PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Andrei Andrakovski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jenni Salonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Andrakovski
vs
Salonen

170 cm
22
140 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

157 cm
21
130 lbs
5 - 9 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
KO power

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Andrei Andrakovski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 9 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jenni Salonen!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Andrakovski looks for a takedown but Salonen sprawls well.
Salonen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Salonen fails with the takedown

and Andrakovski counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Salonen's guard now.
Andrakovski tries to free his leg and advance position but Salonen is retaining full guard.
Andrakovski trying to control the position from guard on top but Salonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Andrakovski passes Salonen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Andrakovski will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Andrakovski is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Salonen is looking to escape.
Salonen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Salonen.
Salonen keeping moving, preventing Andrakovski from controlling successfully.

Andrakovski drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Andrakovski jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andrakovski cracks Salonen with a solid left hand.
Salonen controlling the position.

Salonen pushes Andrakovski off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Salonen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Andrakovski counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Andrakovski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Salonen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Salonen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Andrakovski. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Andrakovski drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Salonen dives on top into guard.
Andrakovski wants to sweep but no luck.
Salonen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Andrakovski's guard.
Salonen is looking to pass Andrakovski's guard but actually Andrakovski recovers to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salonen throwing strikes from guard but Andrakovski blocks nicely.
Andrakovski seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Andrakovski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Andrakovski trying to keep a closed guard but Salonen is proving a slippery customer.
Andrakovski preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salonen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Andrakovski avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salonen stands and throws Andrakovski's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Andrakovski is trying to control Salonen's posture but Salonen avoids it.
Andrakovski is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Salonen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Salonen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Salonen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Andrakovski works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Salonen throwing strikes from guard but Andrakovski blocks nicely.
Andrakovski is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Salonen throws a strike but Andrakovski rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Andrakovski chips away with some ground and pound.
Salonen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Salonen wants to stand but Andrakovski is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Salonen misses with a takedown

and Andrakovski counters with a shoot takedown. Salonen fights it but they end up in guard.
Salonen keeping moving, preventing Andrakovski from controlling successfully.
Andrakovski won't allow Salonen to sweep him here.
Salonen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Andrakovski is looking to work some ground and pound but Salonen has wrist control.
Salonen is trying to keep Andrakovski in close.
Salonen keeping full guard, as Andrakovski tries to pass.
Salonen is breathing heavily.
Andrakovski trying to move into half guard but instead Salonen has managed to sweep!
Salonen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Andrakovski scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Andrakovski controls the position.
You can see the frustration on Salonen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Andrakovski goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Salonen has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Andrakovski but great work by Salonen.
Salonen in side control lands a decent elbow.
Andrakovski is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Salonen looks to land a strike but Andrakovski avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Salonen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Salonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Andrakovski swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Andrakovski working a defensive guard here.
Andrakovski will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Salonen throws and elbow that misses. Andrakovski uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Salonen's guard. Nice move by Andrakovski!
Salonen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Andrakovski trying to control but Salonen is working from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Salonen doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Andrakovski counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Andrakovski.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Salonen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Salonen keeping moving, preventing Andrakovski from controlling successfully.
Andrakovski not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Andrakovski slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Andrakovski tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Andrakovski tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Andrakovski trying to control the position but Salonen is working away.
Salonen is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Andrakovski is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Andrakovski looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Andrakovski stands up from mount. Strange move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salonen has his takedown stuffed

and Andrakovski counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Salonen!
Andrei Andrakovski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jenni Salonen.
Andrakovski lands a nice shot to the head.

Andrakovski jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Salonen manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Andrakovski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Salonen keeps working.

Andrakovski wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Salonen, who protects the arm well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salonen is trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Andrei Andrakovski dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Andrakovski gets the takedown into side control.

Andrakovski tries for a kimura but Salonen is defending well.
Salonen is trying to control Andrakovski's posture but Andrakovski avoids it.
Salonen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Andrakovski off and has taken his back!
Andrakovski wants to control his opponent's hands but Salonen gets his hands free.
Salonen misses with a punch to the head.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Salonen. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!
Salonen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Andrakovski avoids the strikes from Salonen.
Andrakovski trying to control the action but Salonen just sinks the hooks in.
Salonen misses with a punch to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Andrakovski avoids the strikes from Salonen.
Andrakovski covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Salonen missing with strikes from the back.
Andrakovski manages to reverse the position and now he's in Salonen's guard. Nice work there by Andrakovski.
Salonen looking to control.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Andrakovski closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Andrakovski lands in his opponent's guard.
Salonen is pulling down on Andrakovski's head. It's preventing any offense from Andrakovski, at least for the moment.
Andrei Andrakovski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Andrakovski slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Andrakovski tries for a kimura but Salonen is defending well.

Andrakovski tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Salonen keeping his opponent close.
Andrakovski wants to control but Salonen is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salonen is looking for a sweep.
Andrakovski wants to lay and pray for a moment but Salonen keeps working.

Andrakovski thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Salonen can't do much from the bottom here.
Andrakovski throws a strike aimed at the side of Salonen's head but Salonen avoids it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Andrakovski has an Americana. Salonen didn't react quickly enough there and he's in big trouble now! He tries to squirm out but is forced to tap! Andrakovski is delighted and gyrates in front of the ring girls. They seem to like the attention - it'll be interesting to see if Andrakovski hooks up with any of them at the after show party.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:22 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Andrei Andrakovski!