PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Lyov Kirijenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kingston Bartholemeaux (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kirijenko
vs
Bartholemeaux

195 cm
29
220 lbs
18 - 17 - 1

187 cm
33
220 lbs
23 - 14 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

The Big Kabosh

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 18 - 17 - 1, fighting out of London, Lyov Kirijenko!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 23 - 14 - 0, fighting out of London, Kingston Bartholemeaux!
The judges for this bout are Paul Tew, Andrew Berry and Phil Schofield.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kirijenko misses with an uppercut.
Kirijenko lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
A combination from Bartholemeaux does no damage.
Bartholemeaux avoids the body shot from Kirijenko.
Bartholemeaux bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Bartholemeaux gets caught napping as Kirijenko dives in and scores a takedown. Bartholemeaux manages to retain guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Kirijenko preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kirijenko controlling from the top position.
Bartholemeaux keeping full guard, as Kirijenko tries to pass.
Bartholemeaux looking to control.
Kirijenko tries to free his leg and advance position but Bartholemeaux is retaining full guard.
Bartholemeaux looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bartholemeaux can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kirijenko works over Bartholemeaux with some ground and pound from guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartholemeaux working a defensive guard here.
Bartholemeaux avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kirijenko trying to control but Bartholemeaux is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bartholemeaux looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kirijenko is one step ahead there.
Kirijenko loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Bartholemeaux working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kirijenko.
Bartholemeaux is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Kirijenko throws a big elbow that misses.
Kirijenko won't allow Bartholemeaux to sweep him here.
Kirijenko working some strikes from top position.
Kirijenko wants to control from the top but Bartholemeaux keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bartholemeaux wants to sweep here but Kirijenko controlling him for the moment.
Bartholemeaux wants to get back to his feet but Kirijenko is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Bartholemeaux has momentary wrist control but Kirijenko slips an elbow through the middle.
Bartholemeaux tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kirijenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kirijenko is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kirijenko wants to control from the top but Bartholemeaux keeps moving.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Bartholemeaux is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kirijenko is controlling him.
Kirijenko looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko passes Bartholemeaux's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kirijenko connects with a nice short shot to Bartholemeaux's temple.
The fighters are battling for position here. Bartholemeaux manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kirijenko 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.
Kirijenko throwing strikes but missing.
Bartholemeaux really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kirijenko. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kirijenko is working Bartholemeaux over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kirijenko postures up.
Bartholemeaux wants to stand but Kirijenko is controlling the position.
Bartholemeaux tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kirijenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Bartholemeaux is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Bartholemeaux is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kirijenko is aware though and is defending well.
Bartholemeaux can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Kirijenko controls the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Bartholemeaux can't keep his opponent in guard - Kirijenko advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Bartholemeaux is staying active underneath Kirijenko, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kirijenko throwing shots but Bartholemeaux is blocking nicely.
Bartholemeaux is not content to let Kirijenko control the position.
Bartholemeaux is looking to get back to full guard here but Kirijenko has managed to pass to side control instead.
Kirijenko gets to mount! Bartholemeaux was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kirijenko looking to control but Bartholemeaux is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kirijenko punishing his opponent with strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyov Kirijenko dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kirijenko drives through with a takedown into guard.

It looks like Kingston Bartholemeaux has been cut.
Kirijenko makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kirijenko with a nice head shot there.
Bartholemeaux is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kirijenko is controlling him.
Kirijenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Bartholemeaux is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Bartholemeaux is trying to keep Kirijenko in close.
Kirijenko wants to control from the top but Bartholemeaux keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Kirijenko keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Bartholemeaux's head.
Kirijenko scoring with some ground and pound.
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!
Bartholemeaux wants to stand up but Kirijenko is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kirijenko trying to control the position from guard on top but Bartholemeaux is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kirijenko scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Bartholemeaux wants to stand but Kirijenko is controlling the position.
Kirijenko landing with the ground and pound.

Bartholemeaux looking for a guillotine here but Kirijenko defends easily.
Kirijenko postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kirijenko controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Kirijenko lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Bartholemeaux is not content to let Kirijenko control the position.
Ground and pound from Kirijenko.
Bartholemeaux is not content to let Kirijenko control the position.
Bartholemeaux wants to control but Kirijenko is keeping busy.
Lyov Kirijenko overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ground and pound from Kirijenko.

Kirijenko stands up out of the half guard.
Bartholemeaux misses with a straight right.

Bartholemeaux has closed the distance and engaged Kirijenko in a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko trying to stall but Bartholemeaux improves his position.
Maybe Kirijenko would be better served going for some more strikes rather than trying to control so much.
Bartholemeaux gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Kirijenko.
Bartholemeaux is trying to break free.
Kirijenko is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Bartholemeaux blocking some punches.
Kirijenko slowing the pace effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kirijenko keeps control of Bartholemeaux as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Bartholemeaux breaks the clinch.
Kirijenko misses with a straight left.
Nice uppercut lands for Kirijenko. That snapped Bartholemeaux's head back.
Bartholemeaux stuns Kirijenko with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kirijenko misses the shot to the body.
Kirijenko will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Bartholemeaux tries to clinch but Kirijenko moves out of range.
Bartholemeaux tries to clinch up but Kirijenko circles away and keeps his distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Bartholemeaux uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kirijenko.
Kirijenko is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Lyov Kirijenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kirijenko slips a jab from Bartholemeaux.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lyov Kirijenko dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kingston Bartholemeaux's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Bartholemeaux misses with a head kick.
Kirijenko scores with a nice head shot.
Kirijenko slips a jab from Bartholemeaux.
Kirijenko slips a straight right by Bartholemeaux.
Bartholemeaux on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Bartholemeaux throws a nice head kick!
Kirijenko throws a lazy right hand but Bartholemeaux sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Bartholemeaux tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kirijenko catches Bartholemeaux with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Bartholemeaux jabs Kirijenko right on the nose. Kirijenko blinks but takes it well.
Bartholemeaux jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kirijenko shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Bartholemeaux counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Kirijenko is rocked!
Kirijenko swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bartholemeaux closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kirijenko shoots in for a takedown but Bartholemeaux shows good takedown defense.
A big right from Kirijenko misses.
Kirijenko tries to work over Bartholemeaux's front leg with a kick but Bartholemeaux checks it.
Bartholemeaux throws a powerful right kick. Kirijenko tried to block low but the kick was high! Kirijenko was taken right off of his feet! Bartholemeaux jumps in to finish the job and the ref tackles him! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:25 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Kingston Bartholemeaux!