PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dariusz Ruslan (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hannu Niinivaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ruslan comes to the cage accompanied by Hester Prynne. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Ruslan
vs
Niinivaara

198 cm
25
219 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

198 cm
26
213 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Decent wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Dariusz Ruslan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Hannu Niinivaara!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ruslan scores with a takedown into Niinivaara's guard.
Niinivaara not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ruslan preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ruslan works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Ruslan landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ruslan content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ruslan is trying to control. Niinivaara wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Niinivaara has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ruslan is working away from the top position though.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Niinivaara is looking to improve his position.
Niinivaara avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ruslan.
Niinivaara is looking to improve his position.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Niinivaara can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ruslan controlling the pace.

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

Ruslan throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Niinivaara tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Ruslan is in Niinivaara's guard.
Ruslan postures up.
Niinivaara has Ruslan pulled in close to control his posture.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ruslan stopping the sweep attempt from Niinivaara.
Ruslan is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Niinivaara wants to sweep here but Ruslan controlling him for the moment.
Niinivaara is trying to keep Ruslan in close.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Hannu Niinivaara hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Niinivaara's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Ruslan connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Niinivaara scrambles back to his feet.

Ruslan shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Niinivaara is looking to get to half guard.
Ruslan takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Niinivaara really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ruslan. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Niinivaara tries to hold on but Ruslan postures up.
Ruslan with the ground and pound from mount.
Niinivaara is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Ruslan connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ruslan cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Niinivaara is rocked!
Niinivaara is in a horrible position here. Ruslan smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Niinivaara is still in real trouble! Can Ruslan finish him?
Ruslan looking to finish here with some ground and pound. He lands one big shot that has Niinivaara covering up... and two more big strikes land, forcing the referee to step in and put and end to proceedings! This fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:18 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Dariusz Ruslan!