PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matt Still (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Voitto Hurjala (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.

Still
vs
Hurjala

185 cm
22
213 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

182 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite 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 St Petersburg, Matt Still!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Voitto Hurjala!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Sergei Dronov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Still shoots in but no luck this time.

Still shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Still looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Still looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Hurjala is looking to escape.
Still sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Hurjala defending well though.
Still 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.
Still trying to control from half guard but Hurjala is working away.
Still with the ground and pound but Hurjala uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hurjala keeping full guard, as Still tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Still gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Still tries to clinch up but Hurjala circles away and keeps his distance.
Still throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Hurjala sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Hurjala tries to clinch up.
Still shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hurjala as he jumps to the side.
Matt Still seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Still misses with a straight right.
Still takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Still tries to clinch

and Hurjala counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Still fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Still. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Still tries for a takedown. No joy.
Still drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Still tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Hurjala smiles and moves away.
Still fails with the takedown
enabling Hurjala to counter with a crisp jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hurjala circles away from the clinch attempt

and Hurjala holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Hurjala stops a takedown attempt from Still.

Hurjala breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hurjala throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Still fails with the takedown

and Hurjala counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Hurjala.
Hurjala lands a shot to the body.

Hurjala breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Hurjala should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Hurjala scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Still is breathing heavily.

Hurjala darts in and clinches Still up against the cage.
Still tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Hurjala breaks the clinch.
Hurjala defending well as Still loads up on a big left hand.
Still shoots and misses
and Hurjala counters with a straight right hand.
Hurjala will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Still drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Still stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hurjala swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Still throws a big right hand that misses.
Hurjala manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Still is squirming around, avoiding Hurjala's attempts to control the action.
Hurjala prevents Still from getting the reversal.
Still throwing hammer fists to the chest of Hurjala. What's that going to do exactly?

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Hurjala is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Nice uppercut lands for Hurjala. That snapped Still's head back.
Still with a lazy takedown attempt
and Hurjala counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Still thinking.
Hurjala misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Still misses with a takedown
and Hurjala counters with a stiff right hand.
Still looks to clinch
and Hurjala counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Still shoots and misses
and Hurjala counters with a straight right hand.
Still wants to clinch but Hurjala slips to the side
and Hurjala counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Still feints and as Hurjala raises his hands in defense, Still changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Hurjala scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Hurjala swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Still closes the distance but Hurjala moves to the side
and Hurjala counters with a one-two to the body.
Still has his takedown stuffed

and Hurjala counters by clinching up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Still misses with a takedown
letting Hurjala counter with a right hand.
Still gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Hurjala counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Still shoots and misses
and Hurjala counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matt Still. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Still misses with a hook

and Hurjala counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Still tries to pull guard but Hurjala won't allow it.

Hurjala breaks the clinch.
Still gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Hurjala counters by moving into the clinch.
Hurjala will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Still up against the cage.
Still tries for a takedown. No joy.
Hurjala stops a takedown attempt from Still.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Hurjala breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Still shoots and misses

and Hurjala counters by moving into the clinch.
Hurjala working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Still tries to pull guard but Hurjala won't allow it.
Hurjala is trying to break free.
Still has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Hurjala is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Still tries for a takedown. No joy.

Hurjala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Still swats away the attempt to clinch by Hurjala.
Still shoots and misses

and Hurjala counters by clinching up.
Still drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Hurjala gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Still jumps guard but Hurjala stands there with Still around his waist. Still gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Hurjala prevents Still from breaking the clinch.
Still drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Hurjala breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Still changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Hurjala looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Still goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Hurjala has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Still but great work by Hurjala.
Still tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Still tries to buck Hurjala off but Hurjala is having none of it.
Still tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Hurjala presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Still is trying to escape the mount.

Hurjala stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Still doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Hurjala counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Hurjala escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Still looks to clinch
and Hurjala counters with a leg kick.
Hurjala connects with a jab.
Voitto Hurjala is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Still throws a lazy uppercut
and Still takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Still fails with the takedown
and Hurjala counters with a two punch combo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hurjala fails to land with a series of punches.
Voitto Hurjala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Still misses with a takedown attempt
and Hurjala counters with an outside leg kick.
Hurjala moves in looking to clinch but Still pushes him off.

Still shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Still was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Still unloads with some shots from mount but Hurjala bucks and avoids them well.
Still in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Still with good strikes from the mount here!
Whack. That's a big, big shot from Still! Hurjala is out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:53 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Matt Still!