PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Artem Zarencev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Karl Johan Akerstrom (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.

Zarencev
vs
Johan Akerstrom

170 cm
22
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

193 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light 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, Artem Zarencev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Karl Johan Akerstrom!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zarencev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Akerstrom defends it nicely.
Akerstrom swats away the attempt to clinch by Zarencev.
Zarencev really is a fat lump.
Zarencev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Akerstrom swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Zarencev tries a head kick but it misses.

Zarencev shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Akerstrom is trying to defend but Zarencev finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Akerstrom tries to kick Zarencev off in order to stand up. Zarencev Avoids the leg push though and dives into side control.
Akerstrom is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Zarencev trying to control the position but Akerstrom is working away.
Akerstrom is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Zarencev asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zarencev cracks Akerstrom with a big elbow.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Akerstrom can do anything to dispel that myth.
Akerstrom taking a bit of punishment here - Zarencev scoring with strikes.
Zarencev wants to control but Akerstrom is keeping him busy.
Akerstrom is trying to get back to his feet.

Akerstrom explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Akerstrom looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Akerstrom looks gassed!

Zarencev closes the distance and pushes Akerstrom back into the cage.

Akerstrom's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zarencev feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Zarencev trying to control the position from guard on top but Akerstrom is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zarencev slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Zarencev lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Akerstrom down.
Akerstrom taking a bit of punishment here - Zarencev scoring with strikes.

Zarencev decides to stand up, so the ref orders Akerstrom to his feet.
Karl Johan Akerstrom seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akerstrom misses with a head kick.
Zarencev shoots in for a double leg but Akerstrom sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Akerstrom lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Zarencev scores with a takedown into Akerstrom's guard.
Zarencev advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akerstrom is refusing to be controlled, as Zarencev sits in half guard.
Akerstrom wants to get back to his feet.
Zarencev wants to control but Akerstrom is keeping him busy.
Akerstrom is in trouble now - Zarencev has advanced to mount!

Akerstrom bucks up and throws Zarencev to the side - he's got back to his feet. Great escape!
Zarencev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Karl Johan Akerstrom is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Akerstrom throws a sloppy head kick and Zarencev moves out of range easily.

That's four 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.
Zarencev dives in and grabs Akerstrom's left leg, looking for a takedown. Akerstrom pushes down on Zarencev's head and hops out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artem Zarencev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Zarencev tries for a takedown but Akerstrom sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Akerstrom closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Akerstrom tries a head kick but it misses.
Zarencev is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Akerstrom misses with a two punch combination.
Akerstrom throws a lazy head kick

and Zarencev counters with a nice double leg into side control. Akerstrom won't be happy with that.

Zarencev has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Akerstrom throws a head kick that misses.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zarencev misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Akerstrom misses with a head kick.
Zarencev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Akerstrom's waist but Akerstrom gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Zarencev off to one side.
Akerstrom tries a head kick but it misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Akerstrom throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Zarencev's head.

Zarencev has managed to clinch.
Zarencev wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Akerstrom tries to break free but Zarencev pushes him back against the cage.
Zarencev taking a breather.

Akerstrom manages to break the clinch.

Akerstrom gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Zarencev to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Zarencev prevents Akerstrom from getting back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zarencev might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akerstrom keeping moving, preventing Zarencev from controlling successfully.
Akerstrom is looking to stand up but Zarencev isn't so interested in that idea.
Akerstrom is wriggling around but Zarencev manages to pass to half guard.
Zarencev is trying to control. Akerstrom wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Akerstrom really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zarencev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Akerstrom pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zarencev fails with an attempt to clinch.

Zarencev throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Akerstrom was covering up waiting for the punch and Zarencev finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Akerstrom is looking to stand back up but Zarencev counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Akerstrom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akerstrom pushes Zarencev off looking to stand but Zarencev dives back in and keeps control.

Zarencev stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Akerstrom to get to his feet.
A head kick misses from Akerstrom.
Akerstrom scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Akerstrom misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Akerstrom throws a right and a left that both miss.

Zarencev changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Akerstrom looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Akerstrom is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Zarencev asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Artem Zarencev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akerstrom is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Zarencev lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Akerstrom down.
Akerstrom wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Zarencev trying to control the action but Akerstrom is working from the bottom.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Zarencev dives in and grabs Akerstrom's left leg, looking for a takedown. Akerstrom pushes down on Zarencev's head and hops out.
Akerstrom tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Akerstrom misses with a body kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zarencev moves out of range of the body kick from Akerstrom.
Some wild striking there from Zarencev.
Artem Zarencev is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akerstrom swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Akerstrom tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Akerstrom tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Zarencev counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Zarencev prevents Akerstrom from standing back up.
Zarencev uses his free foot to push down on Akerstrom's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Akerstrom.
Akerstrom is squirming around, avoiding Zarencev's attempts to control the action.
A nice elbow there by Zarencev.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Artem Zarencev dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Akerstrom plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Zarencev circles away from the clinch attempt.
Akerstrom throws a head kick but Zarencev moves out of range.
Akerstrom throws a head kick but Zarencev moves out of range.
Akerstrom stuffs the takedown attempt from Zarencev. Zarencev gets slowly back to his feet.

Zarencev shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Zarencev showed some decent athleticism there.
Akerstrom is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zarencev is looking to take a break and control but Akerstrom is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Akerstrom is trying to stand back up but Zarencev is controlling him
Zarencev trying to control the action but Akerstrom is working from the bottom.

Akerstrom kicks off Zarencev and gets to his feet.
Akerstrom misses with a head kick.
Akerstrom blocks a head kick by Zarencev.
Zarencev fails with a takedown attempt.
Akerstrom looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zarencev wants to clinch.
A head kick from Akerstrom lands but Zarencev takes it in his stride.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zarencev shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Akerstrom pinned against the cage. Akerstrom gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Artem Zarencev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akerstrom throws a sloppy head kick

and Zarencev counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Zarencev.

Akerstrom pushes Zarencev off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Zarencev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Akerstrom throws a nice head kick!
Akerstrom fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Zarencev throws a nice looking combination but Akerstrom bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Akerstrom connects with a high kick.
Akerstrom misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Zarencev closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Akerstrom to the mat! Akerstrom manages to get full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zarencev wants to control from the top but Akerstrom keeps moving.
Zarencev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zarencev wants to control from the top but Akerstrom keeps moving.
Akerstrom wants to stand and escape but Zarencev is having none of it.
Zarencev wants to control from the top but Akerstrom keeps moving.
Zarencev won't allow Akerstrom to get back to his feet.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Zarencev scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Akerstrom misses with a head kick.
Zarencev blocks a head kick by Akerstrom.
Akerstrom throws a head kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Zarencev shoots in but Akerstrom avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Akerstrom throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Akerstrom throws a sloppy head kick and Zarencev moves out of range easily.
Zarencev fails in his attempt to clinch.
A swing and a miss from Akerstrom.
Akerstrom misses with a few strikes there.
Zarencev does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Akerstrom throws a head kick but Zarencev moves out of range.
Akerstrom misses with a head kick.
Akerstrom pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Akerstrom moves out of range of the strikes.
Akerstrom swinging wildly here.

Zarencev clinches up against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Artem Zarencev showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Zarencev, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Artem Zarencev!