PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sandro Zito (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Janne Vilpoinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vilpoinen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Scar Symmetry - Artificial Sun Projection kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zito
vs
Vilpoinen

186 cm
20
194 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

182 cm
18
192 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sandro Zito!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Janne Vilpoinen!
The judges for this bout are Aleksandr Martynov, Sergei Dronov and Illya Tyunina.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zito lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Vilpoinen throws a combination. Zito tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Vilpoinen takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Vilpoinen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Zito throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vilpoinen swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Zito counters with a straight right hand.

Zito scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Vilpoinen prevents Zito from moving into mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zito is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Vilpoinen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Vilpoinen takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Zito advances to mount.
Zito has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

Zito has hold of Vilpoinen's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Vilpoinen manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zito is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Vilpoinen is surviving well by controlling Zito's body position as best he can.

Zito is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Vilpoinen has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Zito is breathing heavily.

Zito goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Vilpoinen is on top in guard.

Zito is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zito looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vilpoinen is one step ahead there.
Vilpoinen is looking to stand up but Zito won't let him.
Vilpoinen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zito is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Vilpoinen is staying active underneath Zito, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zito is trying to work for a kimura but Vilpoinen is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vilpoinen is pressing down on Zito's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Zito tries to free his leg and advance position but Vilpoinen is retaining full guard.
Zito pushes down on Vilpoinen's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Zito is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Zito is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Vilpoinen is looking to control Zito's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Vilpoinen avoid being mounted?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Zito moves into full mount! Vilpoinen won't be happy about that!

Vilpoinen defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Zito.

Vilpoinen defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Zito.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vilpoinen is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sandro Zito dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Vilpoinen takes a kick to the side of the head.
Vilpoinen lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Vilpoinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zito.
Zito jabs at Vilpoinen's body.
Zito throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.
Zito misses with a double jab.
Vilpoinen misses with a double jab

and Zito decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vilpoinen's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Zito drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Zito jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Zito passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Vilpoinen is breathing heavily.
Vilpoinen gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Zito looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zito with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Vilpoinen is working to get back to half guard.

Zito looking to isolate an arm here. Vilpoinen doesn't see it coming and as Zito extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Zito!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Sandro Zito!