PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Nikolai Kaspersky (ranked 963 p4p, 902 weight class) and Wusan Ritori (ranked 115 p4p, 105 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Kaspersky
vs
Ritori

180 cm
27
188
13 - 6 - 0

189 cm
27
190
8 - 1 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Shadow Realm Apparel

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 13 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nikolai Kaspersky!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Wusan Ritori!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kaspersky throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kaspersky throws the left hand but Ritori avoids the punch easily.
Ritori looks to land a left hand but Kaspersky moved out of range nicely.

Ritori gets caught napping as Kaspersky dives in and scores a takedown. Ritori manages to retain guard.
Kaspersky 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.
We've been hearing that Kaspersky has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Kaspersky seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ritori for as long as he can get away with.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaspersky loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Ritori pulls Kaspersky in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaspersky is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Kaspersky has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kaspersky is working Ritori over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Kaspersky 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.
Kaspersky trying to control but Ritori is working from the bottom.
Kaspersky controlling from the top position.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kaspersky postures up.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kaspersky misses with a body punch
and Ritori counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kaspersky's knee momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
A lazy left from Kaspersky finds it's target.
Kaspersky throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ritori sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kaspersky looks for a takedown but Ritori sprawls well.
Ritori throws a hook to the side of Kaspersky's head but Kaspersky sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ritori scores with a decent looking hook.
Ritori throws an off balance right hand
and Kaspersky counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ritori scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Ritori tried to score with a low kick but Kaspersky checks it.
Ritori misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kaspersky.
Wusan Ritori is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Kaspersky misses the target.
Ritori looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Ritori throws a nice inside leg kick.

Kaspersky gets a takedown into half guard.
Ritori is looking to control Kaspersky's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ritori avoid being mounted?
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kaspersky thows a huge punch but Ritori dodges it nicely.
Kaspersky throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kaspersky throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ground and pound from Kaspersky.
Ritori keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Kaspersky keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Kaspersky is stalling here. Ritori is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Kaspersky seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Ritori has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Kaspersky struggling a bit here.
Kaspersky tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ritori wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ritori has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Kaspersky tries to hold on but Ritori pushes him away.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Kaspersky dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kaspersky darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Ritori wants to get back to full guard.
Kaspersky throwing shots but Ritori is blocking nicely.
Kaspersky is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ritori on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kaspersky seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kaspersky thows a huge punch but Ritori dodges it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaspersky missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Kaspersky is trying to control. Ritori wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kaspersky is controlling the pace.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ritori manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Kaspersky trying to control but Ritori is working from the bottom.
Ritori looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Kaspersky is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

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.
Ritori wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kaspersky misses with a takedown
and Ritori connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
No joy there for Kaspersky, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ritori throws a body shot but no joy.

Kaspersky closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Ritori did well to prevent Kaspersky getting side control.
Kaspersky thows a huge punch but Ritori dodges it nicely.
Kaspersky stalling away here and it's allowed Ritori to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Ritori looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ritori is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Ritori utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kaspersky trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kaspersky scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kaspersky wants to control from the top but Ritori keeps moving.

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.
Ritori working a defensive guard here.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Kaspersky misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ritori looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Kaspersky checks a leg kick.
Kaspersky misses with a two punch combination.
Kaspersky rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ritori moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Ritori throws a leg kick

and Kaspersky counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Ritori!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kaspersky cracks Ritori with a big elbow.
Ritori parries the strikes from Kaspersky easily there. Kaspersky is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Ritori to escape.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolai Kaspersky dominated that second round.
That's time! Kaspersky's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Kaspersky slips under a jab.
Kaspersky misses with a takedown
and Ritori makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kaspersky swinging wildly here.
Kaspersky keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A little feinted left hand from Kaspersky on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Wusan Ritori seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A slapping leg kick lands for Ritori.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kaspersky, as that shot connected.
Ritori swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kaspersky.
Kaspersky slips under a jab.
Kaspersky feinted with a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ritori stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Kaspersky shoots and misses
letting Ritori counter with a right hand.

Kaspersky closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Ritori felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Kaspersky throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kaspersky is looking to take a break and control but Ritori is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Nikolai Kaspersky overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kaspersky lands strikes from half guard.
Nikolai Kaspersky is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaspersky trying to control from half guard but Ritori is working away.
Kaspersky looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Kaspersky is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Ritori bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kaspersky's guard.

Kaspersky not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kaspersky is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Kaspersky looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ritori is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaspersky is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Ritori won't allow Kaspersky to sweep him here.
Kaspersky is trying to control the position but Ritori postures up.
Kaspersky wants to improve his position but instead Ritori has moved into half guard.
Kaspersky is trying is best to control the position here.
Kaspersky wants to control but Ritori is keeping busy and won't allow it.

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.
Kaspersky is holding on to half guard well.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Ritori scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Some bone on bone action there as Kaspersky checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Kaspersky is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ritori can do to turn this around?
Kaspersky swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Ritori counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Ritori takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kaspersky throws an overhand right that lands on Ritori's shoulder, as Ritori tries to avoid the shot.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ritori wants to land a leg kick but Kaspersky is out of range.
Kaspersky feinted with a counter takedown.
Wusan Ritori has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Jab, jab by Kaspersky - just one landing.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wusan Ritori comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kaspersky 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Nikolai Kaspersky!
After winning the bout, Nikolai Kaspersky thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.