PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Karri Vahti (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juga Zmaj (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zmaj has chosen zgazi jajare as his entrance music. Juga Zmaj is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Vahti
vs
Zmaj

180 cm
21
182 lbs
5 - 0 - 0

177 cm
25
182 lbs
9 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Karri Vahti!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Juga Zmaj!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A low kick from Vahti misses

and Zmaj counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Zmaj stops Vahti from getting back to his feet.
Zmaj thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Vahti's head.
Vahti tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Zmaj has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Zmaj trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Zmaj unloads with some shots from mount but Vahti bucks and avoids them well.
Zmaj thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Zmaj thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vahti is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vahti is trying to escape the mount.
Zmaj throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zmaj looking for a guillotine from mount but Vahti is having none of it.
Vahti can't escape the position.
Vahti manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Zmaj has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Zmaj is trying to control. Vahti wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two 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.
Zmaj not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Zmaj thows a huge punch but Vahti dodges it nicely.
Vahti is trying to maintain the position but Zmaj is very close to passing his half guard.
Vahti is not content to let Zmaj control the position.
Zmaj is taking a breather. Vahti says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Vahti keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Zmaj seems to be looking for submissions.
Zmaj sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Vahti defending well though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zmaj is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Zmaj content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

Zmaj is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Zmaj thows a huge punch but Vahti dodges it nicely.

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.
Zmaj landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Zmaj throwing shots but Vahti is blocking nicely.
Zmaj throws a strike but Vahti avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Zmaj pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Vahti is keeping the position for now.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Zmaj accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Zmaj throwing strikes from guard but Vahti blocks nicely.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Zmaj preventing the sweep.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Vahti holds on and takes a little breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juga Zmaj dominated that round.
That's time! Vahti's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Vahti lets loose with a powerful body kick. Zmaj will feel that in the morning.
Vahti thows a body kick. Zmaj tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Vahti throws the left hand but Zmaj avoids the punch easily.
Zmaj on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Vahti misses with a kick to the body
and Zmaj counters with a nice leg kick.
Zmaj takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Zmaj bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Vahti throws a lazy right hand but Zmaj sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Vahti with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Zmaj takes a kick to the side of the head.
Vahti throws a front kick aimed at Zmaj's knee but Zmaj avoids it well.
Vahti connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vahti with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Vahti goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Vahti connects with a leg kick. Zmaj looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Vahti circles away from the clinch attempt
letting Vahti counter with a right hand.
Crunch! Vahti slams his shin into Zmaj's torso.
Karri Vahti is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Vahti lands a jab to the nose.
Vahti throws a low kick but Zmaj avoids it.
Vahti fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Zmaj has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Vahti looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Zmaj tries to clinch but Vahti moves out of range.
Vahti connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vahti connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Vahti misses with a right hand

and Zmaj counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Zmaj.
Zmaj has Vahti pushed against the cage.
Vahti is trying to break the clinch but Zmaj is controlling him.
Zmaj tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Zmaj throws a knee to the head but misses.
Vahti on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Zmaj holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Zmaj is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Vahti pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Zmaj is breathing heavily.
Vahti blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Zmaj is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Vahti is defending well for now.

Vahti's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Vahti tries to bum rush Zmaj with a series of wild strikes but Zmaj uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Vahti dips down and scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Vahti does no damage.
Zmaj doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Zmaj moves forwards but Vahti connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Zmaj takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Vahti stuns Zmaj with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

Zmaj drives through and clinches with Vahti against the cage.
Vahti tries to break free but Zmaj pushes him back against the cage.
Zmaj keeps control of Vahti as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Vahti wants to break free but Zmaj has control.
Zmaj throws an elbow that misses.
Zmaj trying to land knees to the body.
Vahti wants to get back to striking at distance but Zmaj won't allow it.
Zmaj tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Vahti avoids it.

Vahti breaks the clinch.
Vahti lands a jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vahti swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Vahti lands a nice shot to the body.
Vahti throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Zmaj counters by moving into the clinch.
Zmaj prevents Vahti from breaking the clinch.
Vahti can't break the clinch.

Vahti manages to break the clinch.
Vahti tries a head kick but it misses.
Vahti swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Karri Vahti is winning the standup battle so far.
Both fighters circling a little - Vahti finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vahti scores with a head kick. Zmaj tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Vahti scores with a decent looking hook.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vahti looks to score with a jab to the body but Zmaj is just out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karri Vahti dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Vahti throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Vahti throws an overhand right that lands on Zmaj's shoulder, as Zmaj tries to avoid the shot.
Vahti punishes Zmaj's body with a nice straight punch.
Vahti just misses with a punch to the body.
Zmaj takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Nice shot lands for Vahti.
Zmaj blocks a leg kick.
Vahti throws a body kick the misses

and Zmaj counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Zmaj looking to sit in guard and control but Vahti gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Zmaj looking for a sweep. Not yet Zmaj, not yet.
Zmaj takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zmaj striking off his back but it's not causing Vahti any problems.
Vahti controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Vahti pushes down on Zmaj's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Vahti is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Vahti is pressing down on Zmaj's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zmaj is holding on for now.
Vahti is working hard here to advance position.

That's two 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.
Vahti prevents Zmaj from improving his position.
Vahti wants to stand up but Zmaj is controlling the position.

Vahti decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Karri Vahti seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vahti chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Zmaj checks a low kick from Vahti.
Vahti misses with a hook to the body

and Zmaj holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Zmaj tries to pull guard but Vahti holds him up against the cage and eventually Zmaj drops back down to his feet.

Vahti breaks from the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zmaj avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Vahti cracks Zmaj with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Vahti throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Vahti scores with the left hand. Zmaj knows he should have avoided that one.
Zmaj tries to close the distance and clinch but Vahti swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Zmaj takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Vahti thows a left - swing and a miss!

Zmaj darts in and clinches Vahti up against the cage.
Zmaj goes for a takedown attempt but Vahti pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Vahti throws a poor cross that misses
and Zmaj counters with a slapping leg kick.
Nice straight punches there by Vahti. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Vahti.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Vahti.
Zmaj on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Vahti throws a lazy body kick

and Zmaj counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Vahti is looking to escape.
Zmaj throwing shots but Vahti is blocking nicely.
Vahti is trying to control but can't.
Zmaj is looking to pass Vahti's guard but actually Vahti recovers to full guard.
Zmaj stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vahti swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zmaj is fighting to break Vahti's control of his arms but Vahti is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karri Vahti showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Vahti 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 Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 29:28
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karri Vahti!