PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kasim Gaziev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sam The Furious (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gaziev
vs
The Furious

199 cm
24
210 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

185 cm
26
220 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
KO power

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Rebel Pride Clothing. (Death Before Dishonor) $8 S

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kasim Gaziev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sam The Furious!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The Furious is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gaziev sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
No luck with that takedown attempt from The Furious.
The Furious changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Gaziev tries to avoid it but The Furious manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Gaziev to the ground. Gaziev escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kasim Gaziev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam The Furious.
The Furious doesn't succeed with the takedown
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.

The Furious fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gaziev sprawls well initially but The Furious persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Gaziev is looking to control The Furious's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Gaziev avoid being mounted?
The Furious is controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gaziev wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Gaziev tries to close the distance and clinch up but The Furious swats him away and circles back towards the center.
The Furious shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gaziev counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gaziev buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
A nice leg kick lands there from Gaziev.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from The Furious is defended easily by Gaziev.
The Furious throws a lazy uppercut
and Gaziev counters with a straight right hand.
Gaziev scores with a decent looking hook.

The Furious gets the takedown into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The Furious trying to control the action but Gaziev is working from the bottom.
Gaziev is trying to improve his position.
The Furious trying to control the position but Gaziev is working away.
The Furious might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Gaziev kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Furious in side control, just content to control the action for now.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Gaziev is not content to let The Furious control the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Sam The Furious hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

The Furious drives through with a takedown into Gaziev's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sam The Furious dominated that round.
That's time! Gaziev's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

The Furious tries for a takedown but Gaziev circles away easily
and Gaziev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Gaziev enables The Furious to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Gaziev manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Gaziev is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
The Furious sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The Furious trying to control but Gaziev is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gaziev is trying to keep The Furious in close.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kasim Gaziev.
The Furious takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Gaziev scores with a three punch combo!

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

The Furious looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Sam The Furious has got the better of the ground game so far.
The Furious moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gaziev content to stall in guard here.
Gaziev sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed The Furious's guard.
The Furious tries to get to full guard but Gaziev has control of the leg.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

The Furious is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gaziev pulls his head out easily.
The Furious is not content to let Gaziev control the position.
The Furious is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Gaziev's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Gaziev's back!
Gaziev looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaziev rolls, trying to escape but The Furious keeps control of the position.
What can Gaziev do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Gaziev looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Gaziev is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The Furious controlling well, preventing Gaziev from escaping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The Furious has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Gaziev's body.
Gaziev trying to control but not successfully.
Gaziev is being controlled on the ground here - he must escape this position otherwise surely the end is near.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kasim Gaziev will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

The Furious misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Sam The Furious is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Gaziev throws a head kick that The Furious semi-blocks.
Gaziev is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Gaziev scores with a head kick. The Furious tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

The Furious rushes Gaziev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Gaziev wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Gaziev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The Furious falls off balance throwing a combination
and Gaziev counters with a low kick, right behind The Furious 's knee.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The Furious closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gaziev circles away.

Gaziev gets caught napping as The Furious dives in and scores a takedown. Gaziev manages to retain guard.
The Furious trying to control the position from guard on top but Gaziev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gaziev working a defensive guard here.
The Furious wants to control from the top but Gaziev keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The Furious slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Kasim Gaziev.
The Furious takes one to the chin there.
Gaziev slaps away a takedown attempt from The Furious, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kasim Gaziev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Sam The Furious.
The Furious takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Sam The Furious seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gaziev lands a jab to the head.
The Furious tries to score a power double leg takedown but Gaziev sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten The Furious somewhat.
The Furious takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Gaziev rushes The Furious and presses him up against the cage.
The Furious is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Gaziev pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The Furious is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Gaziev pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head kick from Gaziev lands but The Furious takes it in his stride.

The Furious shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Gaziev throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
The Furious is keen to just control but Gaziev is a slippery customer.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gaziev wants to improve his position but The Furious is controlling well.

Gaziev actively working from the bottom here.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kasim Gaziev.
I think Gaziev has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Kasim Gaziev!