PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Belyaev (ranked 1129 p4p, 574 weight class) and Roel Kreshnik (ranked 77 p4p, 40 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Belyaev
vs
Kreshnik

178 cm
30
152
12 - 3 - 0

172 cm
23
145
9 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

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Furnace Performance 🔥

Brooklyn Apothecary
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Daniel Belyaev!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Roel Kreshnik!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Viktor Lagutenko and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Belyaev shoots in for a takedown but Kreshnik shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Belyaev misses with a takedown attempt
letting Kreshnik counter with a right hand.
Kreshnik keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Belyaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belyaev fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Kreshnik swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Daniel Belyaev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Belyaev misses with a takedown
and Kreshnik counters with a stiff right hand.
Kreshnik scores with a jab to the body.
A jab from Kreshnik finds it's way through Belyaev's defenses.

Belyaev feints and as Kreshnik raises his hands in defense, Belyaev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Belyaev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Belyaev has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.
Belyaev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kreshnik wants to sweep but no luck.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Belyaev throwing strikes but missing.
Belyaev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Belyaev throwing strikes but missing.
Belyaev tries to free his leg and advance position but Kreshnik is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kreshnik is pulling down on Belyaev's head. It's preventing any offense from Belyaev, at least for the moment.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Belyaev postures up in Kreshnik's guard and throws a big left but Kreshnik blocks it.
Kreshnik looking to hit a scissor sweep but Belyaev is one step ahead there.
Belyaev is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Belyaev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kreshnik works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Belyaev throws an elbow that misses. Kreshnik uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Belyaev's guard. Nice move by Kreshnik!

There's a bit of a scramble here and now Belyaev is on top in guard.

Belyaev throwing strikes from guard but Kreshnik blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belyaev throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kreshnik working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Belyaev.
Belyaev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Kreshnik trying to control the position here.
Belyaev tries to free his leg and advance position but Kreshnik is retaining full guard.
Belyaev is looking to advance position but Kreshnik has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!

Belyaev is looking to improve his position but Kreshnik isn't that keen on the idea.
Belyaev is working hard here to advance position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kreshnik tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Belyaev gets back to half guard.
Belyaev tries to get to full guard but Kreshnik has control of the leg.
Belyaev gets full guard.
Belyaev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Belyaev lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belyaev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Belyaev chips away with some ground and pound.
Kreshnik 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.
Belyaev throwing strikes from guard but Kreshnik blocks nicely.
Belyaev postures up in Kreshnik's guard and throws a big left but Kreshnik blocks it.
Belyaev postures up in Kreshnik's guard and throws a big left but Kreshnik blocks it.
Belyaev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Belyaev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Belyaev landing with the ground and pound.
Belyaev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kreshnik preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Belyaev shoots in for a takedown but Kreshnik shows good takedown defense.
Kreshnik connects with a body shot that sends Belyaev's belly button to the back.
Belyaev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kreshnik but Kreshnik pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kreshnik swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Belyaev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kreshnik is fending him off so far but Belyaev persists. Nope, Kreshnik circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Belyaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belyaev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kreshnik but Kreshnik pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Belyaev ducks under a wild hook from Kreshnik.
Belyaev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kreshnik looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Belyaev tries for a takedown but Kreshnik circles away easily
and Kreshnik counters with a lovely straight right hand!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belyaev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kreshnik as he jumps to the side.
Kreshnik misses with a double jab.
Belyaev shoots in and drives through. Kreshnik sprawls well.
Kreshnik throws out a counter right but Belyaev avoids it with no problem.

Belyaev closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Belyaev lands in his opponent's guard.
Daniel Belyaev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kreshnik bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Belyaev's guard.

Belyaev being controlled here, momentarily.
Belyaev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kreshnik controls from within his opponent's guard.

Belyaev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kreshnik defends it easily.
Belyaev manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kreshnik manages to get himself to full guard.

Belyaev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kreshnik swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belyaev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Belyaev accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Belyaev postures up and lands a big shot to Kreshnik's brow.
Kreshnik wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Belyaev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Belyaev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kreshnik swivels though and keeps the full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kreshnik is on top in guard.

Kreshnik must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Belyaev wants to sweep but no luck.
Belyaev bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kreshnik's guard.

Belyaev looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kreshnik trying to control the position.
Belyaev forces his way into half guard.
Belyaev lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Belyaev thows a huge punch but Kreshnik dodges it nicely.
Belyaev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Belyaev is pressing down on Kreshnik's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kreshnik is holding on for now.
Kreshnik tries to roll over but Belyaev keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Belyaev is looking to advance position but Kreshnik won't allow it.
Belyaev is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kreshnik desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Kreshnik tries to get to full guard but Belyaev has control of the leg.
Belyaev thows a huge punch but Kreshnik dodges it nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Belyaev seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Belyaev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kreshnik's head.
Kreshnik blocking the ground and pound attempt from Belyaev.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Daniel Belyaev dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Belyaev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kreshnik tries to avoid it but Belyaev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kreshnik to the ground. Kreshnik escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kreshnik appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Belyaev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Kreshnik counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Belyaev misses with a takedown
and Kreshnik counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Daniel Belyaev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Belyaev has his takedown stuffed
and Kreshnik counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Belyaev thinking.
Kreshnik throws out a loose jab but Belyaev uses good head movement to avoid it.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Belyaev is defended easily by Kreshnik.
Kreshnik swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.
Belyaev takes a body punch but keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belyaev goes for a double leg but Kreshnik avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Kreshnik continues to drive forward.
Belyaev is trying to drag Kreshnik to the mat but Kreshnik just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Belyaev goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kreshnik prevents it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kreshnik breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kreshnik jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Belyaev fails with a takedown attempt.
Belyaev takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

Belyaev shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kreshnik napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Belyaev sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kreshnik is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Belyaev cracks Kreshnik with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Belyaev misses with the ground and pound.
Belyaev tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Kreshnik dodges the ground and pound from Belyaev.
Kreshnik prevents Belyaev from improving position.
Belyaev throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belyaev working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Kreshnik tries to improve position but can't.
Kreshnik gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The fighters are battling for position here. Kreshnik manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kreshnik has control of Belyaev's left arm, preventing Belyaev from doing any damage.
Kreshnik bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Belyaev's guard.

Kreshnik trying to control the position from guard on top but Belyaev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Belyaev wants to improve his position but instead Kreshnik has moved into half guard.
Belyaev manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belyaev wants to sweep here but Kreshnik controlling him for the moment.
Belyaev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Kreshnik is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Belyaev scores with a couple of nice shots.
Belyaev wants to pass the guard but Kreshnik is defending well.
Belyaev throwing shots but Kreshnik is blocking nicely.
Belyaev throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kreshnik moves into full guard.
Belyaev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kreshnik swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kreshnik has Belyaev pulled in close to control his posture.
Belyaev trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Belyaev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Belyaev lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Belyaev lands a couple of elbows.
Kreshnik has momentary wrist control but Belyaev slips an elbow through the middle.
Belyaev postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Belyaev connects with a couple of short punches.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but Daniel Belyaev did the better work so I'd imagine he'll take it.
That's time! Back to the action!

Belyaev shoots in and bounces Kreshnik off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Belyaev distracts Kreshnik with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Belyaev throws an elbow that misses. Kreshnik uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Belyaev's guard. Nice move by Kreshnik!

Kreshnik tries to free his leg and advance position but Belyaev is retaining full guard.
Belyaev wants to sweep here but Kreshnik controlling him for the moment.
Belyaev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Belyaev working the head and body with strikes.
Kreshnik is looking to control Belyaev's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kreshnik avoid being mounted?
Belyaev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Belyaev works his way into side control.
Belyaev looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Kreshnik is avoiding damage well.
Kreshnik defending against the ground and pound.
Belyaev in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Belyaev throws a strike aimed at the side of Kreshnik's head but Kreshnik avoids it well.
Kreshnik tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Belyaev wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Belyaev tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Belyaev tries to score with some ground and pound. Kreshnik controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Belyaev throws an elbow but Kreshnik slips to the side and avoids it well.
Belyaev creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Belyaev scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kreshnik to see if he's OK.
Belyaev scores with a couple of short elbows.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Belyaev has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Kreshnik is bucking up trying to escape but Belyaev cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Belyaev looking to finish Kreshnik with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kreshnik!
Belyaev fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
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!
The referee warns Kreshnik that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Belyaev has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kreshnik's face.
Belyaev lands a heavy elbow.
Belyaev working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Belyaev throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
BOOM! Belyaev connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Kreshnik wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Belyaev.
Belyaev throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Belyaev throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Belyaev cracks Kreshnik with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Belyaev with a couple of short strikes.
Belyaev landing strikes, looking to finish!
Belyaev 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.
Belyaev lands a big elbow.

Kreshnik is rocked!
Belyaev looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Kreshnik covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 4, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Daniel Belyaev!
Daniel Belyaev is the new featherweight champion!
An out of breath Daniel Belyaev thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.