PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Dragunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tauno Potku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Dragunov
vs
Potku

190 cm
20
200 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
23
201 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Andrei Dragunov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tauno Potku!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Potku tries to clinch there but Dragunov circles away.

Potku gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Dragunov to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Potku bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Dragunov's guard.
Potku must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dragunov looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Potku distracts Dragunov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Dragunov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Dragunov had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Potku is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Dragunov Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Potku's back instead.

Potku showing good submission defense here.
Dragunov is not going to allow Potku to sit and survive in this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potku rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Potku can do anything to dispel that myth.
Potku regains full guard. Nicely done.
Dragunov pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Potku is keeping the position for now.
Dragunov advances position into side control!
Potku is not content to let Dragunov control the position.
Potku throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.
Potku tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Dragunov wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Dragunov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Dragunov is looking to take a break and control but Potku is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Potku bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Dragunov keeps the fight on the outside.
Dragunov shoots in for a takedown but Potku shows good takedown defense.
Potku tries to clinch up but Dragunov circles away and keeps his distance.
Potku cracks Dragunov with an open hand slap.
Dragunov looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Dragunov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Potku sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrei Dragunov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potku tries to clinch but Dragunov is having none of it.
Dragunov avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Andrei Dragunov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
The fight stays on the outside here - Potku looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Potku forces Dragunov back against the cage and clinches.
Potku misses with the head strike.
Dragunov wants a takedown but no success here.
Dragunov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Potku fails to land.
Potku working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Dragunov blocking some punches.
Potku pressing his opponent against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Potku.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Potku.

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.
Potku lands with a right to the head.
A shot in the inside from Potku.
Dragunov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dragunov tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Dragunov tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Potku just stands there and leans against the cage.
Dragunov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dragunov blocks an uppercut.
Dragunov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Dragunov blocks an uppercut.
Potku pushes Dragunov back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Potku misses with a hook from the clinch.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Potku.
Potku misses with the head strike.
Dragunov takes a shot to the head.
Potku stalling in the clinch.
Dragunov blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Potku misses with a short punch on the inside.
Dragunov tries to pull guard but Potku won't allow it.
Potku has a couple of punches blocked by Dragunov.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tauno Potku dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Potku stuffs the takedown attempt from Dragunov. Dragunov gets slowly back to his feet.

Potku fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Dragunov sprawls well initially but Potku persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Potku is thwarting Dragunov's attempts to control the position.
Dragunov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Potku scores with a couple of nice shots.
Dragunov is pressing down on Potku's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Dragunov throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Potku loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Potku trying to control but Dragunov is working from the bottom.
Dragunov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Potku manages to get himself to full guard.
Dragunov wants to control from the top but Potku keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragunov forces his way into half guard.
Potku looks like he's trying to stand up.
Potku is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dragunov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dragunov's back!
Potku lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Dragunov manages to reverse the position and now he's in Potku's guard. Nice work there by Dragunov.
Dragunov trying to control but Potku is working from the bottom.
Potku wants to stand up but Dragunov is controlling him.
Potku doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potku is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Potku is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Dragunov stops Potku from standing up.
Dragunov advances position into side control!
Potku is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Dragunov asserts his dominance and retains side control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Potku throws the left hand but Dragunov avoids the punch easily.

Potku gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov preventing the sweep.
Dragunov prevents Potku from getting back to his feet.
Potku looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Potku is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Dragunov tries to free his leg and advance position but Potku is retaining full guard.
Dragunov stands and throws Potku's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Dragunov is trying to get an arm triangle but Potku is defending well.
Dragunov works to advance to full mount. Potku defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potku regains half guard.
Dragunov works his way into side control.

Dragunov looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Potku is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.

Potku bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Dragunov dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Dragunov misses with a takedown

and Potku moves into the clinch.
Dragunov fails to pull guard.
Potku misses with a punch on the inside.
Dragunov tries to pull guard but Potku holds him up against the cage and eventually Dragunov drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Andrei Dragunov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Potku wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Dragunov blocks an uppercut.
Potku has a couple of punches blocked by Dragunov.
Dragunov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Potku misses with the head strike.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Potku.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Dragunov.
Potku lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Potku takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Potku has Dragunov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Dragunov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Potku throws a punch but it's blocked by Dragunov.
Dragunov blocks an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dragunov is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Potku is keeping busy.
Potku misses with the head strike.

Potku gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.

Dragunov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Potku is aware though and is defending well.
Potku wants to control from the top but Dragunov keeps moving.
Andrei Dragunov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dragunov wants to sweep here but Potku controlling him for the moment.

Dragunov has an active guard here but Potku has managed to pass into half guard.
Potku is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Dragunov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Potku.
Dragunov trying to control from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potku missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Potku is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Dragunov tries to get to full guard but Potku has control of the leg.
Dragunov works his way to full guard. Good work.
Potku slips nicely into half guard.
Potku takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Potku thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dragunov moves into full guard.
Potku chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Dragunov seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Potku's chin but Potku turns very nicely into Dragunov's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Potku.
Dragunov keeping moving, preventing Potku from controlling successfully.
Potku missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Potku is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Dragunov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

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.
Potku working some strikes from top position.

Dragunov is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Potku sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Dragunov's guard.
Potku working over Dragunov with some ground and pound. Dragunov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Dragunov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Potku lands strikes from half guard.
Dragunov wants to control but Potku is keeping busy.
Dragunov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Potku scores with a couple of nice shots.
Potku is nestled in close to Dragunov, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Potku winds up and cracks Dragunov with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Potku wants to take a breather but Dragunov is having none of it.
Dragunov is trying to control but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tauno Potku comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Potku has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tauno Potku!