PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Zangief (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tauno Taputtaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zangief comes to the cage accompanied by Metallica-Don't Tread on Me . Taputtaja has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. Ivan Zangief has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Zangief
vs
Taputtaja

213 cm
20
285 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
285 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivan Zangief!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tauno Taputtaja!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zangief wants to land a leg kick but Taputtaja is out of range.
Taputtaja looks gassed!
Zangief fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zangief misses with a low kick.
Taputtaja doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.

Zangief closes the distance and clinches.
Zangief is leaning against Taputtaja and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zangief scores with a shot to the side of Taputtaja's head.
Zangief lands a left hand that snaps the head of Taputtaja backwards.
A short body shot lands from Zangief as the two fighters clinch.
Zangief lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Zangief working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Taputtaja's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!

That has opened up Tauno Taputtaja's cut even more.
Zangief lands a shoulder strike.
Zangief lands a hook that snaps the head of Taputtaja backwards.
A right hand to the body from Zangief.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A short right from Zangief.
Zangief digs a right hand into Taputtaja's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Taputtaja's gas tank.
Zangief lands with a short shot to the head.
A shot in the inside from Zangief.

Taputtaja is rocked!
Taputtaja blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Taputtaja is still on wobbly legs! Can Zangief finish him?
Zangief trying to land knees to the body.
Taputtaja seems to have recovered his senses.
Zangief is struggling to control the position.
Zangief pushes Taputtaja back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

The cut above Tauno Taputtaja's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Zangief scores with a shot to the side of Taputtaja's head.
Zangief creates some distance for himselfand unleashes a massive uppercut that sends Taputtaja's eyes rolling into the back of his head! Taputtaja drops to his knees and Zangief pours it on with more strikes until the referee steps in to end the bout!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ivan Zangief!