PBP Commentary

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

Zbruyev
vs
Salonen

167 cm
18
134 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

157 cm
18
130 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Solid

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Zakhar Zbruyev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jenni Salonen!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Igor Prikhodko and Vladimir Khabensky.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Salonen closes the distance and clinches.

Salonen is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Zbruyev can't fight it off and eventually Salonen manages to take the fight to the floor. Zbruyev looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Zbruyev looking for a guillotine here but Salonen defends easily.

Salonen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Zbruyev, up you get!

Salonen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zbruyev to the mat! Zbruyev manages to get full guard.
Zbruyev is breathing heavily.
Salonen content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Salonen is looking to work some ground and pound but Zbruyev has wrist control.
Salonen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Zbruyev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Salonen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Zbruyev's head.
Salonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Salonen scoring with some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Salonen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Salonen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Salonen preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salonen with a flurry of punches that miss.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Salonen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Salonen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salonen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Salonen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zbruyev's guard.
Salonen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Salonen chips away with some ground and pound.
Salonen works over Zbruyev with some ground and pound from guard.
Salonen slips nicely into half guard.
Salonen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Zbruyev is in trouble now - Salonen has advanced to mount!
Zbruyev is wriggling around trying to escape.
Zbruyev is working hard here to advance position.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Salonen cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zbruyev is looking to improve his position but Salonen isn't that keen on the idea.
Salonen is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Zbruyev can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Salonen connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Zbruyev can't escape the position.
Salonen lands a heavy elbow.
Zbruyev in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Zbruyev in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Salonen cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Zbruyev is wriggling around trying to escape.
Salonen pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Zbruyev is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zbruyev sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Zbruyev wants to improve his position but Salonen is controlling well.
Salonen working Zbruyev over with strikes.
Zbruyev is pressing down on Salonen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Salonen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Salonen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Zbruyev's guard.

Zbruyev looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Salonen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Salonen working the ground and pound from side control.
Zbruyev gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salonen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zbruyev's head.
Zbruyev taking some punishment here, with Salonen in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zbruyev is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Salonen pulls his head out easily.
Zbruyev wants to improve his position but Salonen is controlling well.
Zbruyev trying to hold on to Salonen's head to control him but Salonen postures up.
Salonen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Salonen is pressing down on Zbruyev's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zbruyev is holding on for now.
Zbruyev is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Salonen moves into the clinch.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zbruyev is fighting off a takedown attempt but Salonen is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Zbruyev to the mat. Zbruyev regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Salonen is in close to Zbruyev's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Salonen preventing the sweep.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jenni Salonen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Salonen throws a series of punches but Zbruyev moves out of range.

Salonen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Zbruyev sprawls well initially but Salonen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Zbruyev manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Zbruyev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Salonen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Jenni Salonen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zbruyev avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Zbruyev is working actively from the bottom, looking for submissions. He's escaped his hips to the side and he's going for an armbar! Salonen has his hands clasped together but Zbruyev extends an breaks Salonen's desperate grasp, forcing a tap out due to armbar! Nice BJJ displayed there by Zbruyev.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:43 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Zakhar Zbruyev!