PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pauli Purjonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bakalov Cruskev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Bakalov Cruskev told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Purjonen
vs
Cruskev

180 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
196 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pauli Purjonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Bakalov Cruskev!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Cruskev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cruskev tries to bum rush Purjonen with a series of wild strikes but Purjonen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Purjonen scores with a jab. Cruskev acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Cruskev fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruskev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Purjonen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Cruskev as he jumps to the side.
Nice sprawl there from Cruskev as Purjonen shoots in.
Bakalov Cruskev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Cruskev throws a nice looking combination but Purjonen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Purjonen misses with a head kick.
Purjonen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Cruskev is fending him off so far but Purjonen persists. Nope, Cruskev circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pauli Purjonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Purjonen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Cruskev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Purjonen somewhat.
Cruskev throws a good cross that connects.
Cruskev lands a jab-cross combination.
Purjonen is looking to clinch.
Cruskev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruskev scores with a one two! Purjonen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Cruskev misses with a double jab.
Cruskev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Purjonen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Cruskev circles away.
Cruskev throws a one two combo.
Purjonen dodges the punch combination from Cruskev.
Purjonen moves out of range as Cruskev strikes.
Cruskev misses with a double jab.

Cruskev gets caught flat footed, as Purjonen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Purjonen is breathing heavily.
Purjonen wants to control from the top but Cruskev keeps moving.
Cruskev wants to stand up but Purjonen is controlling him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Purjonen trying to control but Cruskev is working from the bottom.
Purjonen won't allow Cruskev to sweep him here.
Cruskev looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Purjonen wants to stand but Cruskev has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Cruskev managing to control the position.
Cruskev wants to sweep but no luck.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Cruskev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Cruskev tries to bum rush Purjonen with a series of wild strikes but Purjonen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Purjonen.
Cruskev fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Cruskev displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Purjonen.
Cruskev throws a good cross that connects.
Purjonen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Cruskev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Purjonen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Cruskev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Bakalov Cruskev is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Purjonen shoots in for a double leg but Cruskev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
A telegraphed right hand from Purjonen misses the target.
Cruskev misses with a combination

and Purjonen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Purjonen is controlling the pace.
Cruskev has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Purjonen is working away from the top position though.
Cruskev is looking to escape.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Cruskev is looking to improve his position.

Purjonen is trying to work for a kimura but Cruskev is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bakalov Cruskev 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.

Some wild striking there from Cruskev.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Purjonen is defended easily by Cruskev.
Cruskev slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Cruskev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Purjonen clinches up against the cage.

Purjonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Donk. Cruskev catches Purjonen right on the button with a cross.
Purjonen shoots in for a double leg but Cruskev sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Cruskev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Purjonen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Cruskev throws a right and a left that Purjonen avoids nicely.
Purjonen fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pauli Purjonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Cruskev fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruskev fails to land with a series of punches.
Cruskev moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Purjonen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Cruskev swivels and escapes.
Cruskev misses with a double jab.

Purjonen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Cruskev tries to buck Purjonen off but Purjonen is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Purjonen prevents Cruskev from escaping the position.
Cruskev struggling a bit here.
Cruskev sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Cruskev slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Cruskev looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Cruskev trying to keep a closed guard but Purjonen is proving a slippery customer.
Purjonen controls from within his opponent's guard.
Purjonen wants to control from the top but Cruskev keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Purjonen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Cruskev is proving hard to escape from.
Purjonen preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Cruskev wants to stand and escape but Purjonen is having none of it.
Purjonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Cruskev swivels though and keeps the full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Cruskev throws a one two combo.
Cruskev looks to land a combination but Purjonen avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Cruskev throws a left and a right that both miss

and Purjonen counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Purjonen.
Purjonen controlling the action here for a moment.
Cruskev tries to break the clinch but Purjonen is controlling the position.
Cruskev working hard to break the clinch.
Cruskev wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Cruskev tries to break the clinch but Purjonen is controlling the position.

Purjonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Cruskev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Nice takedown defense from Cruskev. No joy for Purjonen on that attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Bakalov Cruskev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Cruskev throws a left and a right that both miss

and Purjonen holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Purjonen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Purjonen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Purjonen keeps control of Cruskev as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Purjonen tries to pull guard but Cruskev holds him up against the cage and eventually Purjonen drops back down to his feet.
Purjonen has Cruskev pressed against the cage, preventing Cruskev from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Purjonen breaks from the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Cruskev stuffs the takedown attempt from Purjonen. Purjonen gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pauli Purjonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Cruskev misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Cruskev tries to bum rush Purjonen with a series of wild strikes but Purjonen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Cruskev lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Cruskev throws a nice looking combination but Purjonen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Cruskev misses with a wild combination.
Purjonen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Cruskev as he avoids it easily.
Purjonen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Cruskev scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Cruskev misses with a jab, cross combination.

Purjonen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Purjonen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Purjonen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cruskev has had enough of the clinch but Purjonen keeps him there for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Cruskev has Purjonen pressed against the cage, preventing Purjonen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Cruskev stops a takedown attempt from Purjonen.
Purjonen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Cruskev is keeping busy.
Cruskev tries to break free but Purjonen pushes him back against the cage.
Purjonen keeps control of Cruskev as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Purjonen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Cruskev has had enough of the clinch but Purjonen keeps him there for the moment.
Purjonen working hard to break the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Cruskev's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A frustrated look appears on Cruskev's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Cruskev tries to break free but Purjonen pushes him back against the cage.
Purjonen looking for a takedown.
Purjonen looking for a takedown.
Purjonen has Cruskev pressed against the cage, preventing Cruskev from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Purjonen tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Cruskev smiles and moves away.
Cruskev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Cruskev throws a one two combo.
Cruskev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Pauli Purjonen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's four 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.
Nice takedown defense from Cruskev. No joy for Purjonen on that attempt.
Cruskev throws a right hand that Purjonen ducks under and follows up with a left that Purjonen also avoids with ease.
Purjonen avoids a kick to the body.
Cruskev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Purjonen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Cruskev swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Purjonen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nice straight punches there by Cruskev. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Cruskev.
Purjonen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Cruskev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Purjonen dodges the punch combination from Cruskev.
Cruskev closes the distance and lands a one-two.

And that's the end of the fight!
Bakalov Cruskev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Cruskev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 27:30
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Bakalov Cruskev!