by Klebanov.
Good leg kick by Klebanov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Klebanov throws a nice inside leg kick.
Klebanov throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kiki missing with a left hand there. Klebanov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Klebanov tries to close the distance and clinch but Kiki swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov is looking to clinch but Kiki is avoiding it.
Kiki misses with a left hand
and Klebanov counters with a good low kick that Kiki was not able to check.
Klebanov looks to score with a jab to the body but Kiki is just out of range.
Kiki stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Klebanov.
A shot to the liver by Kiki. Beautiful body shot.
Klebanov tries a low kick but Kiki avoids it.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Kiki throws a poor cross that misses
and Klebanov counters with a body kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kiki on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Klebanov. Klebanov obviously looking to wear him down.
Klebanov tries to clinch but Kiki moves out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Klebanov.
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.

Klebanov lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Kiki throws a lazy right hand but Klebanov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Klebanov tries to clinch there but Kiki circles away.
Klebanov leaves Kiki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Klebanov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kiki throws out the jab.
Nice defenses there by Klebanov.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Klebanov 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 Kiki has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Kiki and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Klebanov throws a quick inside leg kick.
Klebanov misses with a body kick.
Klebanov is looking to clinch but Kiki is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kiki checks a leg kick.
Kiki is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Kiki takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Klebanov swings for the body but Kiki moves out of range.
Klebanov tries to clinch but Kiki moves out of range.
Kiki misses with a looping left.
Klebanov throws a leg kick but Kiki sees it coming and moves out of range.
Klebanov tries to work over Kiki's front leg with a kick but Kiki checks it.
Klebanov buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kiki misses with an uppercut. Klebanov saw that one coming.
A shot to the body from Kiki misses
and Klebanov counters with a nice leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiki throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kiki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Klebanov fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Kiki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kiki misses with a right hand
and Klebanov counters with a body kick that stops Kiki in his tracks momentarily.
Klebanov slips a straight right by Kiki.
Kiki misses with a looping right.
Klebanov throws a leg kick that misses.
Kiki checks a leg kick.
Kiki scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Klebanov is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kiki rather than just go for the knockout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov slips a straight right by Kiki.
Kiki loads up on a big right hand but Klebanov slips the punch.
Klebanov slips under a jab from Kiki.
Kiki thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kiki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kiki keeps the fight on the outside.
A telegraphed right hand from Kiki misses the target.
A solid body kick from Klebanov.
Kiki lands a head shot.
Klebanov is looking to score with low kicks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiki throws a poor cross that misses
and Klebanov counters with a nice leg kick.
Klebanov looks to land a right hand but Kiki moved out of range.

Kiki gets tackled into the cage by Klebanov. Klebanov maintains the clinch.
Kiki is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Klebanov lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kiki or not.
Klebanov lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Klebanov tries to work over Kiki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Klebanov digs a right hand into Kiki's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Kiki's gas tank.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A nice left hand lands by Klebanov.
Kiki misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kiki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kiki misses with some punches.
Klebanov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Evgeni Klebanov seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Kiki stalling in the clinch but Klebanov improves position.
Klebanov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kiki is trying to stall.
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.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Klebanov just misses with a punch to the body.
Kiki swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kiki takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Kiki drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Kiki is trying to get an arm triangle but Klebanov is defending well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Klebanov manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Klebanov in particular looking to stall.
Kiki is pressing down on Klebanov's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kiki has his hands on Klebanov's head, controlling the position.
Klebanov trying to control but Kiki is working from the bottom.
Klebanov stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kiki swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov thows a big elbow that misses.
Kiki keeping moving, preventing Klebanov from controlling successfully.
Klebanov stays in close to Kiki's body and controls the position.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Evgeni Klebanov wasn't active enough on the ground.
Kiki shoots in for a takedown but Klebanov shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Klebanov lands with a kick to the ribs.
Klebanov misses the shot to the body.
Klebanov moves away from the strike by Kiki.
Kiki connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Kiki's calf.
Klebanov tries to clinch up but Kiki circles away and keeps his distance.
Klebanov changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kiki tries to avoid it but Klebanov manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kiki to the ground. Kiki escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Klebanov throws out a leg kick but Kiki moves out of range and Klebanov only half commits.
Kiki takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kiki misses the shot to the body.
Kiki misses with a hook to the body
and Klebanov counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kiki's knee momentarily.
Kiki blocks the body kick.
Klebanov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kiki pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiki takes a swing at Klebanov's ribcage but misses.
Klebanov shoots in for a takedown but Kiki shows good takedown defense.
Kiki looks to land a right hand but Klebanov moved out of range.
A nice inside leg kick there by Klebanov. That's going to slow Kiki down.
The fight stays on the outside here - Klebanov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Klebanov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kiki is fending him off so far but Klebanov persists. Nope, Kiki circles away and we're back to standing.
Ishi Kiki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeni Klebanov.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
A big right from Klebanov misses.
Klebanov doesn't manage to clinch there - Kiki circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeni Klebanov really dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Klebanov moves in looking to clinch but Kiki pushes him off.
Kiki lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Kiki keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Klebanov cracks the inside of Kiki's front leg.
Klebanov scoring well with a low kick there.
Kiki throws a lazy right hand but Klebanov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Klebanov works Kiki's body with a nice hook.
Kiki throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Klebanov finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Klebanov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Klebanov tests Kiki's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Klebanov.
Kiki misses with an uppercut.
Nice cross by Kiki.
Kiki looks to land a right hand but Klebanov moved out of range.
Klebanov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kiki misses with a straight right.
Klebanov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Crunch! Klebanov slams his shin into Kiki's torso.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Kiki throws a hook but Klebanov avoids it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiki tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kiki digs a good body shot into Klebanov's ribs.
Klebanov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Klebanov moves out of range of the strikes.
Kiki loads up on a big right hand but Klebanov slips the punch.
Klebanov fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Klebanov connects with a body shot.
Klebanov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kiki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kiki.
Evgeni Klebanov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Klebanov lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Kiki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Klebanov.
Kiki chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Klebanov can pounce on him.
Kiki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Klebanov manages to avoid it.
Kiki takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Klebanov tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kiki was well out of range. Poor timing from Klebanov.
Kiki fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Klebanov manages to avoid it.
Klebanov thows a body shot but no joy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Klebanov has managed to clinch.
Klebanov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Kiki tries for a takedown but Klebanov manages to get underhooks.
Kiki prevents a body shot from Klebanov.
Klebanov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Klebanov lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Kiki backwards.
Klebanov pushes Kiki back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Klebanov scores with a hook to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Klebanov tries to throw a body punch but Kiki avoids it by throwing Klebanov back against the cage.
A body shot lands from Klebanov.
Klebanov lands a left hand that snaps the head of Kiki backwards.
Klebanov lands a body shot.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kiki takes a shot to the head.
Klebanov lands a shot to the body.
Klebanov tries to work over Kiki's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Klebanov lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Evgeni Klebanov dominated that fourth round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

An inside leg kick lands from Klebanov.
Kiki throws a hook to the side of Klebanov's head but Klebanov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Klebanov uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kiki.
Klebanov connects with a leg kick. Kiki looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kiki shoots in but Klebanov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Klebanov ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Klebanov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Klebanov lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Kiki misses with a hook to the body
and Klebanov counters with a good low kick that Kiki was not able to check.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiki misses with a wild body shot.
Klebanov throws a leg kick but Kiki sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Klebanov moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Klebanov shoots in for a double leg but Kiki sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Klebanov clinches with his opponent.
Klebanov tries a body shot but Kiki blocks it.
Klebanov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Klebanov misses with a hook to the ribs.
A short right from Klebanov on the inside.
Klebanov stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Klebanov blocks an uppercut.
Klebanov lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ishi Kiki has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kiki.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Klebanov is leaning against Kiki and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Klebanov struggles to land a body shot inside as Kiki controls his hands.
Klebanov can't find room to land a body shot as Kiki controls the action.
Klebanov digs a right hand underneath Kiki's ribcage. Kiki let out a lung full of air as it connected.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Klebanov.
Klebanov tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Klebanov working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Klebanov can't find room to land a body shot as Kiki controls the action.

Klebanov gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Klebanov wants to control from the top but Kiki keeps moving.

Klebanov drops back looking for a leg! Kiki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kiki manages to kick Klebanov off! Klebanov jumps back into Kiki's guard.
Klebanov pushes down on Kiki's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov works his way into side control.
Kiki defending against the ground and pound.

Klebanov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kiki has escaped the position, nice work there.
Klebanov trying to control the action but Kiki is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Klebanov is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kiki is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Klebanov in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Kiki trying to remain calm as Klebanov controls from the top position.

Klebanov is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Kiki knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kiki wants to get back to his feet but Klebanov drags him back down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evgeni Klebanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Klebanov 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Frank Dennis scores the fight 45:50
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight 45:50
Judge Stewart Dunkirk scores the fight 45:50

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Evgeni Klebanov!
Evgeni Klebanov is the new lightweight champion!