PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Krazenkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilmari Reponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Krazenkov
vs
Reponen

200 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
21
177 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivan Krazenkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilmari Reponen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Krazenkov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Reponen checks a leg kick.
Krazenkov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Krazenkov wants it to stay on the feet.

Krazenkov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Reponen on his heels. He'll look to pass Reponen's guard now, I'm sure.

Krazenkov decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
A left and a right from Krazenkov both land. Nice combination.

Reponen pushes Krazenkov up against the cage in a clinch.
Krazenkov keeps control of Reponen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Krazenkov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Reponen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Krazenkov on his heels. He'll look to pass Krazenkov's guard now, I'm sure.
Reponen looking to pass the guard.
Reponen throws a strike but Krazenkov rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Reponen is looking for a triangle but Krazenkov pushes his legs off easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reponen wants to sweep here but Krazenkov controlling him for the moment.
Krazenkov will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Krazenkov is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Krazenkov is looking to stand up but Reponen won't let him.
Krazenkov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Krazenkov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reponen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Ivan Krazenkov just wasn't active enough.

Krazenkov fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Reponen sprawls well initially but Krazenkov persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Reponen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Krazenkov looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Krazenkov trying to control the position from guard on top but Reponen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Krazenkov won't allow Reponen to sweep him here.
Krazenkov really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reponen looking to control.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Krazenkov throwing strikes from guard but Reponen blocks nicely.
Krazenkov controls from within his opponent's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

We're going to have a standup here because Ivan Krazenkov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Krazenkov throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Reponen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Krazenkov is in Reponen's guard.
Krazenkov stays in close to Reponen's body and controls the position.
Reponen looking to control.
Krazenkov pushes down on Reponen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Reponen looks winded!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reponen gets back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Krazenkov has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Reponen is proving hard to escape from.
Reponen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Reponen is looking to advance position but Krazenkov won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Krazenkov is trying to stand up here but Reponen is controlling him well.
Krazenkov is trying to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivan Krazenkov dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Reponen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Krazenkov as he jumps to the side.
Reponen throws a solid leg kick but Krazenkov takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Reponen.

Krazenkov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Reponen on his heels. He'll look to pass Reponen's guard now, I'm sure.

Reponen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Reponen trying to control the position.
Krazenkov wants to pass the guard but Reponen is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Reponen is on top in guard.

Reponen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Krazenkov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Reponen has managed to get both his arms back between Krazenkov's legs - danger averted.
Krazenkov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Reponen.
Reponen won't allow Krazenkov to get back to his feet.
Ivan Krazenkov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Krazenkov pulls Reponen in close to prevent any damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Reponen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krazenkov can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Reponen controls the pace.

Ivan Krazenkov has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Krazenkov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Krazenkov decides to pull guard.
Reponen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Krazenkov is keeping the position for now.
Reponen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Reponen throws a big right hand that misses.
Reponen prevents Krazenkov from getting back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Krazenkov keeping full guard, as Reponen tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Krazenkov is on top in guard.

Reponen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Krazenkov tries to stand but Reponen is controlling from the bottom.
Reponen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Reponen 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.
Krazenkov lands a couple of digs.

Reponen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Krazenkov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Krazenkov wants to pass the guard but Reponen is keeping the position.
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 Ivan Krazenkov 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. This is the final round!

Krazenkov throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.

Reponen manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Krazenkov on his heels. He'll look to pass Krazenkov's guard now, I'm sure.

Reponen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Krazenkov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Reponen has managed to get both his arms back between Krazenkov's legs - danger averted.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reponen stands and throws Krazenkov's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Reponen wants to stand but Krazenkov has his arm trapped.
Reponen trying to control the position but Krazenkov is working away.
Krazenkov on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Krazenkov tries to get out of the position.
Reponen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
An elbow from Reponen crashes against the mat.
Reponen looking to control but instead Krazenkov has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krazenkov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Reponen is working away from the top position though.
Krazenkov is staying active underneath Reponen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Krazenkov wants to control but Reponen is keeping busy.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ivan Krazenkov wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Krazenkov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Krazenkov feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krazenkov tries to stand but Reponen is controlling from the bottom.
Krazenkov wants to control from the top but Reponen keeps moving.
Reponen wants to sweep but no luck.
Krazenkov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Reponen escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Krazenkov gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Krazenkov controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Ivan Krazenkov wasn't doing enough on the ground.

Krazenkov shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Reponen is trying to defend but Krazenkov finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Krazenkov thows a huge punch but Reponen dodges it nicely.
Reponen is trying to control but can't.
Krazenkov content to control rather than advance.
Krazenkov tries to pass to full mount but Reponen defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Krazenkov wants to work for an arm triangle but Reponen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Krazenkov is looking for a kimura but Reponen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Krazenkov to get the leverage.
Krazenkov prevents Reponen from improving his position.
Reponen is looking to control Krazenkov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Reponen avoid being mounted?
Krazenkov is keen to just control but Reponen is a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reponen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivan Krazenkov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Krazenkov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 for Ivan Krazenkov!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Ivan Krazenkov!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Ivan Krazenkov!

Ivan Krazenkov wins by unanimous decision!
In his post fight interview, Ivan Krazenkov started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.