PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Viktor Arzhanov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hannu Tappanii (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Arzhanov comes to the cage accompanied by Needled 24/7. Hannu Tappanii has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Arzhanov
vs
Tappanii

179 cm
19
200 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

179 cm
21
204 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

Good takedowns
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Granite chin

No Contest Clothing

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 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Viktor Arzhanov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hannu Tappanii!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Arzhanov works over Tappanii's head and body with a nice combination.
Arzhanov throws a right and a left that Tappanii avoids nicely.
Tappanii takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Arzhanov throws a right and a left that Tappanii avoids nicely.

Tappanii scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Tappanii is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Arzhanov knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tappanii working the ground and pound but Arzhanov is defending the strikes.
Tappanii content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Tappanii working away.
Tappanii wants to take a breather but Arzhanov manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Tappanii.
Arzhanov is trying to control the position but Tappanii postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tappanii stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Arzhanov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Arzhanov working a defensive guard here.
Tappanii stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Arzhanov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tappanii prevents Arzhanov from getting back to his feet.
Tappanii content to stall in guard here.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Viktor Arzhanov.
Tappanii showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Arzhanov.
Arzhanov misses with a wild combination.
Arzhanov tries to bum rush Tappanii with a series of wild strikes but Tappanii uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Tappanii tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Arzhanov defends well and Tappanii ends up having to push Arzhanov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Tappanii is trying to drag Arzhanov to the mat but Arzhanov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arzhanov gets underhooks to prevent Tappanii's takedown attempt.
Viktor Arzhanov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Hannu Tappanii.
Arzhanov works on Tappanii's body with a couple of short punches.

Arzhanov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Viktor Arzhanov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Arzhanov paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Good standup being displayed there by Arzhanov as he connects with a hook.
Arzhanov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Tappanii.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tappanii on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Tappanii takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Arzhanov misses with a jab, cross combination.

Tappanii throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Arzhanov was covering up waiting for the punch and Tappanii finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Tappanii is pushing down on Arzhanov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Arzhanov is fighting to maintain full guard but Tappanii has managed to sneak the leg through.

Tappanii is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Tappanii is controlling the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tappanii seems to be working for a kimura but Arzhanov defends the submission attempt.
Tappanii prevents Arzhanov from improving his position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arzhanov is trying to control but can't.

Tappanii wants to work for an arm triangle but Arzhanov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Arzhanov is staying active underneath Tappanii, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Tappanii thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Arzhanov's head.

Tappanii 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.
Tappanii moves nicely into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Hannu Tappanii will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tappanii.
Arzhanov can't do much from the bottom here.
Arzhanov wants to get back to his feet.
Arzhanov tries to improve position but can't.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Arzhanov tries to escape but Tappanii is in control.

Tappanii swings around for an armbar but Arzhanov sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Tappanii's guard.
Arzhanov with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Tappanii kicks Arzhanov off and gets to his feet.

Tappanii dives in and scores a takedown into Arzhanov's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tappanii in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tappanii is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Tappanii passes into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tappanii is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Arzhanov is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at St Petersburg MMA Gym, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Tappanii not doing much here.
Tappanii wants to pass the guard but Arzhanov is defending well.

Tappanii seems to be working for a kimura but Arzhanov defends the submission attempt.
Hannu Tappanii has got the better of the ground game so far.
Arzhanov is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Arzhanov is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

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

Tappanii is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Arzhanov doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tappanii.
Tappanii prevents Arzhanov from standing back up.
Tappanii seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Arzhanov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Tappanii 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.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tappanii performing his best blanket impression for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappanii has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Tappanii is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Arzhanov can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Tappanii mounts Arzhanov! Really nice guard pass there!
Tappanii can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Arzhanov is looking to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Arzhanov tries to hold on but Tappanii pushes him away.

Arzhanov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Tappanii.
Arzhanov wants to hold on but Tappanii pushes him away.

Tappanii looking to secure an arm triangle but Arzhanov defends it well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Arzhanov keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Tappanii looking to finish with strikes here!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hannu Tappanii showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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 get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Arzhanov connects with a jab.
Arzhanov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Tappanii moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Arzhanov connects with a good right hand that stumbles Tappanii. Tappanii circles away out of range and recomposes himself.

Tappanii manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Arzhanov on his heels. He'll look to pass Arzhanov's guard now, I'm sure.
Arzhanov punching to the body, from the bottom.
Tappanii advances to half guard.
Well, if Tappanii is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Arzhanov wants to improve his position but Tappanii is controlling well.

Tappanii is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Tappanii in particular looking to stall.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Arzhanov is looking for a sweep. Tappanii is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Tappanii is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Arzhanov sees it coming and defends easily.
Arzhanov is trying to stand.
Tappanii works his foot free and advances to mount.
Tappanii can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Arzhanov is looking to escape.

Arzhanov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Tappanii.
Arzhanov holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Tappanii tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tappanii wants to control the pace but Arzhanov is squirming around nicely.
Tappanii controlling from mount.
Tappanii pushing the pace here, looking to move to his opponents back and work for a finish.
Tappanii can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Arzhanov is looking to escape.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Tappanii swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Arzhanov is now in Tappanii's guard. A big mistake from Tappanii there, giving up the dominant position!
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Arzhanov tries to stand but Tappanii is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Arzhanov is in close to Tappanii's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Arzhanov working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tappanii manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Tappanii content just to control the position here.

Tappanii swings around for an armbar and he's got it! Wow, that came out of nowhere! What a finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Hannu Tappanii!