PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johann Bruno (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kareefa Zhenny (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kareefa Zhenny will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Bruno
vs
Zhenny

185 cm
26
215 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

208 cm
19
209 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Good knees
KO power

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johann Bruno!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kareefa Zhenny!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bruno connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Zhenny looks for a takedown but Bruno sprawls well.

Bruno tries to sprawl but Zhenny drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Zhenny lands strikes from half guard.
Bruno is looking to escape.
Bruno blocking the ground and pound attempt from Zhenny.
Zhenny sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Bruno defending well though.
Zhenny stops Bruno from getting back to his feet.
Zhenny lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
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!
Zhenny throwing shots but Bruno is blocking nicely.
Zhenny lands strikes from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhenny scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Bruno on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Bruno tries to get out of the position.
Zhenny landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Bruno might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Zhenny working over Bruno with some ground and pound. Bruno looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Zhenny seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Bruno does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Zhenny prevents Bruno from standing back up.
Zhenny really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Bruno. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Bruno keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Zhenny working Bruno over with strikes.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Zhenny not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Zhenny performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Zhenny working over Bruno with some ground and pound. Bruno looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Bruno has one foot on Zhenny's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.
Zhenny shoots in for a double leg but Bruno sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Bruno closes the distance and pushes Zhenny back into the ropes.
Bruno lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
A body shot lands from Bruno.
Zhenny wants a takedown but no success here.
Johann Bruno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kareefa Zhenny.
Zhenny tries for a takedown. No joy.

Bruno's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zhenny shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bruno as he jumps to the side.
Bruno throws a body punch but Zhenny moves out of range.
Bruno connects with a high kick.

It looks like Kareefa Zhenny has been cut.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zhenny is defended easily by Bruno.
Zhenny fails with the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zhenny is defended easily by Bruno.
Zhenny is trying hard to land a takedown here. Bruno sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Zhenny tries to clinch but Bruno is having none of it.
Zhenny is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Bruno.
Zhenny is looking to chop away at Bruno's legs.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zhenny.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhenny stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zhenny wants it to stay on the feet.
Zhenny tries for a takedown but Bruno circles away easily

and Bruno counters with a head kick that drops Zhenny!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhenny has a closed guard, preventing Bruno from standing up.
Zhenny is trying to control the position but Bruno postures up.
Bruno wanted to stand there but Zhenny had control of the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zhenny is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Bruno stands up from Zhenny's guard - Bruno perhaps looking for a knockout.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johann Bruno dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kareefa Zhenny's cut.
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.

Zhenny circles away from the clinch attempt.

Zhenny gets tackled into the ropes by Bruno. Bruno maintains the clinch.
Good body shot from Bruno.
Bruno lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Zhenny backwards.
Bruno stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Zhenny tries for a takedown but Bruno manages to get underhooks.
Bruno is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Bruno landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Bruno working Zhenny over with knees to the body.
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!
Bruno is struggling to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhenny takes a shot to the head.
Bruno trying to control the position but instead, Zhenny has worked for underhooks and has pushed Bruno into the ropes.
Bruno scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Bruno presses Zhenny against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
With the fighters up against the ropes, Zhenny throws an elbow but misses.
Zhenny tries to pull guard but Bruno forces him back to his feet, against the ropes.
Johann Bruno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kareefa Zhenny.

Bruno breaks the clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zhenny is defended easily by Bruno.
Zhenny tries for a takedown but Bruno circles away easily
and Bruno counters with a good, hard body kick but Zhenny shrugs it off.
Zhenny is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhenny swats away the attempt to clinch by Bruno.

Bruno moves into range and clinches up with Zhenny.
Bruno lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Zhenny or not.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A shot in the inside from Bruno.
Bruno just leaning against Zhenny, taking a breather.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Nice body punch from Bruno.

Bruno breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Bruno moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Zhenny showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Bruno.
Zhenny keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zhenny shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Zhenny is looking to work some ground and pound but Bruno has wrist control.

Bruno pushes Zhenny off and gets back to his feet.
Zhenny avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Zhenny shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Bruno sprawls well. Bruno wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zhenny gets slowly back to his feet.
Zhenny shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Bruno closes the distance and pushes Zhenny back into the ropes.
A left hand lands to the body for Bruno.
A bit of stalling here from Bruno.
Zhenny wants to get back to striking at distance but Bruno won't allow it.
Zhenny is trying to pull guard but Bruno has him pressed against the ropes.

Bruno breaks from the clinch.
Zhenny avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zhenny throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Bruno counters with a body kick that brings a smile to the face of both fighters.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Bruno tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zhenny looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bruno is fending him off so far but Zhenny persists. Nope, Bruno circles away and we're back to standing.
Zhenny fails to land the takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Johann Bruno dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kareefa Zhenny's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Zhenny shoots in for a takedown but Bruno shows good takedown defense.
Kareefa Zhenny seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zhenny is looking to clinch.
Horrible takedown by Zhenny or perhaps it was just good defense by Bruno which made him look bad.
Zhenny avoids the head kick by Bruno.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Bruno's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zhenny closes the distance and clinches up with Bruno, looking for a takedown. Zhenny pushes Bruno against the ropes but Bruno circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Johann Bruno has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kareefa Zhenny.
Bruno tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Zhenny manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Bruno lands a two punch combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bruno stuffs the takedown attempt from Zhenny. Zhenny gets slowly back to his feet.
Bruno throws a head kick but Zhenny moves out of range.
Bruno keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Johann Bruno is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zhenny misses with a double jab.
Zhenny takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
The fight stays on the outside here - Bruno looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Bruno lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Bruno.
Zhenny shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bruno wants to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bruno tries to clinch up against the ropes, rushing in the close the distance. Zhenny manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zhenny fails to land the takedown.
Zhenny is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Zhenny is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Bruno throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Bruno throws a sloppy head kick and Zhenny moves out of range easily.
Bruno is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zhenny can do to turn this around?
Bruno shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zhenny but Zhenny pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Bruno fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zhenny, pushing him back against the ropes.
Zhenny is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Bruno is keeping busy.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Zhenny has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bruno is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Zhenny has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Bruno is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Bruno gets through Zhenny's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

Bruno breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Zhenny throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bruno's waist but Bruno gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zhenny off to one side.
Bruno tries to close the distance and clinch up but Zhenny swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zhenny fails with a takedown attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zhenny shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Bruno as he jumps to the side.
Bruno throws a right and a left that both miss.

Bruno rushes Zhenny and pushes him back against the ropes in a clinch.
Zhenny has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bruno avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zhenny has Bruno pressed up against the ropes and is working for takedown. Bruno manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Johann Bruno is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zhenny wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Zhenny wants to take the fight to the mat but Bruno manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Kareefa Zhenny has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bruno taking a breather.

And that's the end of the fight!
Johann Bruno showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Bruno, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Johann Bruno!