PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Greg Joll (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Dezhnyov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Dezhnyov will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Joll
vs
Dezhnyov

175 cm
25
265 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

201 cm
25
280 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Greg Joll!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexander Dezhnyov!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dezhnyov throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Joll counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Dezhnyov's guard now.

Dezhnyov has his feet on Joll's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Joll looks for a takedown but Dezhnyov sprawls well.
Joll looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dezhnyov throws a right hand that Joll ducks under and follows up with a left that Joll also avoids with ease.

Joll decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Joll seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Dezhnyov does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joll sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Dezhnyov defending well though.
Dezhnyov looks like he's trying to stand up.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Joll thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Joll is working for a kimura but Dezhnyov is defending it quite comfortably.
Joll throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dezhnyov is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Joll trying to control from half guard but Dezhnyov is working away.
Dezhnyov is trying to stand back up but Joll is controlling him
Joll is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Dezhnyov reverses the position - he's now on top in Joll's guard.
Dezhnyov really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Joll. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Joll trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dezhnyov would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Joll looking to control.
Dezhnyov is looking to stand up but Joll won't let him.
Dezhnyov is fighting to break Joll's control of his arms but Joll is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Dezhnyov wants to get up but he can't break Joll's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Dezhnyov postures up.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Dezhnyov closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Joll avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A slapping leg kick lands for Dezhnyov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joll misses with a takedown attempt
and Dezhnyov counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Greg Joll. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dezhnyov rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Joll moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Dezhnyov misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Joll.
Dezhnyov misses with a few strikes there.
Joll keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dezhnyov.
Alexander Dezhnyov is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Dezhnyov defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Joll.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dezhnyov connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Joll shoots in for a double leg but Dezhnyov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dezhnyov tries to bum rush Joll with a series of wild strikes but Joll uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Alexander Dezhnyov will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Dezhnyov lands a jab to Joll's midsection.
Joll dodges the punch combination from Dezhnyov.
Dezhnyov misses with a double jab.
Dezhnyov scores with a jab.
Joll blocks a head kick by Dezhnyov.
Joll shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dezhnyov counters with a one-two to the body.
Joll shoots in looking for a takedown. Dezhnyov tries to sprawl out of it but Joll keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Dezhnyov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Dezhnyov chopping away at his opponent's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Joll tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Dezhnyov defends well and Joll ends up having to push Dezhnyov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Greg Joll. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Joll is trying to pull guard but Dezhnyov has him pressed against the cage.
Dezhnyov avoiding damage.

Dezhnyov breaks from the clinch.
Dezhnyov swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Nice sprawl there from Dezhnyov as Joll shoots in.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dezhnyov lands an overhand right.
Greg Joll is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dezhnyov misses with a straight right.
Joll fails with the takedown
and Dezhnyov counters with a two punch combo.
Alexander Dezhnyov seems to be getting the better of the standup.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Dezhnyov fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Joll has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Joll keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Dezhnyov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Joll counters with a series of strikes. Dezhnyov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Dezhnyov scores with a hook to the body. Joll takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Dezhnyov tries a head kick but it misses.
Dezhnyov throws a series of punches but Joll moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A left and a right from Dezhnyov both land. Nice combination.
Dezhnyov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Joll fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Some wild striking there from Dezhnyov.
Joll dodges the punch combination from Dezhnyov.
Joll shoots and misses
and Dezhnyov counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Joll has his takedown stuffed
and Dezhnyov counters with a three punch combo that has Joll backing up. Joll nods at Dezhnyov to acknowledge the strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dezhnyov scores with a sloppy right hand. Joll should have avoided that one.
Dezhnyov works over Joll's head and body with a nice combination.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dezhnyov throws a sloppy head kick and Joll moves out of range easily.
No joy there for Dezhnyov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Joll shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dezhnyov counters with a series of strikes. Joll will be more careful next time no doubt.
Alexander Dezhnyov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dezhnyov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've been informed that Dezhnyov has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Joll gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Dezhnyov counters with a left and a right that stings Joll.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Dezhnyov 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!

Joll gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Dezhnyov counters with a thumping low kick.
Joll blocks a head kick by Dezhnyov.
Joll takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Dezhnyov throws a left and a right that both miss
and Joll counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Dezhnyov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Jolls jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Dezhnyov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Joll has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Joll walks into a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dezhnyov throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Joll.
Dezhnyov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Dezhnyov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Joll fails with the takedown
and Dezhnyov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Dezhnyov is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Joll shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Dezhnyov counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Greg Joll. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dezhnyov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Dezhnyov stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dezhnyov wants it to stay on the feet.
Joll shoots for a takedown but Dezhnyov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes from Dezhnyov. Those never looked like landing.
Dezhnyov has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Dezhnyov throws a shot to the body.
Some wild striking there from Dezhnyov.
Dezhnyov swings for the body but Joll moves out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Dezhnyov. Joll does a little dance to reset his feet.
Dezhnyov fails to land with a series of punches.
Joll fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Joll throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Dezhnyov was covering up waiting for the punch and Joll finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Joll wants to pass the guard but Dezhnyov is keeping the position.
Joll working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Joll might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Joll throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Joll trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Joll pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dezhnyov is keeping the position for now.
Joll throws a big right hand that misses.

Joll drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Dezhnyov manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Joll has Dezhnyov in his guard.
Dezhnyov is looking to stand up but Joll won't let him.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alexander Dezhnyov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Dezhnyov winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Dezhnyov!