PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Spato Spagtro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Nikolay Baskov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Spagtro comes to the cage accompanied by Yksin ilman sua. Nikolay Baskov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Spagtro
vs
Baskov

184 cm
18
203 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

189 cm
18
223 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Spato Spagtro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolay Baskov!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A jab from Baskov does it's job there.
No joy there for Baskov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Baskov works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

It looks like Spato Spagtro has been cut.
Spagtro displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Baskov throws out the jab.
Spagtro throws a hook to the side of Baskov's head but Baskov sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Spagtro shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Baskov but Baskov pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Nice combo by Baskov! Oh, that's hurt him - Spagtro falls to the canvas and Baskov follows him into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Spagtro tries to bench press Baskov off him but Baskov keeps the position.
Spagtro can't do much from the bottom here.
Spagtro is looking to reverse the position.
Spagtro sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Spagtro wants to get back to full guard.
Baskov wants to control but Spagtro is keeping him busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baskov prevents Spagtro from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Baskov throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Baskov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Spagtro.
Baskov throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Spagtro looks to land a body kick but Baskov moved away.
Spagtro misses with a hook to the body
and Baskov counters with a right hand to the body.

Baskov drives through with a takedown into guard.
Baskov wants to stand and escape but instead Spagtro has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spagtro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Baskov is looking to sweep but instead, Spagtro has passed into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Spagtro is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Baskov sees it coming and defends easily.
Baskov makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Baskov.
Baskov keeping moving, preventing Spagtro from controlling successfully.
Baskov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spagtro trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Spagtro throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Baskov is controlling Spagtro's posture.
Baskov is trying to control the position but Spagtro postures up.
Spagtro tries to free his leg and advance position but Baskov is retaining full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Baskov takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Spagtro throws a left and a right that both miss
and Baskov counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spagtro falls off balance throwing a combination
and Baskov counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Spagtro thinking.
Baskov moves out of range of the body kick from Spagtro.
Spagtro takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Baskov lands a nice shot that snaps Spagtro's head back.
Spagtro tries to score a power double leg takedown but Baskov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Spagtro somewhat.
Baskov swings for the body but Spagtro moves out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Baskov ducks under a wild hook from Spagtro.
Nice uppercut there from Baskov.
Spagtro misses with a shot to the body
and Baskov counters with a nice uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Baskov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Spato Spagtro's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Spagtro bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Baskov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Spagtro manages to avoid it.
Spagtro misses with a jab, cross combination.
Spagtro pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Baskov tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Spagtro gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Spagtro blocks a leg kick.

Spagtro closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Baskov did well to prevent Spagtro getting side control.
Spagtro is trying to control. Baskov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Spagtro trying to control the pace.
Spagtro not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spagtro is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Spagtro is stalling here. Baskov is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Spagtro seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Baskov has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Baskov working away.
Baskov tries to advance to mount but Spagtro denies him.
Spagtro gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Baskov is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Spagtro regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Baskov.
Spagtro lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Baskov!
Baskov regains half guard.
Well, if Spagtro is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spagtro is trying to control the action in half guard but Baskov is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Baskov is trying to stand back up but Spagtro is controlling him
Spagtro wants to take a breather but Baskov is having none of it.
Baskov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Spagtro's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Spagtro's back!
Baskov is trying to stick to Spagtro's back but Spagtro is turning into Baskov. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Baskov's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Spagtro.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Spagtro accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Baskov holds on and takes a little breather.
Spagtro wants to control from the top but Baskov keeps moving.
Spagtro looking to pass the guard.
Spagtro stopping the sweep attempt from Baskov.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Baskov is adopting a defensive guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Spato Spagtro dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Spato Spagtro's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Baskov checks a leg kick nicely.
Spagtro throws a head kick that misses.
Spagtro throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Baskov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Spagtro misses with a body punch
and Spagtro takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Baskov scores with a jab.
Spagtro throws a leg kick but Baskov sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Baskov misses with a takedown attempt

and Spagtro counters with a takedown into side control.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Spagtro looking to control but instead Baskov has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.
Spagtro looks to land a strike but Baskov avoids it nicely and regains full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Baskov looking to control but Spagtro passes into half guard.
Baskov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Spagtro thows a huge punch but Baskov dodges it nicely.
Baskov is looking to escape.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Spagtro connects with a nice short shot to Baskov's temple.
Baskov is refusing to be controlled, as Spagtro sits in half guard.
Baskov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Spagtro.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Spagtro not landing any meaningful shots this time.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Spagtro bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Spagtro fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Spagtro just misses with a punch to the body.
Baskov defending well as Spagtro loads up on a big left hand.
A shot to the body from Spagtro misses
and Baskov counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Baskov slips a jab from Spagtro.
A swing and a miss from Baskov.
Spagtro walks into a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baskov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Spagtro sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Spagtro fails to land with a series of punches.

Spagtro bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Spagtro in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Baskov can't do much from the bottom here.
Spagtro throwing strikes but Baskov manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!

Baskov is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Spagtro has escaped the position, nice work there.
Baskov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Baskov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Spagtro keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spagtro is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Baskov is working for a submission of some sort.
Baskov thows a huge punch but Spagtro dodges it nicely.
Spagtro is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Baskov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Baskov's back!
Spagtro misses with an elbow to the head.
Spagtro 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.
Spagtro slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Spato Spagtro overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Spagtro doesn't have the hooks in and Baskov manages to turn into his guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Nikolay Baskov.
I think Baskov 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Nikolay Baskov!