PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Arska Varsineekeri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esa Nahka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Varsineekeri
vs
Nahka

165 cm
18
165 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

179 cm
18
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Arska Varsineekeri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Esa Nahka!
The judges for this bout are Aleksei Zolotukhin, Valeri Chadov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Varsineekeri scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

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

Nahka looking for submissions off his back.
Varsineekeri has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Varsineekeri moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Nahka has worked his arm free - good work by Nahka!
Nahka is trying to get back to half guard.
Nahka regains half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Varsineekeri is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nahka doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Varsineekeri.

Varsineekeri is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Nahka defends it well.
Nahka moves into full guard.

Varsineekeri has gone for a leg lock! Nahka slips out almost immediately though and dives into Varsineekeri's guard.
Varsineekeri is breathing heavily.
Nahka stands and throws Varsineekeri's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Varsineekeri is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nahka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Varsineekeri keeps working.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nahka is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Varsineekeri has escaped the position, nice work there.

Nahka wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Varsineekeri, who protects the arm well.
Varsineekeri is looking for a sweep.
Varsineekeri is working hard here to advance position.

Nahka tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nahka has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Nahka is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Varsineekeri has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varsineekeri is looking for a sweep.
Varsineekeri could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nahka moves into full mount!
Varsineekeri might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Varsineekeri is trying to escape the mount.
Varsineekeri gets back to half guard.

Varsineekeri is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Nahka pulls his head out easily.
Varsineekeri is trying to get back to full guard.
Varsineekeri gets back to full guard.

Varsineekeri has his foot on Nahka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nahka works his way back into a safe position though.

Varsineekeri looking for a guillotine here but Nahka defends easily.
Nahka wants to pass the guard but Varsineekeri is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Varsineekeri looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Varsineekeri looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Varsineekeri is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Varsineekeri is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Varsineekeri trying to pass the guard but Nahka defending well.
Varsineekeri passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Nahka!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Nahka defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Varsineekeri.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Varsineekeri has hold of Nahka's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Nahka manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arska Varsineekeri dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Varsineekeri darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Varsineekeri is trying to work for a kimura but Nahka is defending well.

Nahka is defending against the submission attempts here by Varsineekeri.
Arska Varsineekeri overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Varsineekeri is trying to work for a kimura but Nahka is defending well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nahka is trying to control but can't.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varsineekeri wants to pass to mount but Nahka is defending the position.
Nahka is trying to control but can't.
Varsineekeri tries to pass the half guard into mount. Nahka knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Nahka trying to control from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice sprawl there from Nahka as Varsineekeri shoots in.

Nahka shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Nahka is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Nahka lands a nice short elbow.
Varsineekeri wants to improve his position but Nahka is controlling well.
Nahka frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varsineekeri tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Varsineekeri is in a horrible position here. Nahka smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Varsineekeri is trying to escape the mount.
Varsineekeri manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Varsineekeri moves into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Varsineekeri throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Nahka trying to control the position from guard on top but Varsineekeri is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nahka might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Varsineekeri kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Nahka passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Nahka thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Nahka landing strikes.
Nahka cracks Varsineekeri with a big elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nahka has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Nahka looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Varsineekeri is trying desperately to improve position.
Nahka dominating with strikes here.
Varsineekeri is trying desperately to improve position.
Varsineekeri tries to improve his position but instead Nahka has taken his back!
Varsineekeri tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Varsineekeri regains half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Nahka moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Varsineekeri.
Varsineekeri regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esa Nahka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Varsineekeri darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nahka tries to roll over but Varsineekeri keeps him under control.

Varsineekeri is trying to work for a kimura but Nahka is defending well.
Nahka gets full guard.
Varsineekeri wants to pass the guard but Nahka is keeping the position.
Varsineekeri is fighting to break Nahka's control of his arms but Nahka is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Nahka throws a couple of heel strikes.
Varsineekeri wants to pass the guard but Nahka is keeping the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nahka wants to sweep here but Varsineekeri controlling him for the moment.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Varsineekeri misses with a takedown attempt

and Nahka counters by moving into the clinch.

Varsineekeri jumps into guard, dragging Nahka to the mat.

Varsineekeri working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Nahka doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Nahka manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Nahka stopping the sweep attempt from Varsineekeri.
Nahka looking to pass the guard.
Nahka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Varsineekeri looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Varsineekeri is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nahka works a leg free and moves into half guard.

Varsineekeri looking for submissions off his back.

Varsineekeri actively working from the bottom here.
Nahka working Varsineekeri over with strikes.
Varsineekeri manages to get to full guard.

Varsineekeri has his foot on Nahka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nahka works his way back into a safe position though.

Nahka avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Nahka has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Varsineekeri to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Nahka is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Varsineekeri pulls down on the head and he's put Nahka to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:04 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Arska Varsineekeri!