PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kenny Hill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Valodia Smirnov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hill comes to the cage accompanied by Its Raining Men. I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Valodia Smirnov was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Hill
vs
Smirnov

167 cm
27
135 lbs
4 - 5 - 0

175 cm
19
155 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kenny Hill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Valodia Smirnov!
The judges for this bout are Valeri Chadov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Smirnov is looking to clinch but Hill is avoiding it.
Smirnov doesn't manage to clinch there - Hill circles away.

Hill moves into the clinch successfully.

Hill's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Smirnov tries for a takedown but Hill sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Hill takes the fight into the clinch.

Hill drags the fight down to the ground.
Smirnov working some strikes from top position.
Hill is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Hill is looking for a triangle but Smirnov pushes his legs off easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Smirnov throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Smirnov prevents Hill from getting back to his feet.
Smirnov trying to control the position from guard on top but Hill is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hill avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hill looking to control.
Smirnov slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hill is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Smirnov asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Hill wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!

Smirnov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hill has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Smirnov but great work by Hill.
Smirnov tries to improve position but can't.
You can see the frustration on Smirnov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Smirnov might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Hill haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Smirnov taking a bit of punishment here - Hill scoring with strikes.
Hill is putting a hurting on Smirnov here, landing some big shots from side control.
Hill lands some shots froms side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Hill wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hill working the head with strikes.
Hill working the head with strikes.
The ground and pound from Hill seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Smirnov is trying to control Hill's posture but Hill avoids it.

Hill working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Hill is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Smirnov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Smirnov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill wants to get back to his feet.
Smirnov manages to get to full guard.
Hill throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Hill tries to stand but Smirnov is controlling from the bottom.
Hill connects with a couple of short punches.
Smirnov has Hill pulled in close to control his posture.
Smirnov has a closed guard, preventing Hill from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Smirnov is on top in guard.
Smirnov loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Smirnov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Smirnov postures up in Hill's guard and throws a big left but Hill blocks it.
Smirnov preventing the sweep.
Hill is trying to keep Smirnov in close.
Smirnov with a nice head shot there.
Smirnov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hill's head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Smirnov accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
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!
Smirnov stopping the sweep attempt from Hill.

Hill looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hill has momentary wrist control but Smirnov slips an elbow through the middle.
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 Kenny Hill will probably get the nod.
That's time! Hill's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Hill has taken the fight to the clinch.
Smirnov tries to land a knee to the head but Hill blocks with his arms.

Hill has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Smirnov is trying to keep an underhook but Hill manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Hill wants to take a breather but Smirnov is having none of it.
Hill wants to stand up but Smirnov has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Smirnov holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Smirnov wants to control but Hill is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Smirnov taking some punishment here, with Hill in his half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Smirnov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Hill is working away from the top position though.
Smirnov is trying to get back to full guard.
Smirnov is looking to control Hill's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Smirnov avoid being mounted?
Smirnov moves into full guard.
Smirnov working a defensive guard here.
Hill wants to stand but Smirnov has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Hill throws a big right hand that misses.
Hill trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Smirnov trying to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hill won't allow Smirnov to sweep him here.
Hill wants to stand but Smirnov is controlling his posture from full guard.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Hill here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Smirnov pulls Hill in close to prevent any damage.
Smirnov keeping moving, preventing Hill from controlling successfully.

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

Hill has managed to clinch.
Smirnov missing with knees to the body.
Smirnov looking to throw knees to the head but Hill is blocking nicely.

Hill has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Smirnov is trying to keep an underhook but Hill manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Smirnov is trying to get back to full guard.
Smirnov is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill is trying to control the action in half guard but Smirnov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Smirnov trying to control here.
It looks like Hill is going to stand back up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Hill missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Hill is looking to take a break and control but Smirnov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hill wants to stand but Smirnov has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.
Smirnov is holding on to half guard well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Kenny Hill wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Hill has taken the fight to the clinch.

Hill drags the fight down to the ground.
Kenny Hill overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hill is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Smirnov is controlling him.
Smirnov lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Hill is trying to keep Smirnov in close.
Smirnov is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Smirnov postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Smirnov is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Smirnov throwing strikes from guard but Hill blocks nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kenny Hill dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Smirnov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Hill paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Hill gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Smirnov scores a nice knee to the body.
Smirnov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Hill blocks it with crossed arms.

Smirnov is fighting off a takedown attempt but Hill is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Smirnov to the mat. Smirnov regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Hill throwing strikes from guard but Smirnov blocks nicely.
Smirnov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Hill's guard.
Smirnov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Hill had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Smirnov defends it easily.
Smirnov forces his way into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hill wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hill is defending against the submission attempts here by Smirnov.
Hill is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Smirnov scores with a couple of nice shots.
Hill is looking for a sweep. Smirnov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Smirnov there.
Smirnov tries to pass to full mount but Hill defends it.
Hill is looking for a sweep. Smirnov is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Hill is trying to stand.
Smirnov not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Smirnov not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Smirnov lands a nice short elbow.
Smirnov moves into full mount! Hill won't be happy about that!
Smirnov lands with some strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hill really wants to buck Smirnov off and get back to his feet.
Smirnov scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hill?
Smirnov with good strikes from the mount here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Smirnov lands with some strikes.
Hill is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Smirnov lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Hill hang on?
Smirnov landing punches.
Hill is in a horrible position here. Smirnov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Smirnov with shots to the head and body - Hill looks very uncomfortable down there.
Smirnov content just to control the position here.
Hill is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hill takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Smirnov avoids the attempt from Hill to control.
The referee warns Hill that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Hill tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Smirnov lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Hill is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Smirnov raining down hammerfists from mount.
Hill wants to get back to his feet.
Smirnov in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Smirnov breaks from Hill's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Hill tries to lock up and control but Smirnov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Smirnov working the ground and pound effectively.
Smirnov with the ground and pound from mount.
Hill tries to buck Smirnov off but he can't manage 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!
Valodia Smirnov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Smirnov raining down shots from the mount!
Hill is in a horrible position here. Smirnov smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kenny Hill is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Smirnov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Hill can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Hill is bucking up trying to escape but Smirnov cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Smirnov fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hill is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Hill tries to lock up and control but Smirnov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Smirnov unloading with bombs!
Smirnov avoids the attempt from Hill to control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Valodia Smirnov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Hill 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 Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kenny Hill!
After the big win, Kenny Hill made sure to do all the important stuff like thanking his sponsors ACME-Blood Red Q158 Always $30 (5% Laundry SALE) and telling the interviewer how much he loves him.