PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Vaethra Helarr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Denis Puzyrev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Puzyrev has chosen гоп-стоп as his entrance music. Denis Puzyrev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Helarr
vs
Puzyrev

177 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

168 cm
22
147 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Self confident

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight 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, Vaethra Helarr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Denis Puzyrev!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Konstantin Menshow and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Puzyrev scores with a takedown into Helarr's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Helarr trying to keep a closed guard but Puzyrev is proving a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Helarr keeping moving, preventing Puzyrev from controlling successfully.
Puzyrev wants to pass the guard but Helarr is keeping the position.
Helarr wants to stand up but Puzyrev is controlling him.
Puzyrev advances to half guard.
Helarr keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Puzyrev is trying to control. Helarr wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Puzyrev lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Puzyrev is trying to work for a kimura but Helarr is defending well.
Puzyrev seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Helarr does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Puzyrev is working for a kimura but Helarr is defending it quite comfortably.

Puzyrev is looking for a kimura here.
Puzyrev stops Helarr from getting back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puzyrev with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

Puzyrev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Helarr doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Puzyrev.
Helarr manages to get to full guard.
Helarr seems keen to control Puzyrev's posture.
Puzyrev wants to control from the top but Helarr keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Puzyrev passes Helarr's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Helarr is controlling Puzyrev's trapped leg to prevent Puzyrev from advancing to side control.
Puzyrev thows a huge punch but Helarr dodges it nicely.
Helarr is looking to escape.

Puzyrev is working for a kimura but Helarr is defending it quite comfortably.

Puzyrev seems to be looking for submissions.
Helarr is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Puzyrev scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Puzyrev seems to be looking for submissions.
Helarr is trying to stand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Helarr is breathing heavily.

Puzyrev is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Puzyrev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Helarr defends it well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Helarr wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Denis Puzyrev 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.

Puzyrev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Helarr circles away.

Helarr moves into the clinch.

Helarr jumps guard and drags Puzyrev to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Puzyrev looking to pass the guard.
Helarr trying to control the position.
Helarr keeping moving, preventing Puzyrev from controlling successfully.
Helarr bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Puzyrev's guard.
Helarr throws a strike but Puzyrev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Helarr wants to stand up but Puzyrev is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Puzyrev works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Puzyrev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Helarr is just riding it out for now. Puzyrev eventually gives up the hold.
Helarr tries to push off, looking to stand up, but Puzyrev manages to move to mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Puzyrev swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Helarr is now in Puzyrev's guard. A big mistake from Puzyrev there, giving up the dominant position!
Helarr throws a strike but Puzyrev rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Helarr wants to sweep but no luck.
Denis Puzyrev has got the better of the ground game so far.
Puzyrev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Helarr works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Puzyrev is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Helarr is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Helarr has escaped and now he's on top!
Helarr stopping the sweep attempt from Puzyrev.
Helarr trying to move into half guard but instead Puzyrev has managed to sweep!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Puzyrev drops back looking for a leg! Helarr is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Helarr manages to kick Puzyrev off! Puzyrev jumps back into Helarr's guard.

Puzyrev is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Helarr is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Helarr has escaped and now he's on top!
Puzyrev is trying to control the position but Helarr postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Vaethra Helarr will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Helarr closes the distance and clinches.
Helarr is looking for a takedown.

Puzyrev has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Helarr is trying to keep an underhook but Puzyrev manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Helarr is not content to let Puzyrev control the position.

Puzyrev is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Helarr defends it well.
Helarr wants to get back to his feet.
Helarr wants to control but Puzyrev is keeping busy.

Helarr actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Puzyrev is trying to work for a kimura but Helarr is defending well.
Ground and pound from Puzyrev.
Helarr is trying to maintain the position but Puzyrev is very close to passing his half guard.

Puzyrev is looking for a kimura but Helarr is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Puzyrev to get the leverage.

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

Puzyrev looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Puzyrev is trying to control. Helarr wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Helarr tries to roll over but Puzyrev keeps him under control.
Puzyrev prevents Helarr from standing back up.
Puzyrev trying to pass the guard but Helarr defending well.

Puzyrev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Helarr doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Puzyrev.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Helarr is looking to improve his position.

Puzyrev is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Helarr sees it coming and defends easily.
Puzyrev is thwarting Helarr's attempts to control the position.
Puzyrev stops Helarr from getting back to his feet.
Puzyrev is looking to advance position but Helarr won't allow it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Puzyrev is keen to just control but Helarr is a slippery customer.
Helarr slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Helarr is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Puzyrev is controlling him.
Puzyrev passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Puzyrev tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Puzyrev has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Puzyrev is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Helarr knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

And that's the end of the fight!
Denis Puzyrev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Puzyrev has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 27:30
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Denis Puzyrev!
After the fight, Denis Puzyrev was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.