PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Riku Tiirismaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rhajit Zemenov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Riku Tiirismaa has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Tiirismaa
vs
Zemenov

180 cm
20
175 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

183 cm
19
183 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Riku Tiirismaa!
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, Rhajit Zemenov!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Valeri Chadov and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zemenov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tiirismaa as he avoids it easily.
Zemenov tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Tiirismaa paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Tiirismaa scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Zemenov is trying to control Tiirismaa's posture but Tiirismaa avoids it.
Zemenov is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Tiirismaa's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Tiirismaa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zemenov is just riding it out for now. Tiirismaa eventually gives up the hold.
Zemenov pushes Tiirismaa off looking to stand but Tiirismaa dives back in and keeps control.

Tiirismaa seems to be working for a kimura but Zemenov defends the submission attempt.
Zemenov is trying to get back to full guard.

Tiirismaa is looking for a kimura here.

Tiirismaa decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zemenov misses with a takedown

and Tiirismaa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tiirismaa wants to stand but Zemenov is controlling his posture from full guard.
Tiirismaa won't allow Zemenov to get back to his feet.
Zemenov wants to sweep but no luck.

Tiirismaa gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Zemenov gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Tiirismaa prevents Zemenov from getting back to his feet.
Zemenov looks gassed!

Tiirismaa drops back looking for a leg! Zemenov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zemenov manages to kick Tiirismaa off! Tiirismaa jumps back into Zemenov's guard.

Zemenov has his feet on Tiirismaa's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zemenov with a lazy takedown attempt

and Tiirismaa counters with a nice double leg into side control. Zemenov won't be happy with that.
Riku Tiirismaa has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rhajit Zemenov.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zemenov stops Tiirismaa from passing to mount.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Tiirismaa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zemenov, who protects the arm well.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tiirismaa tries to move to mount but Zemenov blocks the move with his legs.

Tiirismaa working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Zemenov is looking for a sweep.
Zemenov is trying to buck Tiirismaa off.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tiirismaa thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Tiirismaa is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zemenov has escaped the position, nice work there.
Zemenov is pushing Tiirismaa's head away, looking to escape. Tiirismaa manages to hold on to the position though.

Tiirismaa wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zemenov, who protects the arm well.
Zemenov wants to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Tiirismaa feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.

Tiirismaa drops back looking for a leg! Zemenov is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Zemenov manages to kick Tiirismaa off! Tiirismaa jumps back into Zemenov's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tiirismaa would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Tiirismaa prevents Zemenov from getting back to his feet.
Tiirismaa has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Zemenov looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zemenov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Tiirismaa manages to get himself to full guard.
Zemenov trying to control but Tiirismaa is working from the bottom.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Zemenov throws and elbow that misses. Tiirismaa uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zemenov's guard. Nice move by Tiirismaa!
Tiirismaa wants to pass the guard but Zemenov is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riku Tiirismaa dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Zemenov with a poor takedown

so Tiirismaa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tiirismaa passes Zemenov's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tiirismaa tries to stand but can't do so whilst Zemenov controls his leg.

Tiirismaa wants to work for an arm triangle but Zemenov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zemenov tries to roll over but Tiirismaa keeps him under control.
Riku Tiirismaa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Tiirismaa decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Tiirismaa is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Zemenov's half guard.

Tiirismaa is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tiirismaa is thwarting Zemenov's attempts 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.

Zemenov manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Zemenov is breathing heavily.
Zemenov misses with a takedown

and Tiirismaa counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Zemenov's guard now.
Tiirismaa pushing down on Zemenov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Tiirismaa is working for a submission of some sort.
Tiirismaa stops Zemenov from getting back to his feet.

Zemenov is defending against the submission attempts here by Tiirismaa.
Tiirismaa wants to stand but Zemenov has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zemenov has one foot on Tiirismaa's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

Zemenov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Zemenov trying to control but Tiirismaa is working from the bottom.
Zemenov wants to pass the guard but Tiirismaa is keeping the position.

Tiirismaa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Zemenov can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Zemenov is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Tiirismaa is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Tiirismaa has escaped and now he's on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tiirismaa stands up from Zemenov's guard - Tiirismaa perhaps looking for a knockout.

Tiirismaa scores with a takedown into Zemenov's guard.
Tiirismaa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Zemenov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Zemenov is trying to keep Tiirismaa in close.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tiirismaa is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Zemenov is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Zemenov has escaped and now he's on top!
Tiirismaa looking to control.
Zemenov trying to control but Tiirismaa is working from the bottom.
Zemenov works over Tiirismaa with some ground and pound from guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tiirismaa scores with a short punch from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Riku Tiirismaa dominated that second 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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Zemenov fails with the takedown

and Tiirismaa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Tiirismaa pulls guard successfully.
Zemenov looking to sit in guard and control but Tiirismaa gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Tiirismaa forces his way into half guard.
Zemenov preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.

Tiirismaa is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zemenov sees it coming and defends easily.
Zemenov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zemenov is looking for a sweep. Tiirismaa is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Tiirismaa is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tiirismaa decides to stand and escape the position.
Zemenov shoots and misses

so Tiirismaa counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Tiirismaa drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zemenov looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zemenov looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zemenov!
Zemenov working the ground and pound but Tiirismaa is defending the strikes.
Tiirismaa wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
The ground and pound from Zemenov seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
An elbow from Zemenov crashes against the mat.
Tiirismaa wings away with a couple of strikes but they don't land.
Tiirismaa is not content to let Zemenov control the position.
Tiirismaa regains half guard there - taking advantage of Zemenov's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Tiirismaa looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Zemenov!
Zemenov tries to hold on but Tiirismaa pushes him away.

Zemenov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Tiirismaa.

Zemenov defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Tiirismaa.
Tiirismaa avoids the attempt from Zemenov to control.
Zemenov regains half guard.

Tiirismaa is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Riku Tiirismaa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zemenov pushes Tiirismaa off looking to stand but Tiirismaa dives back in and keeps control.
Zemenov tries to get to full guard but Tiirismaa has control of the leg.

Tiirismaa is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zemenov is just riding it out for now. Tiirismaa eventually gives up the hold.

Tiirismaa is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Zemenov sees it coming and defends easily.
Zemenov preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Rhajit Zemenov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tiirismaa looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
Riku Tiirismaa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tiirismaa has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Riku Tiirismaa!