PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vlad Stalin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pekka Heino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Heino's choice of entrance music: Caesars - Jerk It Out. Vlad Stalin had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Stalin
vs
Heino

195 cm
21
270 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

200 cm
25
260 lbs
14 - 8 - 1

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vlad Stalin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pekka Heino!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Aleksandr Martynov and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stalin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stalin leaves Heino with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stalin looks to score with a jab to the body but Heino is just out of range.
Stalin swinging wildly here.
Heino wants to clinch up but Stalin keeps it at a distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stalin misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalin lands with a nice body punch.

Heino throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Stalin was covering up waiting for the punch and Heino finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Heino stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stalin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Stalin keeping moving, preventing Heino from controlling successfully.

Heino stands up from Stalin's guard - Heino perhaps looking for a knockout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stalin tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Heino loads up on a big right hand but Stalin slips the punch.
Heino misses with a head kick.
Stalin misses with the combination.
Stalin throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heino showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Stalin.
Heino lands a nice leg kick that just misses Stalin's sensitive parts.
Stalin throws a jab when Heino was well out of range.
Stalin lands a glancing blow to the side of Heino's head.

It looks like Pekka Heino has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Heino uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stalin.
Stalin leaves Heino with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Heino avoids a punch combination nicely.

Heino shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Stalin napping and manages to drive through into side control!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Heino fails with the takedown.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Heino.
Vlad Stalin is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Heino uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Stalin.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heino shoots in looking for a takedown. Stalin tries to sprawl out of it but Heino keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Stalin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Vlad Stalin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pekka Heino.
Heino fails with a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good work by Heino as he checks the leg kick.
Heino misses with a takedown attempt - Stalin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Stalin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stalin defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Heino.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Stalin swinging wildly here.
Stalin tries to bum rush Heino with a series of wild strikes but Heino uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heino shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Stalin ducks under a wild hook from Heino.

Heino closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Heino is trying to work for a kimura but Stalin is defending well.
Heino looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalin is looking to escape.

Heino is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Stalin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Heino wants to free his trapped foot but Stalin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Heino showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Pekka Heino's cut.
That's time! Stalin's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Heino closes the distance and clinches.

Stalin manages to break the clinch.
Heino fails with a takedown attempt.
Stalin misses with a double jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heino tries to clinch there but Stalin circles away.
Stalin ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Stalin misses the jab.
Stalin wants to slow Heino down by chopping away at his legs.
Heino uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Stalin.
Stalin swings for the body but Heino moves out of range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nice cross by Stalin.
Stalin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Heino moves away.
Stalin connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Heino's hands.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Heino staying out of range there.
Stalin fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Heino connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heino displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Stalin throws out the jab.
Stalin throws an overhand right that lands on Heino's shoulder, as Heino tries to avoid the shot.
Heino steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Stalin.
Heino moves in looking to clinch but Stalin pushes him off.
Vlad Stalin is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Heino shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Heino showed some decent athleticism there.
Stalin is not content to let Heino control the position.
Stalin on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Stalin tries to get out of the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Pekka Heino.
Stalin connects with a single shot there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vlad Stalin clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Pekka Heino's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Stalin throws a leg kick but Heino checks it.
Heino tries for a takedown but Stalin sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Heino fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Heino clinches up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heino tries to pull guard but Stalin holds him up against the cage and eventually Heino drops back down to his feet.
Vlad Stalin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pekka Heino.
Heino tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heino keeps control of Stalin as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Heino pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Stalin swinging wildly here.
Heino tries to clinch but Stalin is having none of it.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Stalin throws a nice looking combination but Heino bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Stalin throws a series of punches but Heino moves out of range.
Stalin looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Heino dives in and grabs Stalin's left leg, looking for a takedown. Stalin pushes down on Heino's head and hops out.
A punch combination from Stalin misses.
Heino shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Stalin defends it nicely.
Stalin keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stalin takes a swing at Heino's ribcage but misses.
Vlad Stalin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Stalin fails to land with a series of punches.
Heino misses with a series of wild punches.
Stalin throws a combination that misses

and Heino counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stalin is staying active underneath Heino, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Stalin is defending against the submission attempts here by Heino.
Stalin is trying to stand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Heino stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Stalin to get to his feet.
Heino closes the distance and clinches up with Stalin, looking for a takedown. Heino pushes Stalin against the cage but Stalin circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pekka Heino dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Pekka Heino's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Stalin gets caught flat footed, as Heino shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Stalin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Heino thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Heino has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Stalin is proving hard to escape from.

Heino drops back looking for a leg! Stalin is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Stalin manages to kick Heino off! Heino jumps back into Stalin's guard.
Heino is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Stalin is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stalin keeping moving, preventing Heino from controlling successfully.
Heino prevents Stalin from getting back to his feet.
Stalin trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Heino gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

Heino 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.
Heino trying to control but Stalin is working from the bottom.

Heino drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Heino jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Stalin keeping full guard, as Heino tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heino trying to control the position from guard on top but Stalin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Heino stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stalin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Heino advances position into side control!

Heino wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Stalin, who protects the arm well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Heino wants to control but Stalin is keeping him busy.
Stalin is trying to buck Heino off.
The strikes coming from Heino are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Vlad Stalin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Pekka Heino is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stalin is not content to let Heino control the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Pekka Heino comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Heino 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight 46:49
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 46:49
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 46:49

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pekka Heino!