PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyov Kirijenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kristijan Zirdum (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kristijan Zirdum has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kirijenko
vs
Zirdum

195 cm
29
220 lbs
18 - 18 - 1

180 cm
26
225 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

The Big Kabosh

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 18 - 1, fighting out of London, Lyov Kirijenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Kristijan Zirdum!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, Chris Edwards and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zirdum tries a head kick but it misses.
Kirijenko throws a good cross that connects.

Kirijenko gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Kirijenko dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Zirdum wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kirijenko has him pressed against the cage.
Kirijenko lands a body punch.
Kirijenko avoiding damage as Zirdum throws knees to the body.
Zirdum is trying to break the clinch but Kirijenko has him pressed against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Zirdum's face as he tries to break the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Zirdum looking for a takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kirijenko has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Zirdum regains guard immediately.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Zirdum keeping full guard, as Kirijenko tries to pass.
Kirijenko passes Zirdum's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Kirijenko throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirijenko is pressing down on Zirdum's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zirdum is holding on for now.
Kirijenko lands strikes from half guard.
Kirijenko wants to free his trapped foot but Zirdum is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kirijenko is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Zirdum defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zirdum wants to control but Kirijenko is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Kirijenko is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Zirdum doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kirijenko.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kirijenko trying to control the pace.
Zirdum tries to kick Kirijenko off but Kirijenko keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko is taking a breather. Zirdum says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Kirijenko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zirdum's head.
Kirijenko is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kirijenko is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Zirdum trying to control but Kirijenko postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kirijenko connects with a nice short shot to Zirdum's temple.
Kirijenko with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Zirdum is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Kirijenko pulls his head out easily.
Kirijenko has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kirijenko winds up and cracks Zirdum with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kirijenko passes to full mount!
Kirijenko scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Zirdum?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyov Kirijenko dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kirijenko gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Kirijenko turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Kirijenko manages to end up in side control.
Kirijenko working the ground and pound.
Kirijenko looks up at the clock and then as Zirdum takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kirijenko smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Kirijenko working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Zirdum is being controlled here.
Kirijenko will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zirdum is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zirdum is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Kirijenko is controlling him well.
Zirdum tries to bench press Kirijenko off him but Kirijenko keeps the position.

Kirijenko wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zirdum, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirijenko landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Lyov Kirijenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Kirijenko thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Zirdum taking a bit of punishment here - Kirijenko scoring with strikes.
Kirijenko in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Kirijenko in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Check out the look on Kirijenko's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Kirijenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zirdum keeps working.
Zirdum is working to avoid the ground and pound but Kirijenko connects with a decent elbow.
Zirdum is trying to control Kirijenko's posture but Kirijenko avoids it.
Kirijenko taking a breather here.
Zirdum is not content to let Kirijenko control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Kirijenko working the head with strikes.
Zirdum can't do much from the bottom here.
Kirijenko taking a breather here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko trying to control the action but Zirdum is working from the bottom.
Kirijenko is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zirdum will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kirijenko punishes Zirdum's body with a nice straight punch.
Kirijenko throws a low kick but Zirdum avoids it.
Zirdum tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Kirijenko counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyov Kirijenko dominated that second round.
That's time! Kirijenko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Zirdum tries to clinch there but Kirijenko circles away.
Kirijenko swats away the attempt to clinch by Zirdum.
Kirijenko scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Zirdum takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kirijenko connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Zirdum on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Zirdum looks to land a body kick but Kirijenko moved away.
Kirijenko cracks a nice hook into Zirdum's ribs.
Zirdum misses with a jab, cross combination.
Zirdum tried to score with a low kick but Kirijenko checks it.
Zirdum fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kirijenko throws a right and a left that Zirdum avoids nicely.
Zirdum tries to clinch there but Kirijenko circles away.
Zirdum tries to clinch up.
Kristijan Zirdum is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice body kick from Kirijenko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zirdum misses with a few strikes there.
Zirdum takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kirijenko scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zirdum doesn't seem bothered though.
Zirdum tries to clinch up but Kirijenko circles away and keeps his distance.
Zirdum on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Zirdum throws a jab when Kirijenko was well out of range.
Lyov Kirijenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kirijenko looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kirijenko throwing shots but Zirdum is blocking nicely.
Kirijenko winds up and cracks Zirdum with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kirijenko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Zirdum is refusing to be controlled, as Kirijenko sits in half guard.
Zirdum really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kirijenko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Well, if Kirijenko is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kirijenko misses with a head shot. Zirdum uses the momentum to regain guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kirijenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kirijenko with a nice head shot there.
Kirijenko wants to control from the top but Zirdum keeps moving.
Kirijenko sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko prevents Zirdum from getting back to his feet.
Kirijenko slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Lyov Kirijenko just wasn't active enough.
Kirijenko fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Zirdum on the side of the head.
Zirdum fails with the takedown.
Kirijenko misses with a low kick as Zirdum jumps back.
Kristijan Zirdum has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zirdum tries to clinch up.
Kirijenko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zirdum can do to turn this around?
Kirijenko lands a really nice looking cross but Zirdum seems unphased.

Kirijenko shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Zirdum manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kirijenko lands a couple of elbows.
Kirijenko showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kirijenko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Zirdum's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kirijenko lands a couple of elbows.
Kirijenko chips away with some ground and pound.
Kirijenko controlling from the top position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lyov Kirijenko showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kirijenko has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 30:27
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyov Kirijenko!
An out of breath and clearly excited Lyov Kirijenko thanked CEC Nutrition Q160 for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).