PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arttu Mahtisaari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Seyran Zeynalabdinov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Zeynalabdinov's choice of entrance music: Saku. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Mahtisaari
vs
Zeynalabdinov

178 cm
29
195 lbs
18 - 9 - 1

180 cm
36
204 lbs
30 - 21 - 2

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Phantom Fightwear

GREEN!160

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 18 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Arttu Mahtisaari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 30 - 21 - 2, fighting out of Sydney, Seyran Zeynalabdinov!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jorge Garcia and Bruno Lombardi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A decent looking cross lands there for Mahtisaari.

Zeynalabdinov throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Mahtisaari was covering up waiting for the punch and Zeynalabdinov finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Zeynalabdinov throwing strikes but missing.
Zeynalabdinov wants to control from the top but Mahtisaari keeps moving.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahtisaari lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mahtisaari advances to half guard.
Zeynalabdinov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Mahtisaari stopping the sweep attempt from Zeynalabdinov.
Mahtisaari throws a big elbow that misses.
Zeynalabdinov not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Zeynalabdinov throws his legs up looking for a submission but Mahtisaari uses it to pass to side control.
Zeynalabdinov trying his best to control but Mahtisaari has mounted him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahtisaari sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Mahtisaari with good strikes from the mount here!
Zeynalabdinov regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mahtisaari takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Zeynalabdinov wants to control but Mahtisaari is keeping busy.
Mahtisaari working Zeynalabdinov over with strikes.

Zeynalabdinov looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Zeynalabdinov looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zeynalabdinov is trying to control but can't.
Mahtisaari slows the pace down in half guard.
Zeynalabdinov tries to roll over but Mahtisaari keeps him under control.

Zeynalabdinov looking for subs from the bottom but Mahtisaari mounts him!
Zeynalabdinov wants to control but Mahtisaari is having none of it.
Zeynalabdinov is looking to get to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zeynalabdinov tries to lock up and control but Mahtisaari gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Mahtisaari controlling from mount.
Zeynalabdinov is trying desperately to improve position.
Zeynalabdinov is still trying to improve position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arttu Mahtisaari dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zeynalabdinov looks for a takedown but Mahtisaari sprawls well.
Mahtisaari lands with a good body shot.
Zeynalabdinov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
A jab from Mahtisaari misses.
Mahtisaari is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zeynalabdinov can do to turn this around?
A cross from Mahtisaari lands.
Zeynalabdinov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zeynalabdinov scores with a takedown into Mahtisaari's guard.
Mahtisaari definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Zeynalabdinov looking to sit in guard and control but Mahtisaari gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahtisaari sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Zeynalabdinov working for a triangle but Mahtisaari defends it easily.
Mahtisaari wants to control from the top but Zeynalabdinov keeps moving.

Zeynalabdinov has his foot on Mahtisaari's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Mahtisaari works his way back into a safe position though.
Mahtisaari pushing down on Zeynalabdinov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Zeynalabdinov is controlling Mahtisaari's trapped leg to prevent Mahtisaari from advancing to side control.
Zeynalabdinov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Zeynalabdinov wants to get back to his feet.

Zeynalabdinov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mahtisaari pulls his head out easily.
Mahtisaari content to control rather than advance.
Arttu Mahtisaari overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Mahtisaari tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zeynalabdinov knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Mahtisaari trying to control the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zeynalabdinov is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Mahtisaari pulls his head out easily.
Zeynalabdinov trying to control but Mahtisaari postures up.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Mahtisaari in particular looking to stall.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mahtisaari lands the left hand.
Mahtisaari misses the jab.

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.
Mahtisaari misses with a body punch
and Zeynalabdinov counters with a nice uppercut.
Arttu Mahtisaari is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zeynalabdinov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Mahtisaari.
Zeynalabdinov misses with a double jab
and Mahtisaari counters with a right hand to the body.
An inside leg kick from Zeynalabdinov misses.
Mahtisaari connects with a crisp jab.
Mahtisaari misses with an uppercut. Zeynalabdinov saw that one coming.
Zeynalabdinov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Mahtisaari's waist but Mahtisaari gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zeynalabdinov off to one side.
Seyran Zeynalabdinov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zeynalabdinov doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Mahtisaari counters with a straight right hand.
Arttu Mahtisaari has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Seyran Zeynalabdinov.
Mahtisaari is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Zeynalabdinov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arttu Mahtisaari dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Zeynalabdinov ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Mahtisaari misses with an uppercut

and Zeynalabdinov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Mahtisaari!
Zeynalabdinov postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Mahtisaari regains half guard, as Zeynalabdinov was trying to land strikes.
Mahtisaari moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zeynalabdinov wants to control from the top but Mahtisaari keeps moving.
Zeynalabdinov landing with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zeynalabdinov throws a strike but Mahtisaari rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Zeynalabdinov working a defensive guard here.

Zeynalabdinov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Mahtisaari passes into half guard.
Mahtisaari stalling.
Zeynalabdinov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Seyran Zeynalabdinov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahtisaari content to control rather than advance.
Zeynalabdinov wants to control but Mahtisaari is keeping busy.
Mahtisaari wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zeynalabdinov keeps working.
Zeynalabdinov has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Mahtisaari is working away from the top position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahtisaari lands strikes from half guard.
Zeynalabdinov is trying to stand up here but Mahtisaari is controlling him well.
Mahtisaari moves into side control, avoiding the strikes from Zeynalabdinov.
Zeynalabdinov tries to buck Mahtisaari off but Mahtisaari is having none of it.
Zeynalabdinov keeps trying to improve his position.
Mahtisaari in side control, just content to control the action for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Mahtisaari missing with a left hand there. Zeynalabdinov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Arttu Mahtisaari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahtisaari throws a body shot but no joy.
Mahtisaari misses with a hook. Zeynalabdinov ducked under it nicely.
Mahtisaari throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Zeynalabdinov drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Mahtisaari defends it well.
Zeynalabdinov misses the jab.
Mahtisaari throws out a powerful jab.
Mahtisaari takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Mahtisaari throws a body punch but Zeynalabdinov moves out of range.
Zeynalabdinov moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zeynalabdinov pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Mahtisaari back to the cage. Zeynalabdinov follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
A cross from Mahtisaari lands.
Zeynalabdinov on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Arttu Mahtisaari.
Well Mahtisaari 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 30:27
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:27
Judge Bruno Lombardi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Arttu Mahtisaari!
Arttu Mahtisaari decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.