PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Meitus (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarkko Rautavaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jarkko Rautavaara 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!

Meitus
vs
Rautavaara

168 cm
19
154 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

169 cm
21
155 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Meitus!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jarkko Rautavaara!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Vladimir Khabensky and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Meitus tries to clinch up but Rautavaara circles away and keeps his distance.

Meitus gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Meitus breaks from the clinch.
Meitus throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Meitus doesn't manage to clinch there - Rautavaara circles away.
Meitus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rautavaara swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Meitus fails in his attempt to clinch.
Rautavaara tries to clinch there but Meitus circles away.
Meitus tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Rautavaara counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Rautavaara circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rautavaara counters with a nice uppercut.
Meitus is looking to clinch.
Rautavaara uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Meitus.
Meitus shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Rautavaara as he jumps to the side.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Meitus tries to keep at a distance but Rautavaara has taken the fight into the clinch.
Rautavaara tries for a takedown. No joy.
Meitus is working Rautavaara over against the cage.
Rautavaara avoiding damage as Meitus throws knees to the body.
Rautavaara tries to pull guard but Meitus won't allow it.
Rautavaara has had enough of the clinch but Meitus keeps him there for the moment.
Meitus wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Meitus creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Rautavaara working aggressively here.

Rautavaara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Meitus closes the distance looking to clinch
and Rautavaara counters with a three punch combo that has Meitus backing up. Meitus nods at Rautavaara to acknowledge the strikes.

Meitus takes the fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Meitus lands a knee to the head.

Rautavaara breaks the clinch.
Meitus moves in looking to clinch but Rautavaara pushes him off.
Meitus tries to clinch but Rautavaara moves away

and Rautavaara counters by clinching up.
Meitus's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

Meitus has clasped his hands together around Rautavaara's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
You can see the frustration on Rautavaara's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Meitus is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Rautavaara will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.
Meitus blocks the strikes from Rautavaara.
Rautavaara tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rautavaara is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meitus creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Rautavaara sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Check out the look on Meitus's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Meitus is staying tight to Rautavaara's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Meitus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rautavaara keeps working.
Rautavaara taking a bit of punishment here - Meitus scoring with strikes.
Rautavaara is trying to control Meitus's posture but Meitus avoids it.
Meitus is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

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.
Sloppy strikes there by Meitus.
Meitus tries to score with some ground and pound. Rautavaara controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Meitus wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rautavaara keeps working.
Meitus misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Rautavaara tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Meitus wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Rautavaara circles away from the clinch attempt
and Rautavaara counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Meitus is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Meitus tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Rautavaara moves into the clinch.

Meitus lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Rautavaara keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Meitus dominated that round.
That's time! Meitus's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Meitus tries to clinch there but Rautavaara circles away.
Vladimir Meitus is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Meitus tries to clinch but Rautavaara moves out of range.

Meitus forces Rautavaara back against the cage and clinches.

Rautavaara breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Meitus tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rautavaara swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A choreographed right hand from Meitus misses the target.
Meitus tries to clinch but Rautavaara moves away

and Rautavaara decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Meitus's guard.
Rautavaara won't allow Meitus to sweep him here.
Rautavaara controlling from the top position.
Meitus looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Rautavaara with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Meitus tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Meitus is working hard here to advance position.
Rautavaara trying to control the position from guard on top but Meitus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Meitus has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Rautavaara has passed into side control.
Meitus is not content to let Rautavaara control the position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Meitus closes the distance but Rautavaara moves to the side
and Rautavaara counters with an inside leg kick.
Rautavaara checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Jarkko Rautavaara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Meitus throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Meitus tries to clinch up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Meitus tries for a takedown but Rautavaara circles away easily

and Rautavaara counters with a shoot takedown. Meitus fights it but they end up in guard.
Meitus pulls Rautavaara in close to his closed guard and prevents Rautavaara from doing any damage or advancing position.
Meitus looking for a sweep. Not yet Meitus, not yet.
Rautavaara advances to half guard.
Rautavaara trying to control from Meitus's half guard. Meitus has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Meitus trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Rautavaara trying to control the position from guard on top but Meitus is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Meitus tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Meitus looking to control.
Meitus lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Rautavaara!
Rautavaara can't escape the position.
Meitus is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Meitus trying to control but Rautavaara is having none of it.
Rautavaara wants to control but Meitus is having none of it.

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.
Meitus dominating with strikes here.
Meitus avoids the attempt from Rautavaara to control.
Rautavaara is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Meitus can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Rautavaara is looking to escape.
Meitus is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Rautavaara can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
BOOM! Meitus connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Rautavaara is looking to improve his position but Meitus isn't that keen on the idea.
Meitus with good strikes from the mount here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jarkko Rautavaara showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Meitus drops Rautavaara with a big left hand! Rautavaara is injured, injured bad! Meitus jumps in and finished him with strikes! The fight is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vladimir Meitus!