diff --git a/clarifai/runners/models/vllm_openai_class.py b/clarifai/runners/models/vllm_openai_class.py
index b440e7c1..32fcc3a1 100644
--- a/clarifai/runners/models/vllm_openai_class.py
+++ b/clarifai/runners/models/vllm_openai_class.py
@@ -1,10 +1,65 @@
+import re
 import threading
-from typing import Iterator
+import time
+from typing import Iterator, Optional
 
 import httpx
 from clarifai_protocol import get_item_id, register_item_abort_callback
 
 from clarifai.runners.models.openai_class import OpenAIModelClass
+from clarifai.utils.logging import logger
+
+
+class VLLMMetricsPoller:
+    """Polls vLLM /metrics in background; caches kv_cache usage.
+
+    Fail-open: if the poller has never succeeded or is stale, admission is allowed.
+    """
+
+    KV_CACHE_HIGH = 0.8
+    KV_CACHE_LOW = 0.5
+    STALE_AFTER_SECONDS = 5.0
+
+    def __init__(self, base_url: str, poll_interval: float = 5.0):
+        self.base_url = base_url
+        self.poll_interval = poll_interval
+        self._kv_cache = 0.0
+        self._lock = threading.Lock()
+        self._last_success = time.time()
+
+        threading.Thread(target=self._poll_loop, daemon=True).start()
+        logger.info(
+            f"[VLLMMetricsPoller] Started polling {base_url}/metrics every {poll_interval}s"
+        )
+
+    def _poll_loop(self):
+        while True:
+            try:
+                resp = httpx.get(f"{self.base_url}/metrics", timeout=1.0)
+                if resp.status_code == 200:
+                    kv_cache = self._parse(
+                        resp.text, r'vllm:kv_cache_usage_perc\{[^}]*\}\s+([\d.]+)'
+                    )
+                    with self._lock:
+                        self._kv_cache = kv_cache
+                        self._last_success = time.time()
+                    logger.info(f"[VLLMMetricsPoller] kv_cache={kv_cache:.2%}")
+            except Exception as e:
+                logger.warning(f"[VLLMMetricsPoller] Poll failed: {e}")
+            time.sleep(self.poll_interval)
+
+    def _parse(self, text: str, pattern: str) -> float:
+        m = re.search(pattern, text)
+        return float(m.group(1)) if m else 0.0
+
+    def snapshot(self) -> float:
+        with self._lock:
+            return self._kv_cache
+
+    @property
+    def is_stale(self) -> bool:
+        with self._lock:
+            return time.time() - self._last_success > self.STALE_AFTER_SECONDS
 
 
 class VLLMCancellationHandler:
@@ -91,6 +146,34 @@ def generate(self, prompt, ...) -> Iterator[str]:
 
     server = None
     cancellation_handler = None
+    _metrics_poller: Optional[VLLMMetricsPoller] = None
+
+    @property
+    def admission_increase_delay(self) -> float:
+        return 0.0
+
+    @property
+    def admission_decrease_delay(self) -> float:
+        return 0.0
+
+    def check_admission(self):
+        """Three-state deadband on vLLM kv_cache usage.
+
+        Returns False above HIGH (AIMD shrinks), True below LOW (AIMD grows),
+        None in-between (AIMD holds). Fails open when the subclass has not
+        initialized ``self._metrics_poller`` or when the poller is stale.
+        """
+        poller = self._metrics_poller
+        if poller is None or poller.is_stale:
+            return True
+
+        kv_cache = poller.snapshot()
+        if kv_cache > poller.KV_CACHE_HIGH:
+            logger.info(f"[AdmissionControl] REJECT kv_cache={kv_cache:.2%}")
+            return False
+        if kv_cache < poller.KV_CACHE_LOW:
+            return True
+        return None
 
     def handle_liveness_probe(self) -> bool:
         if self.server is None: