PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leather Punter (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolai Zoliev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Punter
vs
Zoliev

195 cm
19
264 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
21
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Prefers standup

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leather Punter!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikolai Zoliev!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zoliev looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Punter is trying to get back to full guard.
Zoliev wants to pass the guard but Punter is defending well.
Zoliev performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Punter is trying to stand back up but Zoliev is controlling him
Punter tries to get to full guard but Zoliev has control of the leg.
Zoliev wants to take a breather but Punter is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punter wants to get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Punter connects with the punch.

Zoliev gets the takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zoliev prevents Punter from escaping the position.
Punter is trying to control Zoliev's posture but Zoliev avoids it.
Punter is trying to buck Zoliev off.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zoliev goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Punter rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Zoliev's guard! Nice work there by Punter!
Zoliev pulls Punter in close to prevent any damage.
Zoliev is trying to control the position but Punter postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Punter missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Zoliev wants to sweep here but Punter controlling him for the moment.
Punter wants to stand but Zoliev has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Zoliev controls Punter momentarily but Punter frees himself.
Zoliev working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Punter.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Punter ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Punter lands with a nice combination. Zoliev backs away looking to recover.
Zoliev looks gassed!
Zoliev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Punter's waist but Punter gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zoliev off to one side.
Zoliev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Punter tries to avoid it but Zoliev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Punter to the ground. Punter escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punter tests Zoliev's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Punter lands with a nice body punch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zoliev slips a jab and a cross from Punter.
Punter could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
No joy there for Punter, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zoliev dodges the punch combination from Punter.
Punter misses with a wild combination.
Leather Punter seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zoliev looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Punter is fending him off so far but Zoliev persists. Nope, Punter circles away and we're back to standing.
Leather Punter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Zoliev.
Punter throws a shot to the body.
A nice combination there by Punter.
Punter looks to land a combination. Zoliev sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Nikolai Zoliev has been cut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Punter lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Punter scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Nice body punch from Punter.
Punter works Zoliev's body with a nice hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leather Punter dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Nikolai Zoliev's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Punter lands with a good body shot.
Leather Punter is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Punter lands a jab-cross combination.
Zoliev has a takedown stuffed.
Zoliev has a takedown stuffed.
Punter scores with a three punch combo!
Punter scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Punter stuns Zoliev with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Punter throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Zoliev on the side of the head.
Zoliev takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Punter scores with a jab to the head.
Punter lands with a nice body punch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Punter darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Punter connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zoliev. Zoliev circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Punter lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Punter lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zoliev moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Punter moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
A nice combination there by Punter.
Punter lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Punter slaps away a takedown attempt from Zoliev, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Leather Punter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Zoliev.
Punter moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Zoliev avoids the body shot from Punter.
Zoliev is looking to clinch but Punter is avoiding it.
Zoliev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Punter swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Leather Punter is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zoliev moves in looking to clinch but Punter pushes him off.
Punter is looking to wear down Zoliev with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Punter fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zoliev looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Punter connects with a right hand. Zoliev shakes it off.
Punter connects with a right hand. Zoliev shakes it off.
Zoliev looks for a takedown but Punter sprawls well.
Zoliev has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Punter moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Nice uppercut there from Punter.
Punter scores with a three punch combo!
Punter is working the combinations to good effect here.

Zoliev closes the distance and pushes Punter back into the cage.
Zoliev misses with a hook from the clinch.

Zoliev breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Punter swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Zoliev.
Punter throws a shot to the body.
Punter scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Zoliev gets a clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Punter's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Punter is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zoliev can do to turn this around?
Punter smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Punter misses with a few strikes there.
Zoliev walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Zoliev has a takedown stuffed.
A punch combination from Punter misses.
Punter lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.

Zoliev shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zoliev showed some decent athleticism there.

Punter manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Zoliev fails to land the takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Punter scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Zoliev doesn't seem bothered though.
The crowd cheers as Punter lands an impressive looking overhand right. Zoliev doesn't seem phased though.
A combination from Punter does no damage.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Zoliev is defended easily by Punter.
Punter throws a two punch combo that lands nicely.
Leather Punter is winning the standup battle so far.
Punter scores with a jab to the body.
No joy there for Punter, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Zoliev tries to clinch there but Punter circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zoliev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Punter swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zoliev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Punter defends it nicely.
Punter lands a jab-cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Leather Punter dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Nikolai Zoliev's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

A cross from Punter lands.
Punter on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Zoliev. Zoliev obviously looking to wear him down.

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

Zoliev decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

Zoliev closes the distance and pushes Punter back into the cage.
Zoliev leaning against his opponent.

Zoliev decides to pull guard.

Zoliev is working an open guard so Punter takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Punter fails to land with a series of punches.
Zoliev shoots in but no luck this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Punter thuds a left hand into Zoliev's body.
Punter throws a series of punches but Zoliev avoids them all with ease.

Zoliev shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Punter napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Punter is trying to escape the position but Zoliev is controlling the position.
Punter tries to escape but Zoliev is in control.
Punter trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Punter is trying to improve his position.
Punter is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Zoliev has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Punter managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Zoliev.
Punter is trying to buck Zoliev off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Zoliev drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Punter looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Punter is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Zoliev tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Punter smiles and moves away.
Punter fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zoliev tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zoliev shoots for a takedown but Punter saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Leather Punter has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Nikolai Zoliev.
Punter connects with a body shot.
Punter fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Punter ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Zoliev changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Punter tries to avoid it but Zoliev manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Punter to the ground. Punter escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Punter fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Zoliev takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Punter scores with a hook to the body. Zoliev takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Zoliev takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Punter lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Zoliev circles away quickly and effectively.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zoliev.
Punter stuffs the takedown attempt from Zoliev. Zoliev gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zoliev takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nikolai Zoliev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Zoliev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Punter lands with an overhand left.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Zoliev.
Zoliev looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
A left and a right from Punter both land. Nice combination.
Punter lands a jab-cross combination.
Punter uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Zoliev.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Punter comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Punter will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Leather Punter is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Zoliev tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Punter paws at him with a jab and circles away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Nikolai Zoliev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Punter has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Leather Punter!