PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Volodymyr Kiyashko (ranked 5072 p4p, 5282 weight class) and Mark Kerr (ranked 158 p4p, 162 weight class). Kiyashko comes to the ring accompanied by Taras Borowok - Bayraktar. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Kiyashko
vs
Kerr

195 cm
18
295
0 - 0 - 0

196 cm
25
290
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Self confident

Decent wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Volodymyr Kiyashko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Mark Kerr!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Dmitry Maklakov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kerr blocks a jab.
Kerr tests Kiyashko's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kiyashko tries to clinch up.
Kerr is looking for the big counter here.

Kerr shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kiyashko napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kiyashko sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.

Kerr is actively looking for submissions here but good counter grappling here from Kiyashko as he works his way to full guard.
Kerr must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kerr slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kerr throws a strike but Kiyashko rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiyashko stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kerr swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kerr is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kiyashko trying to control the position from guard on top but Kerr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kerr working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kiyashko.
Kiyashko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kiyashko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kerr is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kiyashko trying to control the position from guard on top but Kerr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kerr really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kiyashko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kiyashko postures up.
Kiyashko trying to control but Kerr is working from the bottom.

That's two 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.
Kiyashko is really struggling to control Kerr but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Kerr looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kiyashko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kerr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kiyashko is looking to work some ground and pound but Kerr has wrist control.
Kerr is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Kiyashko has closed the distance and engaged Kerr in a clinch.
Kiyashko lands a shot to the body.
Kiyashko taking a breather.
Kiyashko lands a nice elbow.
Kiyashko has Kerr pressed against the ropes, preventing Kerr from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kiyashko lands a damaging elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kerr is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kiyashko is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Kerr to the mat. Kerr regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Kiyashko won't allow Kerr to get back to his feet.
Kerr is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kiyashko throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kerr working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kiyashko.
Kiyashko won't allow Kerr to sweep him here.
Kerr is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kerr utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kiyashko throwing strikes from guard but Kerr blocks nicely.
Kerr is looking to sweep but instead, Kiyashko has passed into half guard.
Kerr wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiyashko lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kerr is controlling Kiyashko's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Kerr has hold of Kiyashko's hands but Kiyashko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kiyashko missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kerr has hold of Kiyashko's hands but Kiyashko slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kerr wants to stand back up but Kiyashko manages to pass into side control.
Kiyashko 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.
Kerr is trying to control Kiyashko's posture but Kiyashko avoids it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kiyashko scoring with punches from side control.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Volodymyr Kiyashko dominated that round.
That's time! Kiyashko's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kerr drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kerr is looking to pass into half guard but Kiyashko pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Kiyashko is in guard.

Kiyashko is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kerr can do to turn this around?
Kiyashko is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kiyashko landing with the ground and pound.
Kiyashko throws a big right hand that misses.
Kerr working a defensive guard but Kiyashko passes into half guard.
Kerr is trying to control but can't.
Kerr is in trouble now - Kiyashko has advanced to mount!
Kiyashko wants to control the pace but Kerr is squirming around nicely.
Kerr gets back to half guard.
Kerr trying to control from the bottom.
Kiyashko slips a nice elbow through Kerr's hands, connecting with Kerr's forehead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiyashko passes to side control.
Volodymyr Kiyashko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kiyashko prevents Kerr from escaping the position.
Kiyashko working the ground and pound.
Kerr tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kiyashko wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Kiyashko wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kerr keeps working.
Kerr is trying to control Kiyashko's posture but Kiyashko avoids it.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerr is looking to regain half guard here but Kiyashko keeps moving and retains side control.
Kerr is trying to control Kiyashko's posture but Kiyashko avoids it.
Kerr defending against the ground and pound.
You can see the frustration on Kerr's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kiyashko in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kiyashko lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiyashko cracks Kerr with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Kerr tries to improve position but can't.
Kiyashko scores with punches from side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kerr can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kiyashko looks up at the clock and then as Kerr takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kiyashko smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Kiyashko trying to control the action but Kerr is working from the bottom.
Kiyashko wants to stand but Kerr has his arm trapped.
The ground and pound from Kiyashko seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kerr takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Kiyashko looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kerr is avoiding damage well.
Kerr is looking for a sweep.
Kiyashko working the head and body with strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerr struggling a bit here.
Kerr is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Kiyashko asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Kiyashko working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Kiyashko working the ground and pound but Kerr is defending the strikes.
Kiyashko landing strikes.
Kerr tries to improve position but can't.
Kiyashko working away.
Kiyashko trying to control the position but Kerr is working away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kerr is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Volodymyr Kiyashko dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. 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.

Kiyashko wants to clinch but Kerr slips to the side

and Kerr decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kiyashko's guard.
Kiyashko lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Kiyashko working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kerr's head.
Kerr working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kiyashko.
Kiyashko engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kiyashko trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kiyashko trying to control the position from guard on top but Kerr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kiyashko prevents Kerr from getting back to his feet.
Kiyashko throws a big right hand that misses.
Kerr doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiyashko connects with a couple of short punches.
Kiyashko wants to control from the top but Kerr keeps moving.
Kerr keeping busy, throwing shots from the bottom.
Kiyashko missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kiyashko prevents Kerr from getting back to his feet.
Kerr is trying to keep Kiyashko in close.
Kiyashko throws a big elbow that misses.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

Kiyashko forces Kerr back against the ropes and clinches.
Kiyashko pushes off an throws an elbow but Kerr leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the ropes.
Kerr wants a takedown but no success here.

Kiyashko tightens his grip and picks Kerr up, before dumping him to the ground. Kerr manages to land in guard.

Kerr wriggles free and stands up.
Volodymyr Kiyashko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kerr is defended easily by Kiyashko.
Kiyashko wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerr defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kiyashko.
A countering left hand to the body from Kerr misses.
Kiyashko doesn't manage to clinch there - Kerr circles away.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kerr keeps the fight on the outside.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Kiyashko enables Kerr to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Kiyashko manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kerr working some strikes from top position.

Kerr drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kiyashko dives on top into guard.

Kerr managing to control the position.
Kiyashko wants to control from the top but Kerr keeps moving.
Volodymyr Kiyashko is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerr looking to control.
Kerr keeping moving, preventing Kiyashko from controlling successfully.
Kerr looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kerr keeps trying to improve his position.
Kiyashko trying to control the position from guard on top but Kerr is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kerr is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Kiyashko is looking to clinch.
Kerr tried to score with a low kick but Kiyashko checks it.

Kerr rushes Kiyashko and presses him up against the ropes.
Kiyashko has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kerr avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Kiyashko pushes Kerr back against the ropes and unloads with a body punch.
Kerr tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kiyashko smiles and moves away.
Volodymyr Kiyashko has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mark Kerr.

Kerr shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Kerr was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kiyashko can't do much from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mark Kerr.
I think Kiyashko 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 29:28
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:28
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Volodymyr Kiyashko!
Volodymyr Kiyashko seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.