PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Victor Lenin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kiko Kaluma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Victor Lenin has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Lenin
vs
Kaluma

200 cm
25
145 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

190 cm
20
140 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the bantamweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Victor Lenin!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kiko Kaluma!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaluma misses with a takedown
and Lenin counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Lenin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kaluma misses with a takedown attempt
and Lenin counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Kaluma is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Lenin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lenin moves to clinch but Kaluma breaks away

and Kaluma counters with a shoot takedown. Lenin fights it but they end up in guard.
Kaluma working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Kaluma drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Lenin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kaluma has Lenin in his guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kaluma can do anything to dispel that myth.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lenin looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Kaluma throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lenin wants to control from the top but Kaluma keeps moving.
Lenin has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kaluma doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Lenin knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kaluma on the ground.
Lenin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Kaluma working for a triangle but Lenin defends it easily.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kaluma bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lenin's guard.
Kaluma content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kaluma postures up.
Kaluma postures up in Lenin's guard and throws a big left but Lenin blocks it.
Kaluma postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaluma postures up in Lenin's guard and throws a big left but Lenin blocks it.
Lenin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lenin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kaluma accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kaluma missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kaluma wants to pass the guard but Lenin is keeping the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kaluma is looking to work some ground and pound but Lenin has wrist control.
Lenin is breathing heavily.
Kaluma pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lenin is keeping the position for now.
Kaluma advances position into side control!
Lenin on the wrong end of some ground and pound.

Kaluma looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Lenin tries to buck Kaluma off but Kaluma is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaluma in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kaluma scoring with punches and elbows.
Kaluma throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Kaluma lands some shots froms side control.
Kaluma lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Lenin down.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Kaluma is chipping away with strikes.

Kaluma thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Kaluma landing a few strikes.
Kaluma lands a nice forearm strike.
Kaluma grinds an elbow into Lenin's temple.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaluma in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Lenin takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Lenin takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Kaluma looks up at the clock and then as Lenin takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Kaluma smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Lenin is trying to control Kaluma's posture but Kaluma avoids it.
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!

Kaluma decides to stand back up. Kaluma steps back and let's Lenin get back to his feet.

Kaluma clinches with his opponent.
Lenin is trying to break the clinch but Kaluma has him pressed against the ropes.
Kaluma has Lenin pressed against the ropes, preventing Lenin from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kaluma drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Victor Lenin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kiko Kaluma.
Kaluma connects with a knee to the head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kaluma tries for a takedown. No joy.
Lenin prevents a takedown attempt there.

Kaluma has Lenin pressed up against the ropes. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Kaluma pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Lenin tumbling to the mat - Kaluma dives into Lenin's guard.
Kaluma working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Lenin's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiko Kaluma dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lenin swinging wildly here.

Kaluma darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Kaluma is trying to control. Lenin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kaluma lands strikes from half guard.
Kaluma winds up and cracks Lenin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kaluma thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lenin's head.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kaluma lands a nice short elbow.
Kaluma lands strikes from half guard.
Kaluma looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Kaluma lands a nice short elbow.
Lenin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaluma working the head and body with strikes.
Lenin has hold of Kaluma's hands but Kaluma slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Lenin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kaluma scores with a couple of nice shots.
Lenin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kaluma throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lenin taking some punishment here, with Kaluma in his half guard.
Kaluma seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Kaluma drops an elbow to the side of Lenin's head.
Kaluma wants to control but Lenin is keeping him busy.
Kaluma has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kaluma thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Lenin on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kaluma lands with a punch from half guard.

Kaluma is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Lenin sees it coming and defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaluma is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Kaluma is looking for a kimura but Lenin is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Kaluma to get the leverage.
Kiko Kaluma has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lenin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kaluma is working away from the top position though.
Kaluma lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kaluma thows a huge punch but Lenin dodges it nicely.
Lenin has hold of Kaluma's hands but Kaluma slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kaluma prevents Lenin from improving his position.
Kaluma drops an elbow to the side of Lenin's head.
Kaluma takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lenin taking some punishment here, with Kaluma in his half guard.
Lenin is staying active underneath Kaluma, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kaluma drops an elbow to the side of Lenin's head.
Kaluma landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Nice strikes from Kaluma there.
Kaluma lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kaluma lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kaluma content to control rather than advance.
Kaluma is thwarting Lenin's attempts to control the position.
Kaluma landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kaluma slips a nice elbow through Lenin's hands, connecting with Lenin's forehead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kaluma 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.
Kaluma winds up and cracks Lenin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Kaluma is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Lenin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kaluma drops an elbow to the side of Lenin's head.
Kaluma lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kaluma wants to take a breather but Lenin is having none of it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ground and pound from Kaluma.
Lenin has hold of Kaluma's hands but Kaluma slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kaluma works his foot free and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kiko Kaluma showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Lenin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Kaluma drives through and clinches with Lenin against the ropes.
Lenin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Kaluma's elbow.
Lenin tries to land knees in the clinch but Kaluma avoids the damage to the body.

Kaluma has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Lenin clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Lenin covers up after that shot from Kaluma.
Kaluma is punishing Lenin with strikes - can he finish him?!
Lenin is taking damage to the body and head.
Kaluma is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Lenin up.
Lenin takes a big shot to the side of the head.

Kaluma has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Lenin has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Lenin takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lenin is taking damage to the body and head.
Kaluma cracks Lenin with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Lenin from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.
Lenin grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Kaluma has Lenin flattened out and is raining down punches.
Kaluma throwing strikes from the back - he gets a warning from the referee for striking the back of the head but all these shots are hurting Lenin!
Lenin is taking damage to the body and head.
Kaluma lands a couple of good shots to his opponent's body and a final shot to the head. Good little attack there by Kaluma.
Kaluma is working the ground and pound here and the referee is taking a close look at Lenin. He must escape soon or this one will be stopped.
Lenin grimaces as he takes a shot to the body.
Lenin is trying to remain composed but Kaluma is hammering down strikes to the side of his head.

Kaluma working for a choke but Lenin is defending well.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kaluma cracks Lenin with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Lenin from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kaluma working for the rear naked choke here. He's got one arm under but Lenin is defending well. A couple of punches soften him up though and Kaluma has tightened the hold! This one could be all over! It is! Lenin taps out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Kiko Kaluma! Kiko Kaluma retains his bantamweight title!