PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nyyrikki Takaraivo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Konstantin Zyuzin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The key to victory for Nyyrikki Takaraivo has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Takaraivo
vs
Zyuzin

179 cm
22
220 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

186 cm
20
219 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

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 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Nyyrikki Takaraivo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Konstantin Zyuzin!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Zyuzin misses the target.
Zyuzin misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Takaraivo throws a head kick that misses.
Takaraivo throws a nice head kick!

Takaraivo has closed the distance and engaged Zyuzin in a clinch.
Takaraivo working hard to break the clinch.

Zyuzin has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Takaraivo is trying to keep an underhook but Zyuzin manages to get the takedown into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Takaraivo is trying to stand back up but Zyuzin is controlling him
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zyuzin wants to take a breather but Takaraivo is having none of it.
Zyuzin throws a strike but Takaraivo avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Zyuzin looking to pass the guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zyuzin stops Takaraivo from standing up.
Zyuzin throwing strikes but missing.
Zyuzin wants to pass the guard but Takaraivo is keeping the position.
Zyuzin is in close to Takaraivo's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Zyuzin throws a strike but Takaraivo rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zyuzin throws a jab when Takaraivo was well out of range.
Takaraivo misses with a body kick.

Takaraivo gets caught napping as Zyuzin dives in and scores a takedown. Takaraivo manages to retain guard.
Takaraivo is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Zyuzin is controlling him.
Zyuzin throws an elbow that misses. Takaraivo uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Zyuzin's guard. Nice move by Takaraivo!

Takaraivo stands up from guard. Let's bang!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Takaraivo.
A jab from Zyuzin misses.
Horrible takedown by Zyuzin or perhaps it was just good defense by Takaraivo which made him look bad.
Takaraivo keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A bone on bone clash there as Takaraivo blocks the leg kick.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zyuzin.
Nyyrikki Takaraivo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konstantin Zyuzin.
A slapping leg kick lands for Takaraivo.

Takaraivo takes the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zyuzin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Zyuzin tries to score a body lock takedown but Takaraivo shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Takaraivo breaks from the clinch.
Takaraivo misses with a head kick.
A head kick from Takaraivo lands but Zyuzin takes it in his stride.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nice defenses there by Takaraivo.
Takaraivo lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Zyuzin dodges the punch combination from Takaraivo.

Zyuzin gets tackled into the cage by Takaraivo. Takaraivo maintains the clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zyuzin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Takaraivo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zyuzin wants to break the clinch but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nyyrikki Takaraivo dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Takaraivo moves into range and clinches up with Zyuzin.
Zyuzin has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Takaraivo avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Zyuzin can't break the clinch.
Zyuzin has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Takaraivo after a bit of a struggle.
Zyuzin has Takaraivo pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Takaraivo manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Nyyrikki Takaraivo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Konstantin Zyuzin.
Takaraivo effectively controlling the action here.
Takaraivo working hard to break the clinch.
Zyuzin is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Takaraivo is defending well.
Zyuzin drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Zyuzin wants to break the clinch but can't.
Zyuzin wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Takaraivo has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takaraivo tries to break free but Zyuzin pushes him back against the cage.

Zyuzin manages to break the clinch.
Zyuzin avoids the head kick by Takaraivo.
The fighters circling - Zyuzin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Takaraivo misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Takaraivo clinches up with Zyuzin and pushes him back against the cage.
Zyuzin wants to break free but Takaraivo has control.
Zyuzin wants to break the clinch but can't.

Zyuzin breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Nyyrikki Takaraivo is winning the standup battle so far.
Zyuzin takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Takaraivo swings for the body but Zyuzin moves out of range.
Nyyrikki Takaraivo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A swing and a miss from Takaraivo.
Zyuzin avoids the head kick by Takaraivo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Zyuzin.
Takaraivo thuds his shin into the meat of Zyuzin's side.
Zyuzin is breathing heavily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Takaraivo goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Takaraivo throws a right hand that Zyuzin ducks under and follows up with a left that Zyuzin also avoids with ease.

Takaraivo pushes Zyuzin up against the cage in a clinch.

Takaraivo manages to break the clinch.
Zyuzin misses with the combination.
Nyyrikki Takaraivo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zyuzin tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Takaraivo swivels and escapes.
Takaraivo throws a head kick but Zyuzin moves out of range.
Takaraivo lands with a slapping head kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takaraivo connects with a right hand. Zyuzin shakes it off.
Nyyrikki Takaraivo is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zyuzin will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Takaraivo slaps away a takedown attempt from Zyuzin, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Takaraivo misses with a head kick.
Takaraivo pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Zyuzin takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Takaraivo misses with a head kick.

Zyuzin shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Takaraivo's guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zyuzin trying to move into half guard but instead Takaraivo has managed to sweep!
Takaraivo tries to stand but Zyuzin is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zyuzin holds on and takes a little breather.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Zyuzin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Takaraivo tries a head kick but it misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Takaraivo uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zyuzin.
Takaraivo throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Takaraivo throws a front kick that sends Zyuzin stumbling back into the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nyyrikki Takaraivo dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Takaraivo closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zyuzin tries to break free but Takaraivo pushes him back against the cage.
Zyuzin drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Takaraivo gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Takaraivo breaks from the clinch.
Takaraivo moves out of range of the strikes.
Zyuzin swings for the body but Takaraivo moves out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Takaraivo.
Zyuzin throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Takaraivo.
A combination from Takaraivo does no damage.
Takaraivo connects with a high kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Takaraivo throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takaraivo throws a nice head kick!
Zyuzin just misses with a punch to the body.
A head kick from Takaraivo lands but Zyuzin takes it in his stride.

Zyuzin is rocked!

Takaraivo gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Zyuzin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
The fighters circle, before Takaraivo throws a beautiful high kick that crashes into Zyuzin's neck, sending him stumbling to the floor! Takaraivo lands more strikes and forces a referee stoppage! That one ended in an instant!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:33 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Kick & Punches). Nyyrikki Takaraivo!