PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kirill Chekalenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and khel viola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chekalenko comes to the cage accompanied by Zhigan - CSKA. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Chekalenko
vs
viola

180 cm
18
154 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
25
148 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Good elbows
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kirill Chekalenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, khel viola!
The judges for this bout are , Timothy Bukovac and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Chekalenko closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
viola takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.

Chekalenko decides to take the fight back to the feet.
viola wants to clinch up but Chekalenko keeps it at a distance.
Chekalenko tries a head kick but it misses.
viola doesn't manage to clinch there - Chekalenko circles away.

viola takes the fight into the clinch.
Chekalenko leaning his opponent against the cage.

Chekalenko has viola pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Chekalenko pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending viola tumbling to the mat - Chekalenko dives into viola's guard.
viola is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Chekalenko is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Chekalenko drops back looking for a leg! viola is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and viola manages to kick Chekalenko off! Chekalenko jumps back into viola's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
viola wants to stand and escape but Chekalenko is having none of it.
Chekalenko's corner is telling him to maintain position.
viola is looking to stand up but Chekalenko isn't so interested in that idea.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Chekalenko sitting in guard here, content to control.
Chekalenko trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
viola keeping moving, preventing Chekalenko from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
viola tries to clinch up but Chekalenko circles away and keeps his distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Chekalenko looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for viola!
Chekalenko is breathing heavily.
viola tries to get back to half guard but can't.
viola is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
viola is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
viola is controlling an arm, preventing Chekalenko from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
viola blocking the ground and pound.
viola regains half guard.
viola slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
viola tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekalenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Chekalenko controlling from the top position.
viola is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Chekalenko is controlling him.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now viola is on top in guard.
Chekalenko trying to control the position.
viola must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

viola gets to his feet - Chekalenko follows without any prompting.
viola will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
viola misses with a wild combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

viola scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Chekalenko is looking for a sweep. viola is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

viola decides to return to a standing position.
viola lands with a nice combination. Chekalenko backs away looking to recover.

Chekalenko closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Chekalenko lands in his opponent's guard.
Chekalenko throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as viola works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
viola wants to stand up but Chekalenko is controlling him.
Chekalenko stays in close to viola's body and controls the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kirill Chekalenko dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

viola leaves Chekalenko with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
viola avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
viola tries to clinch but Chekalenko is having none of it.
viola misses with a two punch combination.
Chekalenko misses with a takedown attempt - viola sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

viola darts in and clinches Chekalenko up against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for viola.
Chekalenko stalling.

viola breaks the clinch.

viola moves into the clinch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
viola pushes Chekalenko back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
viola connects with a nasty looking knee right to Chekalenko's face.

It looks like Kirill Chekalenko has been cut.
viola throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Chekalenkos head.

viola's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Chekalenko swats away the attempt to clinch by viola.

That's one minute gone in the round.
viola moves in looking to clinch but Chekalenko pushes him off.
viola swinging wildly here.
viola is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
viola dives in and grabs Chekalenko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Chekalenko pushes down on viola's head and hops out.
viola throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
viola tries to close the distance and clinch up but Chekalenko swats him away and circles back towards the center.
viola moves in looking to clinch but Chekalenko pushes him off.

viola gets a clinch.

viola's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
viola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Chekalenko.
Chekalenko misses with a two punch combination.
Chekalenko misses with a takedown

and viola counters by moving into the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirill Chekalenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
viola is looking to break free of the clinch but Chekalenko has double underhooks.
viola lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Chekalenko tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
viola lands with a light punch inside.
viola keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Chekalenko's efforts to push away.

viola breaks from the clinch.
viola wants to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Chekalenko is defended easily by viola.
viola misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
viola fails to land with a series of punches.
viola throws a nice looking combination but Chekalenko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Chekalenko swats away the attempt to clinch by viola.
Nice sprawl there from viola as Chekalenko shoots in.
viola tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
viola is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Chekalenko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Chekalenko shoots for a takedown but viola saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Chekalenko takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

viola gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Chekalenko is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
viola lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Chekalenko backwards.
Chekalenko tries for a takedown. No joy.

viola manages to break the clinch.

Chekalenko tries to keep at a distance but viola has taken the fight into the clinch.
viola wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Chekalenko has him pressed against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Chekalenko has hold of one of viola's legs. viola is fighting the takedown attempt but Chekalenko gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
viola keeping moving, preventing Chekalenko from controlling successfully.
Chekalenko prevents viola from getting back to his feet.
Kirill Chekalenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Chekalenko trying to control but viola is working from the bottom.
viola tries to land a sweep but no joy.
viola wants to stand up but Chekalenko is controlling him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

khel viola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kirill Chekalenko's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

viola has closed the distance and engaged Chekalenko in a clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Chekalenko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as viola walks away with a smile on his face. Chekalenko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
viola wants to clinch up but Chekalenko keeps it at a distance.
Chekalenko throws a right and a left that viola avoids nicely.

viola clinches.
Chekalenko tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. viola smiles and moves away.

viola moves into range and clinches up with Chekalenko.
Chekalenko has viola pressed against the cage, preventing viola from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Chekalenko has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics viola uses from the top position.
viola wants to stand and escape but instead Chekalenko has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Chekalenko wants to control from the top but viola keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Chekalenko controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Chekalenko trying to control but viola is working from the bottom.
Chekalenko wants to stand but viola is controlling his posture from full guard.
viola wants to stand up but Chekalenko is controlling him.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
viola scores with a three punch combo!

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.
Chekalenko takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
viola ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
viola tries to clinch up but Chekalenko circles away and keeps his distance.
Chekalenko keeps the fight on the outside.
viola doesn't manage to clinch there - Chekalenko circles away.
viola fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Chekalenko has closed the distance and engaged viola in a clinch.
viola wants to break free but Chekalenko has control.
viola wants to get back to striking at distance but Chekalenko won't allow it.
Chekalenko pressing his opponent against the cage.
viola wants to break the clinch but can't.
A right handed body shot lands from Chekalenko.
viola lands a left hand.
Chekalenko can't get the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kirill Chekalenko. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

viola breaks the clinch.
viola looks for a takedown but Chekalenko sprawls well.
viola throws a one two combo.
Kirill Chekalenko is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
viola lands a jab-cross combination.
viola throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Chekalenko.
Chekalenko slips a straight right by viola.

Chekalenko instigates a clinch.
Chekalenko trying to control the position but instead, viola has worked for underhooks and has pushed Chekalenko into the cage.
viola is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Chekalenko is defending well for now.
Chekalenko wants a takedown.
viola lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Chekalenko jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as viola walks away with a smile on his face. Chekalenko gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Chekalenko fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but viola avoids it really well and circles away.
viola's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and viola duly obliges.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
viola tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Chekalenko counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Chekalenko.
viola wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Chekalenko manages to pass to side control.
Chekalenko trying to control from half guard but viola is working away.
viola is trying to stand back up but Chekalenko is controlling him
Chekalenko missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
viola is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Chekalenko looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kirill Chekalenko.
I think Chekalenko 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 Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 29:28
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kirill Chekalenko!