PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Avar Yusarev (ranked 3574 p4p, 2725 weight class) and KJ Hoodwell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Yusarev
vs
Hoodwell

178 cm
25
163
1 - 0 - 0

177 cm
20
162
3 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Avar Yusarev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, KJ Hoodwell!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Yusarev tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Hoodwell cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Yusarev forces Hoodwell back against the cage and clinches.
Yusarev is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Hoodwell gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.

Yusarev lands a takedown into guard.
Yusarev scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Hoodwell is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Yusarev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Yusarev scoring with punches to the head and body.
Yusarev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Hoodwell working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Yusarev.

Hoodwell throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hoodwell can do anything to dispel that myth.
Yusarev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hoodwell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Yusarev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hoodwell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yusarev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hoodwell is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Yusarev defends well.
Yusarev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hoodwell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yusarev is working Hoodwell over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Yusarev is looking to work some ground and pound but Hoodwell has wrist control.
Yusarev lands a couple of elbows.
Yusarev working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Yusarev distracts Hoodwell with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Hoodwell controls Yusarev momentarily but Yusarev frees himself.
Yusarev lands a couple of digs.
Yusarev lands a couple of elbows.
Hoodwell really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Yusarev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Yusarev lands a couple of digs.
Hoodwell avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Yusarev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Yusarev with a flurry of punches that miss.
Yusarev throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Hoodwell works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Yusarev postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Yusarev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Yusarev lands a couple of elbows.

Hoodwell is rocked!
Yusarev keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Hoodwell's head.
Hoodwell is still in real trouble! Can Yusarev finish him?
Yusarev connects with a couple of short punches.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Yusarev is in close to Hoodwell's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Yusarev loads up on a big left hand. Hoodwell felt that one! He's just covering up now, not defending himself intelligently - Yusarev looks towards the ref and unloads with 3 more big shots and the ref has no choice but to stop the fight! Hoodwell can't hide his disappointment, as Yusarev celebrates the victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:47 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Avar Yusarev!