PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Igor Varskinji (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kalle Kula (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Varskinji
vs
Kula

160 cm
25
145 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

158 cm
18
133 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Igor Varskinji!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kalle Kula!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Illya Tyunina and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Varskinji!

Kula gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kula wants to sweep but no luck.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Varskinji accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Varskinji avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Varskinji trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kula wants to sweep here but Varskinji controlling him for the moment.

Kula isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Varskinji stacks Kula on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Varskinji!
Kula being controlled for a moment.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kula tries to improve position but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varskinji advances to mount.
Varskinji controlling his opponent.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Varskinji cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Varskinji cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Kula is rocked!
Varskinji content just to control the position here.
Kula is still in real trouble! Can Varskinji finish him?
Kula tries to improve his position but instead Varskinji has taken his back!
Kula seems to have recovered his senses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Varskinji controlling the position well here. Kula rolled but Varskinji kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.
Kula takes a big shot to the side of the head.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kula trying to control the action but Varskinji just sinks the hooks in.
Varskinji trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Kula doesn't escape.

Varskinji is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Kula is defending well though. Varskinji let's go of the attempt for now.
Varskinji is trying to stick to Kula's back but Kula is turning into Varskinji. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Varskinji's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Kula.
Kula won't allow Varskinji to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kula drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Varskinji dives on top into guard.
Kula working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Varskinji.
Varskinji has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Kula has his foot on Varskinji's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Varskinji works his way back into a safe position though.
Varskinji stands up over Kula, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Varskinji slips nicely into half guard.
Kula looks gassed!
Kula gets back to full guard.

Varskinji stands up from Kula's guard - Varskinji perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kula blocks a head kick by Varskinji.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kula misses with a takedown attempt

and Varskinji counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Varskinji stalling.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Varskinji lands a nice short elbow.
Varskinji content to control rather than advance.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

The ref stands the fighters back up because Igor Varskinji just wasn't active enough.

Varskinji drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Varskinji dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Varskinji successfully pulls guard.
Varskinji is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kula wants to stand but Varskinji is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kula wants to control from the top but Varskinji keeps moving.
Varskinji wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Kula trying to control the position from guard on top but Varskinji is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Varskinji feints and as Kula raises his hands in defense, Varskinji changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Varskinji pushes down on Kula's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Kula gets full guard.
Kula has momentary wrist control but Varskinji slips an elbow through the middle.
Varskinji sitting in guard here, content to control.
Varskinji wants to stand but Kula is controlling his posture from full guard.

Varskinji got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kula has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Varskinji has managed to get both his arms back between Kula's legs - danger averted.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kula looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kula is breathing heavily.
Kula controls Varskinji momentarily but Varskinji frees himself.
Igor Varskinji overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kula can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Varskinji controls the pace.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Kula is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Varskinji is aware though and is defending well.
Varskinji seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Varskinji tries to stand but Kula is controlling from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Igor Varskinji has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Kula shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Varskinji defends it nicely.

Varskinji closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Varskinji lands in his opponent's guard.
Varskinji not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Kula can't keep his opponent in guard - Varskinji advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Kula looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varskinji passes the guard and advances to mount!
Varskinji lands a big shot there that rocks Kula but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kula wants to hold on but Varskinji pushes him away.
Kula has given up his back here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Varskinji working for a choke but Kula is defending well.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Varskinji slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Varskinji's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Igor Varskinji dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Varskinji drives through with a takedown into Kula's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Varskinji is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kula can do to turn this around?
Varskinji has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kula is proving hard to escape from.

Kula has managed to work for a loose triangle. I think Varskinji should be able to defend this one pretty easily though. Oh, Kula has tightened it up now! Varskinji should have reacted faster there - he's in big trouble and yes, he's tapped out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Kalle Kula!