PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyov Kirijenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Josh Howell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Kirijenko
vs
Howell

195 cm
36
220 lbs
26 - 26 - 1

210 cm
30
223 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 26 - 26 - 1, fighting out of Sydney, Lyov Kirijenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Josh Howell!
The judges for this bout are Chris Dean, Hugh Johnson and Donatello Bradman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Howell takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Howell's coach down at ButterflyBoxingAndFitness was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Howell's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Kirijenko is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Howell's half guard.
Kirijenko is pressing down on Howell's thigh, looking to free his foot. Howell is holding on for now.
Kirijenko is keen to just control but Howell is a slippery customer.
Kirijenko wants to pass to mount but Howell is defending the position.
Kirijenko definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirijenko seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Howell does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Howell 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.
Kirijenko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kirijenko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Howell stuffs the takedown.
Kirijenko shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Howell eats them both and turns towards Kirijenko to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Kirijenko getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Kirijenko moves out of range of the strikes.
Howell misses with a body punch
and Kirijenko counters with a straight right hand.
Kirijenko jabs at Howell's body.
Kirijenko throws a jab but it's blocked by Howell.
Kirijenko tries to clinch up.
Kirijenko with a lazy takedown attempt
and Howell counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kirijenko thinking.

Kirijenko gets the takedown into side control.
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!
Howell sneaks back into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Howell on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kirijenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Howell controlling the position well.
Kirijenko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Howell keeps working.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko wants to pass the guard but Howell is defending well.

Kirijenko seems to be working for a kimura but Howell defends the submission attempt.
Kirijenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Howell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kirijenko throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kirijenko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kirijenko trying to control the action but Howell is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Kirijenko uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Howell.
It looked like Kirijenko wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Howell misses the jab.
Howell throws a right hand that misses
enabling Kirijenko to counter with a crisp jab.
Howell is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kirijenko scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Howell stuffs the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lyov Kirijenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Howell misses with a straight left.
Kirijenko is looking for a counter combo.
Howell on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Kirijenko scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Kirijenko tries to score with some ground and pound. Howell controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Kirijenko lands a few punches from side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kirijenko closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Howell quickly recovers to half guard.

Kirijenko is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Howell defends it well.
Kirijenko tries to pass to full mount but Howell defends it.
Kirijenko thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
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.
Lyov Kirijenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Howell wants to control but Kirijenko is keeping busy.
Howell avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kirijenko.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirijenko is looking to stall here but Howell recovers full guard.
Howell is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Howell keeping moving, preventing Kirijenko from controlling successfully.
Kirijenko content to stall in guard here.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Kirijenko postures up in Howell's guard and throws a big left but Howell blocks it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kirijenko catches Howell with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Kirijenko throws out a loose jab but Howell uses good head movement to avoid it.
The fighters circling - Howell throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kirijenko tried to counter with a leg kick but Howell avoided it.
Kirijenko misses with a body shot.
Kirijenko misses with the combination.
Howell misses with a jab to the body

and Kirijenko counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Kirijenko content to control rather than advance.
Kirijenko stops Howell from getting back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko throwing shots but Howell is blocking nicely.
Kirijenko trying to control the pace.
Kirijenko thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Howell's head.
Kirijenko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Howell can do to turn this around?
Howell keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kirijenko wants to pass the guard but Howell is defending well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kirijenko ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Howell moves away.
Kirijenko shoots for a takedown but Howell saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A nice side step and Howell releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Some bone on bone action there as Howell checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Howell takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Kirijenko throws a left and a right that both miss
and Howell counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko jabs Howell to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Kirijenko digs a good body shot into Howell's ribs.
Howell takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Howell misses with a looping right.
Kirijenko throws a lazy uppercut
and Howell counters with a straight right hand.
Howell missing with a left hand there. Kirijenko was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Josh Howell is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kirijenko lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Howell at a distance.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kirijenko misses with a straight left.
Howell dodges the punch combination from Kirijenko.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Howell! But no joy.
Howell defending well as Kirijenko loads up on a big left hand.
Howell lands a lovely overhand right.
Howell waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Kirijenko.
Kirijenko has a takedown stuffed.
Nice defenses there by Kirijenko.
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.

Kirijenko shoots in but no luck this time.
Kirijenko misses with a looping left.
Kirijenko just misses with a punch to the body.
Kirijenko moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Kirijenko tries for a takedown but Howell sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Lyov Kirijenko is winning the standup battle so far.
Howell ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Howell gets caught flat footed, as Kirijenko shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Howell keeping moving, preventing Kirijenko from controlling successfully.
Howell is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kirijenko is looking to work some ground and pound but Howell has wrist control.
Howell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kirijenko.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Howell can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kirijenko accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kirijenko is pushing down on Howell's leg trying to pass to half guard. Howell is fighting to maintain full guard but Kirijenko has managed to sneak the leg through.
Kirijenko scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Kirijenko wants to free his trapped foot but Howell is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kirijenko is trying to control. Howell wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Kirijenko is working for a kimura from half guard. He's really concentrating on the hold and it's allowed Howell to slip a leg under and get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kirijenko throws a strike but Howell rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko controls Howell momentarily but Howell frees himself.

Kirijenko is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kirijenko throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Kirijenko has his foot on Howell's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Howell works his way back into a safe position though.
Kirijenko is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Kirijenko is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kirijenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko wants to sweep but no luck.

Kirijenko escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Howell gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Howell got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kirijenko has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Howell has managed to get both his arms back between Kirijenko's legs - danger averted.
Kirijenko is looking to sweep but instead, Howell has passed into half guard.

Kirijenko is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Howell pulls his head out easily.
Lyov Kirijenko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kirijenko is pressing down on Howell's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Howell not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Kirijenko has an active guard here but Howell has managed to pass into half guard.
Kirijenko gets full guard.
Kirijenko is pulling down on Howell's head. It's preventing any offense from Howell, at least for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kirijenko is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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 Chris Dean scores the fight 30:27
Judge Hugh Johnson scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donatello Bradman scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Lyov Kirijenko!
Lyov Kirijenko seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.
Josh Howell spoke after the fight, saying 'My opposition fought like a 10-year-old girl tonight. I'm not sure if I got knocked out or lost a terrible decision. My head hurts. '.