PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Vladimir Kruzov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Przemyslaw Saleta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kruzov's entrance music is All for the motherland. A fine choice. Przemyslaw Saleta has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Vladimir Kruzov's chin.

Kruzov
vs
Saleta

185 cm
26
265 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

190 cm
19
225 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Very confident

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 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vladimir Kruzov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Przemyslaw Saleta!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saleta throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Kruzov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kruzov.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kruzov wants to stand but Saleta is controlling his posture from full guard.
Kruzov wants to stand and escape but instead Saleta has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Saleta looks gassed!

Kruzov wriggles free and stands up.
Kruzov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Kruzov decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Saleta looks like he's trying to stand up.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kruzov escapes and gets back to his feet.

Kruzov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Saleta to the ground. Kruzov is now in Saleta's guard.
Kruzov wanted to stand there but Saleta had control of the position.

Kruzov stands up from Saleta's guard - Kruzov perhaps looking for a knockout.
Przemyslaw Saleta is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Saleta stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Saleta wants it to stay on the feet.

Kruzov gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Saleta missing with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kruzov works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saleta wants to stand up but Kruzov is controlling him.
Kruzov trying to stand up but can't free himself from Saleta's guard.

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

Kruzov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.

Kruzov stands up from mount. Strange move.

Kruzov changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Saleta looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Kruzov stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Kruzov fails with the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Kruzov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Saleta enables Kruzov to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Saleta manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Kruzov has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kruzov wanted to stand there but Saleta had control of the position.
Saleta wants to stand up but Kruzov is controlling him.
Kruzov wants to stand but Saleta has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kruzov stands and steps away. Saleta gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Horrible takedown by Kruzov or perhaps it was just good defense by Saleta which made him look bad.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kruzov.

Kruzov drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Kruzov stands up from guard. Let's bang!

Kruzov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Kruzov wants a takedown but no success here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Kruzov dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Saleta lands a head kick. Kruzov smiles back at him and beckons him forward.

Kruzov shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Kruzov tries to stand but can't do so whilst Saleta controls his leg.

Kruzov decides to stand and escape the position.
Kruzov shoots in but Saleta avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Saleta is breathing heavily.

Saleta gets caught napping as Kruzov dives in and scores a takedown. Saleta manages to retain guard.
Kruzov is looking to stand up but Saleta won't let him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Saleta is working an open guard so Kruzov takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Saleta stuffs the takedown attempt from Kruzov. Kruzov gets slowly back to his feet.
Kruzov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Kruzov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Saleta stuffs the takedown.
Saleta connects with a high kick.
A head kick misses from Saleta.
Kruzov shoots in but no luck this time.

Kruzov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kruzov has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Saleta is trying to keep an underhook but Kruzov manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Saleta pushes Kruzov off looking to stand but Kruzov dives back in and keeps control.
Kruzov wants to stand up but Saleta is controlling the position.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Saleta is trying to stand.
Kruzov tries to stand and escape but Saleta is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saleta is trying to stand back up but Kruzov is controlling him

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kruzov dives in and grabs Saleta's left leg, looking for a takedown. Saleta pushes down on Kruzov's head and hops out.
Kruzov fails with a takedown attempt.
Przemyslaw Saleta seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Saleta throws a head kick that half lands.
Kruzov is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Saleta can do to turn this around?
Saleta throws a predictable looking body shot

and Kruzov decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Saleta's guard.

Kruzov decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Saleta, up you get!
Kruzov blocks a head kick by Saleta.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kruzov throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Saleta's waist but Saleta gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kruzov off to one side.
Kruzov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Saleta as he avoids it easily.
Saleta misses with a two punch combination.
Saleta throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kruzov.
Kruzov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Saleta sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kruzov somewhat.
Saleta rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kruzov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kruzov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Saleta defends it nicely.

Kruzov fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Saleta to the ground. Kruzov is now in Saleta's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kruzov stands and steps away. Saleta gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Saleta tries to bum rush Kruzov with a series of wild strikes but Kruzov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

Kruzov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Saleta!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vladimir Kruzov dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Saleta goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

Kruzov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Saleta napping and manages to drive through into side control!

Kruzov decides to stand back up.
Kruzov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Saleta circles away.
Kruzov blocks a head kick by Saleta.
Kruzov tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Saleta swivels and escapes.
Saleta stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Saleta wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vladimir Kruzov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kruzov fails with a takedown attempt.
Kruzov on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Kruzov fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Saleta looks to land a combination. Kruzov sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
Przemyslaw Saleta seems to be getting the better of the standup.
No luck for Kruzov with that takedown attempt.
Saleta lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kruzov dodges the punch combination from Saleta.
Nice sprawl there from Saleta as Kruzov shoots in.
Kruzov shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Saleta but Saleta pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Saleta throws a head kick but Kruzov moves out of range.

Kruzov dives in and scores a takedown into Saleta's guard.
Kruzov wants to stand but Saleta is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Kruzov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Saleta is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kruzov gets to his feet and calls his opponent to stand. Here come the fireworks!
Kruzov blocks a head kick by Saleta.

Kruzov manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Saleta on his heels. He'll look to pass Saleta's guard now, I'm sure.
Kruzov wants to stand but Saleta has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Saleta pushes Kruzov off and scrambles back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saleta misses with a head kick.

Kruzov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kruzov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!

Kruzov get's back to his feet.
No joy there for Saleta, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kruzov moves out of range as Saleta throws a body kick.

Kruzov pushes Saleta up against the cage in a clinch.
Kruzov drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Saleta gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Saleta unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Saleta misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kruzov.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kruzov changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Saleta fights it off and pushes away nicely.

Kruzov shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kruzov is looking to stand but Kruzov has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

Kruzov get's back to his feet.
Przemyslaw Saleta has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
No joy there for Saleta, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Saleta misses with a series of wild punches.
Saleta stuffs the takedown.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kruzov fails with a takedown attempt.
Saleta pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Vladimir Kruzov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Kruzov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vladimir Kruzov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kruzov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vladimir Kruzov!
A very excited looking Vladimir Kruzov made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.