PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Soz Sztrova (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harry Moon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sztrova comes into the arena with In a Heartbeat blaring out of the sound system. Soz Sztrova had real problems making weight for this fight. After initially coming in at 186.8lbs, he had two hours to make the official fight weight. He made it but it will have taken a lot out of him to cut those extra few pounds. Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Sztrova
vs
Moon

190 cm
22
200 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

181 cm
20
193 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
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 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Soz Sztrova!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harry Moon!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

A big head kick from Sztrova and Moon is sent sprawling to the canvas!

It looks like Harry Moon has been cut.
Sztrova trying to control but Moon is working from the bottom.

Moon is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Sztrova defends well.

Moon has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sztrova can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Moon is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Sztrova is aware though and is defending well.

Moon working for a triangle but Sztrova defends it easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sztrova wants to stand but Moon has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sztrova is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

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

Moon looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sztrova wants to control from the top but Moon keeps moving.

Sztrova got a little sloppy there for a moment and Moon has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Sztrova has managed to get both his arms back between Moon's legs - danger averted.
Moon keeping moving, preventing Sztrova from controlling successfully.
Sztrova pushing down on Moon's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sztrova trying to control from half guard but Moon is working away.

Sztrova is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Moon defends it well.

Moon looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Moon looks gassed!
Moon taking some punishment here, with Sztrova in his half guard.

Moon is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sztrova pulls his head out easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sztrova working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Sztrova wants to control but Moon is keeping him busy.

Moon looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sztrova is trying to control. Moon wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

Moon is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Sztrova pulls his head out easily.
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!
Sztrova frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sztrova putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sztrova with the ground and pound from mount.

Sztrova is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Moon can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Sztrova tries to control but Moon wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Moon is desperately trying to improve his position but Sztrova has a good base and remains in mount.
Sztrova in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sztrova looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Moon is desperately trying to improve his position but Sztrova has a good base and remains in mount.
Sztrova mounts Moon! Really nice guard pass there!
Moon is desperately trying to improve his position but Sztrova has a good base and remains in mount.

Sztrova is giving the impression that he's looking to ground and pound but he switches suddenly into a beautiful far side armbar! Moon is forced to tap! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:03 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Soz Sztrova!