PBP Commentary

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

Salonen
vs
Gusarov

157 cm
26
130 lbs
8 - 15 - 1

168 cm
24
145 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

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 8 - 15 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jenni Salonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Stepka Gusarov!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Ivan Kurochkin and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gusarov tries to clinch up.
Gusarov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Gusarov as Salonen shoots in.
Salonen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gusarov is fending him off so far but Salonen persists. Nope, Gusarov circles away and we're back to standing.
Salonen has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jenni Salonen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Gusarov has taken the fight to the clinch.
A short right from Gusarov on the inside.

Gusarov has Salonen pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Gusarov pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Salonen tumbling to the mat - Gusarov dives into Salonen's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Gusarov stands up over Salonen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Salonen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Gusarov throws and elbow that misses. Salonen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gusarov's guard. Nice move by Salonen!
Gusarov punching to the body, from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gusarov lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Salonen!
Gusarov is landing with some decent strikes but Salonen is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Salonen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Salonen tries to get out of the position.
Gusarov landing strikes from the mount and Salonen is in trouble!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gusarov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Salonen can't stay in a position like this for much longer.

It looks like Jenni Salonen has been cut.
Gusarov landing strikes from the mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gusarov working Salonen over with strikes here.

Salonen is rocked!
Gusarov softens up his opponent with a couple of shots there and then CRACK! One massive shot lands there and Salonen is out cold! Gusarov jumps to his feet and celebrates on the cage with the fans, who are, quite frankly, going absolutely mental!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Stepka Gusarov!