PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mavlet Gavril (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karri Tapio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Karri Tapio was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Gavril
vs
Tapio

166 cm
24
135 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

225 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mavlet Gavril!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Karri Tapio!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Gavril. No joy for Tapio on that attempt.
Tapio lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gavril backs up against the cage.
Gavril shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Tapio but Tapio pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Tapio keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tapio defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gavril.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mavlet Gavril. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gavril shoots in but Tapio avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Tapio drives through and clinches with Gavril against the cage.
Gavril is trying to break free.
Gavril wants a takedown.
Tapio tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Gavril avoids it.
Tapio with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Tapio gets underhooks to prevent Gavril's takedown attempt.
Tapio is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gavril wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Tapio wants to take the fight to the mat but Gavril manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Tapio goes for a takedown in the clinch but Gavril prevents it.
Gavril dodges an elbow strike from Tapio.
Tapio tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Gavril smiles and moves away.

Tapio takes the fight into the clinch.

Tapio's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Gavril shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tapio as he avoids it easily.
Tapio fails to land the takedown.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gavril closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tapio circles away.
Gavril slaps away a takedown attempt from Tapio, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tapio plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Tapio fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Gavril shoots in and bounces Tapio off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gavril sitting in guard here, content to control.
Gavril stands and throws Tapio's legs to the side, diving into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gavril is working to tighten his grip on Tapio's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Tapio has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Gavril is really squeezing tight and eventually Tapio passes out! Gavril breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Mavlet Gavril!