PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ernesto Valasranta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Evgeny Filimoshkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Valasranta
vs
Filimoshkin

186 cm
22
195 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
19
189 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ernesto Valasranta!
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, Evgeny Filimoshkin!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Filimoshkin tries for a takedown but Valasranta sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Valasranta scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Valasranta wants to lay and pray for a moment but Filimoshkin keeps working.
Filimoshkin is looking for a sweep.

Valasranta goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Filimoshkin has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Valasranta but great work by Filimoshkin.
Filimoshkin tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Filimoshkin goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Valasranta rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Filimoshkin's guard! Nice work there by Valasranta!
Filimoshkin trying to keep a closed guard but Valasranta is proving a slippery customer.
Filimoshkin wants to sweep here but Valasranta controlling him for the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Filimoshkin looking to control.
Valasranta looking to pass the guard.

Valasranta drops back looking for a leg! Filimoshkin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Filimoshkin manages to kick Valasranta off! Valasranta jumps back into Filimoshkin's guard.
Valasranta trying to control but Filimoshkin is working from the bottom.

Valasranta has gone for a leg lock! Filimoshkin slips out almost immediately though and dives into Valasranta's guard.
Valasranta working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Filimoshkin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Valasranta is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Valasranta is working for a submission of some sort.
Filimoshkin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Filimoshkin is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Valasranta wants to control from the top but Filimoshkin keeps moving.
Filimoshkin looks gassed!

Valasranta drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Filimoshkin manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Valasranta has Filimoshkin in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valasranta avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Valasranta wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Filimoshkin wanted to stand there but Valasranta had control of the position.

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.
Valasranta has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Valasranta controls Filimoshkin momentarily but Filimoshkin frees himself.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ernesto Valasranta wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Filimoshkin misses with a takedown

and Valasranta counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernesto Valasranta dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Valasranta closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Filimoshkin to the mat! Filimoshkin manages to get full guard.
Valasranta throwing strikes but missing.
Valasranta trying to move into half guard but instead Filimoshkin has managed to sweep!
Filimoshkin wants to stand but Valasranta has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Valasranta preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Filimoshkin trying to control the position from guard on top but Valasranta is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Valasranta lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Filimoshkin!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Valasranta moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Filimoshkin has worked his arm free - good work by Filimoshkin!
Valasranta wants to control but Filimoshkin is keeping him busy.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Valasranta decides to stand up, so the ref orders Filimoshkin to his feet.
Valasranta shoots and misses
and Filimoshkin counters with a head kick.
Filimoshkin shoots and misses

so Valasranta counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Filimoshkin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Valasranta trying to control but Filimoshkin is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valasranta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Filimoshkin is keeping the position for now.
Valasranta is stalling in the full guard.
Filimoshkin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Filimoshkin is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Valasranta defends well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Filimoshkin wants to sweep but no luck.
Valasranta prevents Filimoshkin from getting back to his feet.
Filimoshkin working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valasranta postures up and lands a big shot to Filimoshkin's brow.
Filimoshkin 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.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Filimoshkin throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Filimoshkin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Valasranta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Filimoshkin swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Filimoshkin looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Valasranta preventing the sweep.
Valasranta makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Valasranta thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Valasranta trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Valasranta trying to control but Filimoshkin is working from the bottom.

Filimoshkin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Valasranta can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Valasranta drops back, looking for a kneebar! Filimoshkin looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Filimoshkin looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Filimoshkin!
Filimoshkin throwing strikes but Valasranta manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ernesto Valasranta dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Filimoshkin shoots and misses

and Valasranta counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Filimoshkin's guard now.

Valasranta is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Filimoshkin is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Filimoshkin has escaped and now he's on top!
Valasranta has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valasranta controls Filimoshkin momentarily but Filimoshkin frees himself.
Filimoshkin won't allow Valasranta to sweep him here.
Valasranta working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Filimoshkin.
Filimoshkin being controlled here momentarily.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ernesto Valasranta wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Valasranta tries a low kick but Filimoshkin avoids it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Filimoshkin darts in trying to clinch

and Valasranta counters with a nice double leg into guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Filimoshkin is on top in guard.
Filimoshkin wants to control from the top but Valasranta keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Filimoshkin preventing the sweep.
Valasranta keeping moving, preventing Filimoshkin from controlling successfully.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Evgeny Filimoshkin hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Filimoshkin with a poor takedown

and Valasranta decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Filimoshkin's guard.
Valasranta trying to control but Filimoshkin is working from the bottom.

Valasranta gets to his feet - Filimoshkin follows without any prompting.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Filimoshkin fails with the takedown

and Valasranta counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Filimoshkin's guard now.
Ernesto Valasranta has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Evgeny Filimoshkin.

Valasranta thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Filimoshkin working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Valasranta.
Valasranta wants to control from the top but Filimoshkin keeps moving.
Valasranta is pushing down on Filimoshkin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Filimoshkin is fighting to maintain full guard but Valasranta has managed to sneak the leg through.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Filimoshkin tries to kick Valasranta off but Valasranta keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Valasranta is keen to just control but Filimoshkin is a slippery customer.
Evgeny Filimoshkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ernesto Valasranta is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Valasranta is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ernesto Valasranta showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Valasranta, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ernesto Valasranta!