PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Ivaylo Kiryazov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Rasthio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kiryazov
vs
Rasthio

183 cm
18
202 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

179 cm
26
180 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivaylo Kiryazov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Rasthio!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Rasthio or perhaps it was just good defense by Kiryazov which made him look bad.
Rasthio fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rasthio fails in his attempt to clinch.

Kiryazov looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Rasthio!
Rasthio is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Kiryazov throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Kiryazov sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Poor strikes thrown by Kiryazov there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Rasthio tries to hold on but Kiryazov pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rasthio is looking to get to half guard.
Kiryazov controlling the position easily from mount.
Rasthio manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Rasthio, under a barage of strikes from Kiryazov.
Rasthio tries to get to full guard but Kiryazov has control of the leg.
Kiryazov is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasthio is looking to control Kiryazov's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Rasthio avoid being mounted?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rasthio has his takedown stuffed

and Kiryazov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Rasthio won't be happy with that.
Ivaylo Kiryazov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Rasthio.
Kiryazov happy to just control the position for now.
Kiryazov wants to control for a moment but Rasthio uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rasthio is trying to control but Kiryazov manages to pass to mount!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasthio is working to get back to half guard.
Rasthio tries to lock up and control but Kiryazov gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kiryazov looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kiryazov prevents Rasthio from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rasthio wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kiryazov.
Kiryazov controlling the pace for now.
Kiryazov throws some wild stikes that Rasthio manages to avoid easily.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rasthio is trying to escape the mount.
Kiryazov throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Rasthio because Kiryazov loaded up on that one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kiryazov drives through with a takedown into Rasthio's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kiryazov trying to control the position from guard on top but Rasthio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rasthio can do anything to dispel that myth.

Rasthio is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kiryazov defends well.
Rasthio looking to control.
Kiryazov preventing the sweep.
Kiryazov engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Kiryazov won't allow Rasthio to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiryazov passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Rasthio is trying to stand back up but Kiryazov is controlling him
Rasthio wants to control but Kiryazov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kiryazov content to control rather than advance.
Kiryazov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Well, if Kiryazov is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Ivaylo Kiryazov overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Rasthio fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasthio shoots in but Kiryazov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Rasthio closes the distance and clinches up with Kiryazov, looking for a takedown. Rasthio pushes Kiryazov against the cage but Kiryazov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ivaylo Kiryazov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of John Rasthio.
Kiryazov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kiryazov tries to clinch but Rasthio moves out of range.
Nice sprawl there from Kiryazov as Rasthio shoots in.
Kiryazov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rasthio shoots for a takedown but Kiryazov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Rasthio gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kiryazov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rasthio is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kiryazov in particular looking to stall.
Kiryazov looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kiryazov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rasthio keeps working.

We're going to have a standup here because Ivaylo Kiryazov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Kiryazov shoots in and bounces Rasthio off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rasthio looking to control but Kiryazov passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiryazov is controlling the pace.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kiryazov seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rasthio does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kiryazov sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rasthio defending well though.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kiryazov stalling.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ivaylo Kiryazov dominated that second round.
That's time! Kiryazov's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Kiryazov shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Kiryazov was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Rasthio gets back to half guard.
Kiryazov thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Rasthio's head.
Kiryazov is taking a breather. Rasthio says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Rasthio wants to control but Kiryazov is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kiryazov prevents Rasthio from improving his position.
Rasthio is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Kiryazov's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Kiryazov's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiryazov is in bad spot here.
Rasthio misses with a punch to the head.
Rasthio trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.
Kiryazov rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rasthio lands a nice short elbow.
Rasthio throwing shots but Kiryazov is blocking nicely.
Rasthio is just content to waste time from the top position. Kiryazov takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Kiryazov seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ivaylo Kiryazov is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rasthio throws a big elbow that misses.
Kiryazov working a defensive guard here.
Rasthio throws a big elbow that misses.
Kiryazov keeping moving, preventing Rasthio from controlling successfully.
Kiryazov keeping full guard, as Rasthio tries to pass.
Rasthio is pushing down on Kiryazov's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kiryazov is fighting to maintain full guard but Rasthio has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rasthio prevents Kiryazov from standing back up.
Kiryazov is looking for a sweep. Rasthio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kiryazov avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rasthio.
Rasthio missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Rasthio is keen to just control but Kiryazov is a slippery customer.
Kiryazov is pressing down on Rasthio's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Rasthio wants to pass the guard but Kiryazov is keeping the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kiryazov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rasthio's guard.
John Rasthio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kiryazov not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Rasthio is wriggling around but Kiryazov manages to pass to half guard.
Kiryazov is controlling the pace.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rasthio tries to get to full guard but Kiryazov has control of the leg.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to John Rasthio.
Well Kiryazov has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivaylo Kiryazov!
Ivaylo Kiryazov bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.