PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sture Nils (ranked 4574 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Zabatshepornitov (ranked 5329 p4p, 0 weight class). David Zabatshepornitov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nils
vs
Zabatshepornitov

178 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sture Nils!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, David Zabatshepornitov!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zabatshepornitov shoots in looking for a takedown. Nils tries to sprawl out of it but Zabatshepornitov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nils manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
The crowd cheers as Nils lands an impressive looking overhand right. Zabatshepornitov doesn't seem phased though.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Zabatshepornitov fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Zabatshepornitov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Nils's waist but Nils gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zabatshepornitov off to one side.
Nils changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Sture Nils has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of David Zabatshepornitov.
Zabatshepornitov shoots in looking for a takedown. Nils tries to sprawl out of it but Zabatshepornitov keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nils manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Nils half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabatshepornitov fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Nils is out of range.
Zabatshepornitov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Nils but Nils pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Zabatshepornitov looks winded!
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Nils lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Zabatshepornitov has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Zabatshepornitov and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Zabatshepornitov throws a counter combo.
Zabatshepornitov shoots for a double leg takedown but Nils sprawls well. He's pushed Zabatshepornitov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Nils jabbing away but nothing is landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Zabatshepornitov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nils manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Nils controls Zabatshepornitov momentarily but Zabatshepornitov frees himself.
Zabatshepornitov won't allow Nils to get back to his feet.

Zabatshepornitov has gone for a leg lock! Nils slips out almost immediately though and dives into Zabatshepornitov's guard.

Nils would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nils won't allow Zabatshepornitov to sweep him here.
Nils wants to get up but he can't break Zabatshepornitov's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Zabatshepornitov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Nils manages to get himself to full guard.

Nils being controlled here, momentarily.
Zabatshepornitov is working Nils over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nils wants to stand and escape but Zabatshepornitov is having none of it.
Zabatshepornitov sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Zabatshepornitov in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Zabatshepornitov stays in close to Nils's body and controls the position.
Nils knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Zabatshepornitov on the ground.
Zabatshepornitov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sture Nils dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Nils misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zabatshepornitov.

Zabatshepornitov dives in and scores a takedown into Nils's guard.
Zabatshepornitov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zabatshepornitov throwing strikes but missing.
Nils can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Zabatshepornitov controls the pace.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Zabatshepornitov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Nils might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nils wants to stand up but Zabatshepornitov is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Zabatshepornitov scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zabatshepornitov lands a couple of digs.
Zabatshepornitov is working Nils over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zabatshepornitov chips away with some ground and pound.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Zabatshepornitov working his ground and pound in the gym. So far it seems to be working well.
Zabatshepornitov is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Let's hope that Zabatshepornitov has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
More stalling from Zabatshepornitov.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

Zabatshepornitov is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Nils's half guard.

Zabatshepornitov is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Nils is just riding it out for now. Zabatshepornitov eventually gives up the hold.
David Zabatshepornitov has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zabatshepornitov slows the pace down in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zabatshepornitov is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Zabatshepornitov with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Nils has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zabatshepornitov is working away from the top position though.
Nils taking some punishment here, with Zabatshepornitov in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nils has hold of Zabatshepornitov's hands but Zabatshepornitov slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Zabatshepornitov uses his free foot to push down on Nils's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Nils.
Zabatshepornitov has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zabatshepornitov lands a nice shot to the head.

Zabatshepornitov has control of Nils's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Nils regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Zabatshepornitov working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Nils is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Zabatshepornitov showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Zabatshepornitov scores with a takedown into Nils's guard.
Zabatshepornitov controls from within his opponent's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nils utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Zabatshepornitov with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zabatshepornitov throws an elbow that misses. Nils uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zabatshepornitov's guard. Nice move by Nils!

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Zabatshepornitov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Nils passes into half guard.
Zabatshepornitov wants to get back to his feet.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
It looks like Nils is going to stand back up.
Zabatshepornitov is positioning himself well to prevent Nils advancing to mount.
Zabatshepornitov tries to roll over but Nils keeps him under control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Nils prevents Zabatshepornitov from standing back up.
Zabatshepornitov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Nils tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Zabatshepornitov.
Zabatshepornitov is doing well to control the position and prevent Nils from advancing to side control.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Nils swings widly with a right hand

and Zabatshepornitov counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zabatshepornitov seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Zabatshepornitov lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Nils trying to control the position.
Zabatshepornitov landing with the ground and pound.
Zabatshepornitov slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Zabatshepornitov is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Zabatshepornitov's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Zabatshepornitov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zabatshepornitov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Nils.
Nice sprawl there from Nils as Zabatshepornitov shoots in.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to David Zabatshepornitov.
I think Zabatshepornitov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... David Zabatshepornitov!