PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jay Bitaskis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lakat Koljenovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lakat Koljenovich is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Bitaskis
vs
Koljenovich

186 cm
20
220 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

204 cm
22
265 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Great elbows
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jay Bitaskis!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Lakat Koljenovich!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koljenovich dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Bitaskis. That did some damage!
Koljenovich tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Bitaskis counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Koljenovich closes the distance and clinches.
Koljenovich tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Bitaskis trying to control the position but instead, Koljenovich has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bitaskis into the cage.
Koljenovich prevents a takedown attempt there.
Koljenovich lands an elbow that stopped Bitaskis in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Jay Bitaskis has been cut.
Bitaskis tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Koljenovich just stands there and leans against the cage.
Bitaskis lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Bitaskis jumps guard but Koljenovich turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jay Bitaskis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koljenovich misses with a knee to the head.
Bitaskis managing to block the knees to the body from Koljenovich.
Bitaskis working aggressively here.
Koljenovich is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Koljenovich lands a nice elbow.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Bitaskis can't break the clinch.
Koljenovich lands with a right to the head.
Bitaskis goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Koljenovich is trying to stall.
Koljenovich pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Bitaskis misses with a short punch on the inside.
Bitaskis misses with a body punch.
Bitaskis scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Bitaskis takes an elbow to the forehead.
Bitaskis lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Koljenovich misses with a punch on the inside.
Bitaskis jumps guard but Koljenovich turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Bitaskis avoiding damage as Koljenovich throws knees to the body.
Koljenovich tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Bitaskis avoids it.
Koljenovich connects with a nasty looking knee right to Bitaskis's face.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
With the fighters up against the cage, Koljenovich throws an elbow but misses.
Bitaskis trying to stall but Koljenovich improves his position.
Koljenovich stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bitaskis lands a right hand.
Bitaskis holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Bitaskis breaks from the clinch.
Koljenovich fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bitaskis circles away from the clinch attempt
and Bitaskis counters with a nice body shot.
Koljenovich bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Bitaskis lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.

It looks like Lakat Koljenovich has been cut.
Koljenovich fails in his attempt to clinch.
Bitaskis shoots in for a takedown but Koljenovich shows good takedown defense.
Lakat Koljenovich is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Bitaskis looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Decent striking displayed by Bitaskis there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bitaskis changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Koljenovich looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Bitaskis is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Koljenovich's shoulder. That is not cool.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bitaskis working away.
Bitaskis wants to control but Koljenovich is keeping him busy.
Koljenovich is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Bitaskis tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Bitaskis trying to control the action but Koljenovich is working from the bottom.

Bitaskis goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Koljenovich has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Bitaskis but great work by Koljenovich.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Koljenovich stalls from top position.
Bitaskis can't do much from the bottom here.
Koljenovich is looking to take a break and control but Bitaskis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Bitaskis gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Koljenovich wants to control but Bitaskis is keeping him busy.
Bitaskis is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Bitaskis might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Bitaskis moves into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jay Bitaskis dominated that round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Bitaskis circles away from the clinch attempt

and Bitaskis counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Koljenovich!
Bitaskis lands a big shot there that rocks Koljenovich but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Bitaskis working the ground and pound effectively.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bitaskis tries to control but Koljenovich wriggling away.
Koljenovich is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Koljenovich avoids a series of strikes thrown by Bitaskis.
Bitaskis trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Bitaskis is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bitaskis throwing strikes here but Koljenovich is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Bitaskis controlling his opponent.
Bitaskis scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koljenovich can't escape the position.
Koljenovich in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.

Koljenovich is rocked!

That has opened up Lakat Koljenovich's cut even more.
Koljenovich tries to improve his position but instead Bitaskis has taken his back!
Koljenovich wants to escape the position.
Koljenovich is taking damage to the body and head.
Koljenovich is still in real trouble! Can Bitaskis finish him?

Bitaskis is working for the choke. It looks like he might have got it... has he...? Yes! Koljenovich is tapping out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jay Bitaskis!
Jay Bitaskis retains his heavyweight title!