PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Chris McPheters (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evgeni Klebanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Klebanov has chosen Your Worst Nightmare as his entrance music. Chris McPheters could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Evgeni Klebanov's chin.

McPheters
vs
Klebanov

173 cm
26
155 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

168 cm
29
166 lbs
20 - 9 - 1

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Good gas tank

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 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Chris McPheters!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Las Vegas, Evgeni Klebanov!
The judges for this bout are , Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Klebanov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. McPheters defends it nicely.
Nice body punch from Klebanov.
McPheters has his takedown stuffed
letting Klebanov counter with a right hand.

McPheters gets a takedown into half guard.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Nice strikes from McPheters there.
McPheters is nestled in close to Klebanov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
McPheters seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McPheters is keen to just control but Klebanov is a slippery customer.
Klebanov is looking to improve his position.
McPheters wants to lay and pray for a moment but Klebanov keeps working.
McPheters wants to free his trapped foot but Klebanov is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Klebanov tries to roll over but McPheters keeps him under control.
McPheters wants to control but Klebanov is keeping him busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Chris McPheters wasn't doing enough on the ground.
McPheters fails with the takedown
letting Klebanov counter with a right hand.

Klebanov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. McPheters manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
McPheters keeping moving, preventing Klebanov from controlling successfully.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
McPheters wants to get back to his feet but Klebanov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McPheters pushes Klebanov off and gets back to his feet.
Klebanov just misses with a punch to the body.
McPheters fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris McPheters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McPheters swats away the attempt to clinch by Klebanov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Klebanov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
McPheters misses with a takedown attempt
and Klebanov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.

McPheters looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Klebanov!
Klebanov blocking the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McPheters scoring with strikes but Klebanov is staying in there.
Klebanov tries to lock up and control but McPheters gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Chris McPheters dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

McPheters tries for a takedown but Klebanov circles away easily

and Klebanov counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in McPheters's guard now.
Klebanov controlling from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Klebanov wants to pass the guard but McPheters is keeping the position.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Klebanov darts in trying to clinch

and McPheters counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Klebanov!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klebanov is wriggling around trying to escape.
McPheters tries to control but Klebanov wriggling away.
Klebanov can't escape the position.
McPheters working away from the top, dropping strikes.
McPheters looking to finish Klebanov with some ground and pound. This is bad for Klebanov!
McPheters scores with a couple of good head shots there.
McPheters throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
McPheters misses with a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McPheters with the ground and pound from mount.

McPheters swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Klebanov is now in McPheters's guard. A big mistake from McPheters there, giving up the dominant position!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Klebanov stops McPheters from standing up.
McPheters being controlled here, momentarily.
Let's hope that Klebanov 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Evgeni Klebanov hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Klebanov shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Klebanov showed some decent athleticism there.
Klebanov is trying to control the action in half guard but McPheters is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov is stalling here. McPheters is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Klebanov seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and McPheters has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
McPheters throws an elbow but Klebanov slips to the side and avoids it well.
McPheters wants to lay and pray for a moment but Klebanov keeps working.

McPheters is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Klebanov has escaped the position, nice work there.
You can see the frustration on Klebanov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

McPheters goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Klebanov rolls with the submission and now he's on top in McPheters's guard! Nice work there by Klebanov!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Chris McPheters will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Klebanov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Klebanov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Chris McPheters is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
McPheters is trying hard to land a takedown here. Klebanov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McPheters takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Klebanov moves in looking to clinch but McPheters pushes him off.
Klebanov swings and misses with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Klebanov connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Klebanov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McPheters fails to land the takedown.
McPheters shoots in looking for a takedown but Klebanov manages to keep the fight standing, pushing McPheters's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Chris McPheters. That's going to take a lot out of him.
McPheters doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McPheters stuffs the takedown.
Chris McPheters seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Klebanov leaves McPheters with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov tries to close the distance and clinch but McPheters swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Klebanov throws a body punch but McPheters moves out of range.
McPheters has his takedown stuffed

and Klebanov counters with a nice double leg into side control. McPheters won't be happy with that.
Klebanov controls the position.
McPheters is not content to let Klebanov control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Klebanov prevents McPheters from escaping the position.
McPheters is not content to let Klebanov control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Evgeni Klebanov.
Klebanov tries to clinch there but McPheters circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
McPheters misses with a takedown
and Klebanov counters with a right hand to the body.
McPheters shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Klebanov but Klebanov pushes him off and we're back to square one.
McPheters misses with a takedown attempt
and Klebanov counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Klebanov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Klebanov tries to close the distance and clinch but McPheters swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
McPheters with a poor takedown
and Klebanov counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Evgeni Klebanov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think McPheters 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 29:28
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Chris McPheters!
A very excited looking Chris McPheters rambled incoherently for about 5 minutes post fight about how awesome he is. It was kinda funny for a while but then everyone got annoyed.