PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Zenin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gabriel Kiptanui (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zenin's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Helloween - Power. Kiptanui is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Teflon Brothers - Hoodilammas feat. Juju . Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Zenin
vs
Kiptanui

172 cm
32
186 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

173 cm
29
181 lbs
16 - 12 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Vladimir Zenin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Hilo, Gabriel Kiptanui!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Jeff Smith and Paul Gruel.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zenin stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kiptanui.
Kiptanui drops his hands momentarily and Zenin takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Zenin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kiptanui manages to avoid it.
Zenin rushes in with a sloppy looking punch
and Kiptanui counters with a straight right hand.
Kiptanui takes one on the button.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zenin.
Zenin swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kiptanui uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zenin.
Zenin swats away the attempt to clinch by Kiptanui.
Kiptanui ducks right into an uppercut from Zenin.
Kiptanui is looking to clinch.
Kiptanui moves in looking to clinch but Zenin pushes him off.
Zenin looks to score with a jab to the body but Kiptanui is just out of range.

Zenin shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Zenin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kiptanui has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zenin has managed to get both his arms back between Kiptanui's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kiptanui looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiptanui looking to control.
Zenin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kiptanui works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kiptanui avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Zenin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kiptanui has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Zenin has managed to get both his arms back between Kiptanui's legs - danger averted.
Kiptanui working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Zenin.
Zenin scoring with some ground and pound.
Zenin forces his way into half guard.
Kiptanui wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zenin wants to pass the guard but Kiptanui is defending well.
Kiptanui regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Zenin.
Zenin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Kiptanui is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kiptanui tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zenin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Zenin works over Kiptanui with some ground and pound from guard.
Zenin postures up and lands a big shot to Kiptanui's brow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui controlling Zenin's posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zenin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kiptanui working a defensive guard here.
Zenin works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Zenin missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

Zenin is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kiptanui blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zenin.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zenin wants to free his trapped foot but Kiptanui is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Kiptanui trying to control here.
Zenin is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zenin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kiptanui preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Kiptanui is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kiptanui avoids the body shot from Zenin.
Nice uppercut there from Zenin.
Kiptanui uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Zenin.

Zenin manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kiptanui on his heels. He'll look to pass Kiptanui's guard now, I'm sure.
Kiptanui is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Vladimir Zenin overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kiptanui wants to advance to full mount but Zenin doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Kiptanui thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Kiptanui trying to control the position from guard on top but Zenin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kiptanui stays in close to Zenin's body and controls the position.
Kiptanui tries to free his leg and advance position but Zenin is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zenin is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kiptanui is aware though and is defending well.
Zenin 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.
Zenin bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kiptanui's guard.
Zenin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zenin throws an elbow that misses. Kiptanui uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zenin's guard. Nice move by Kiptanui!
Kiptanui looking to pass the guard.
Zenin keeping moving, preventing Kiptanui from controlling successfully.

Zenin pushes Kiptanui off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Kiptanui shoots in for a takedown but Zenin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Zenin misses with a double jab.
Kiptanui shoots in but no luck this time.
Zenin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kiptanui keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui throws a head kick but Zenin moves out of range.
Zenin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zenin throws a jab but it's blocked by Kiptanui.
Zenin throws a body punch but Kiptanui moves out of range.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kiptanui scores with a punch to the head.
The fighters circling - Zenin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Kiptanui tries to close the distance and clinch but Zenin swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Nice shot lands for Zenin.
Zenin throws a jab but it's blocked by Kiptanui.
Zenin swats away the attempt to clinch by Kiptanui.
Zenin misses with a few strikes there.
A looping hook to the body misses from Zenin. Kiptanui does a little dance to reset his feet.
Zenin throws a combination. Kiptanui tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Kiptanui throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kiptanui throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Gabriel Kiptanui seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kiptanui throws a front kick aimed at Zenin's knee but Zenin avoids it well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui moves out of range of the strikes.

Zenin forces Kiptanui back against the cage and clinches.
Zenin is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Vladimir Zenin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Kiptanui.
Zenin is trying to break free.

Kiptanui has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Zenin is trying to keep an underhook but Kiptanui manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Zenin is looking to improve his position.
Zenin works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kiptanui slips nicely into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Kiptanui is working for a submission of some sort.
Zenin gets full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Zenin is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kiptanui is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Zenin drops back looking for a leg! Kiptanui is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kiptanui manages to kick Zenin off! Zenin jumps back into Kiptanui's guard.
Zenin is pushing down on Kiptanui's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kiptanui is fighting to maintain full guard but Zenin has managed to sneak the leg through.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zenin working Kiptanui over with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Zenin dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kiptanui throws a sloppy head kick and Zenin moves out of range easily.
Gabriel Kiptanui is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zenin slaps away a takedown attempt from Kiptanui, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kiptanui scores with a head kick. Zenin tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
A head kick misses from Kiptanui.
Kiptanui fails with an attempt to clinch.
Zenin sizes up Kiptanui with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Zenin scores with the left hand. Kiptanui knows he should have avoided that one.
Zenin swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Kiptanui tries to clinch up but Zenin circles away and keeps his distance.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Kiptanui.
Kiptanui shoots in and drives through. Zenin sprawls well.
Zenin misses with a straight left.
Vladimir Zenin is winning the standup battle so far.
Kiptanui fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zenin avoids it really well and circles away.
Vladimir Zenin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Gabriel Kiptanui.
Zenin misses with a takedown attempt - Kiptanui sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zenin throws a jab when Kiptanui was well out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zenin fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kiptanui looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Zenin throws a body punch but Kiptanui moves out of range.

Kiptanui shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kiptanui was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Zenin gets back to half guard.
Zenin is refusing to be controlled, as Kiptanui sits in half guard.
Zenin manages to get to full guard.
Kiptanui wants to pass the guard but Zenin is keeping the position.
Zenin 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiptanui trying to control the position from guard on top but Zenin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kiptanui slips nicely into half guard.

Kiptanui is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zenin is refusing to be controlled, as Kiptanui sits in half guard.
Zenin makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Zenin.
Zenin keeping moving, preventing Kiptanui from controlling successfully.
Zenin manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Zenin working away from the top, dropping strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zenin lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Zenin breaks from Kiptanui's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kiptanui sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kiptanui keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zenin throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Kiptanui to regain full guard.
Zenin postures up in Kiptanui's guard and throws a big left but Kiptanui blocks it.
Zenin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zenin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Kiptanui looking for a guillotine here but Zenin defends easily.
Kiptanui takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zenin tries to free his leg and advance position but Kiptanui is retaining full guard.
Vladimir Zenin is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zenin postures up in Kiptanui's guard and throws a big left but Kiptanui blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kiptanui 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.
Gabriel Kiptanui has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kiptanui keeping moving, preventing Zenin from controlling successfully.

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 Vladimir Zenin.
Well Zenin 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jeff Smith scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Zenin!