PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vitaliy Kleva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Conan Fantastic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Kleva
vs
Fantastic

185 cm
24
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Vitaliy Kleva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Conan Fantastic!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A looping hook to the body misses from Kleva. Fantastic does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kleva checks a low kick from Fantastic.
Kleva shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fantastic as he avoids it easily.

Fantastic gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Kleva to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Fantastic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fantastic pulls Kleva in close to prevent any damage.

Fantastic working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kleva doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kleva manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kleva prevents Fantastic from getting back to his feet.
Fantastic is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kleva throws a strike but Fantastic rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kleva looking for a sweep. Not yet Kleva, not yet.
Fantastic trying to control the position from guard on top but Kleva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kleva working for a triangle but Fantastic defends it easily.

Fantastic stands up from Kleva's guard - Fantastic perhaps looking for a knockout.

Kleva shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Fantastic napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kleva tries to move to mount but Fantastic blocks the move with his legs.
Fantastic sneaks back into half guard.
Kleva working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Fantastic's thigh. Fantastic counters though and makes it back to full guard.
Kleva postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Fantastic manages to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Fantastic closes the distance and pushes Kleva back into the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic drops down looking for an ankle pick but Kleva pulls his leg out and moves away.
Fantastic misses with a double jab.
Fantastic tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kleva swivels and escapes.
Kleva tries to close the distance and clinch but Fantastic swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Fantastic is looking to clinch but Kleva is avoiding it.
Kleva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fantastic swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Kleva takes the fight into the clinch.
Fantastic tries to circle away but Kleva has him pinned against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Kleva.
Fantastic looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic is trying to break the clinch but Kleva has him pressed against the cage.

Kleva has hold of one of Fantastic's legs. Fantastic is fighting the takedown attempt but Kleva gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Kleva won't allow Fantastic to sweep him here.
Fantastic looks gassed!

Fantastic is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kleva looking to pass the guard.
Fantastic is trying to control the position but Kleva postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kleva controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kleva gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Vitaliy Kleva will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Fantastic misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kleva is defended easily by Fantastic.
Kleva dodges the punch combination from Fantastic.
Kleva shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Fantastic defends it nicely.
Fantastic is looking to score with low kicks.
Kleva shoots in for a takedown but Fantastic shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitaliy Kleva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kleva has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Fantastic finds it's way round the side to connect with Kleva's head.
Fantastic throws a series of strikes that have Kleva backpedaling.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fantastic throws a head kick but Kleva moves out of range.
Fantastic avoids a kick to the body.
Fantastic leaves Kleva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kleva's waist but Kleva gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Fantastic off to one side.
Kleva fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fantastic misses with a wild combination.
Fantastic throws a solid leg kick but Kleva takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Fantastic.
Kleva scores with a nice body kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kleva tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fantastic swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kleva is trying hard to land a takedown here. Fantastic sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Fantastic fails with an attempt to clinch.
Fantastic throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

Kleva changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Fantastic looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Fantastic is trying to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kleva trying to control the action but Fantastic is working from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fantastic manages to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kleva is looking to take a break and control but Fantastic is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Fantastic gets full guard.
Fantastic trying to control the position.
Kleva wants to pass the guard but Fantastic is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fantastic is on top in guard.
Kleva is striking but Fantastic is not phased and passes to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Fantastic stands up from half guard.
Fantastic digs a good body shot into Kleva's ribs.
Fantastic throws a head kick but Kleva moves out of range.
Kleva shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Fantastic looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kleva throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fantastic moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Kleva fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fantastic manages to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Conan Fantastic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Fantastic fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Kleva drives through with a takedown into Fantastic's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Fantastic wants to stand but Kleva is controlling the position.
Kleva looking to pass the guard.

Fantastic had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kleva defends it easily.
Fantastic throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic is trying to keep Kleva in close.
Kleva prevents Fantastic from getting back to his feet.
Kleva has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fantastic keeping full guard, as Kleva tries to pass.
Fantastic wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Kleva trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Fantastic is trying to keep Kleva in close.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Conan Fantastic.
Kleva moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Kleva shoots in for a double leg but Fantastic sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Fantastic tries to close the distance and clinch but Kleva swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kleva shoots for a takedown but Fantastic saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Fantastic doesn't manage to clinch there - Kleva circles away.
Kleva throws a quick inside leg kick.
A head kick by Fantastic misses

and Kleva counters with a single leg into guard. Fantastic didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kleva would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kleva slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Fantastic is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Fantastic stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Kleva to get to his feet.
Conan Fantastic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kleva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vitaliy Kleva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Fantastic is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kleva checks a leg kick nicely.
Fantastic misses with a double jab.
Kleva fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kleva avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Fantastic misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kleva throws a body punch but Fantastic moves out of range.
Kleva fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Fantastic scores with a three punch combo!
Kleva swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kleva tries to clinch but Fantastic moves out of range.

Fantastic clinches with his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fantastic has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kleva tries to pull guard but Fantastic holds him up against the cage and eventually Kleva drops back down to his feet.
Fantastic gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kleva.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Vitaliy Kleva.
I think Kleva has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Vitaliy Kleva!