PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Arttu Mahtisaari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ivaylo Kiryazov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ivaylo Kiryazov has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Mahtisaari
vs
Kiryazov

178 cm
20
195 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

183 cm
19
202 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Tends to cut

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arttu Mahtisaari!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivaylo Kiryazov!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Horrible takedown by Mahtisaari or perhaps it was just good defense by Kiryazov which made him look bad.
Mahtisaari closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kiryazov circles away.
Mahtisaari shoots in looking for a takedown. Kiryazov tries to sprawl out of it but Mahtisaari keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kiryazov manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arttu Mahtisaari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Kiryazov with that takedown attempt.
Kiryazov stuffs the takedown.
Mahtisaari looks for a takedown but Kiryazov sprawls well.
Mahtisaari shoots and misses

and Kiryazov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Kiryazov prevents Mahtisaari from improving his position.
Kiryazov moves nicely into side control.
Kiryazov misses with the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahtisaari gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Mahtisaari is not content to let Kiryazov control the position.
Kiryazov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kiryazov is taking a breather. Mahtisaari 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.
Mahtisaari controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Mahtisaari wants to get back to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiryazov missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Mahtisaari wants to improve his position but Kiryazov is controlling well.
Kiryazov thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Kiryazov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Kiryazov is keen to just control but Mahtisaari is a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Mahtisaari shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kiryazov counters with a nice double leg into side control. Mahtisaari won't be happy with that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mahtisaari wants to control but Kiryazov postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mahtisaari managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Kiryazov.
Kiryazov controls the position from side control.
Kiryazov's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Who's going to make the next move?
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kiryazov sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Mahtisaari is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The strikes coming from Kiryazov are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Mahtisaari can't do much from the bottom here.
Kiryazov misses with the ground and pound.
Mahtisaari trying to remain calm as Kiryazov controls from the top position.
Mahtisaari tries to improve position but can't.
Kiryazov working the strikes but Mahtisaari uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Mahtisaari is not content to let Kiryazov control the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kiryazov sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Mahtisaari leaves Kiryazov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mahtisaari shoots for a takedown but Kiryazov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Mahtisaari dives in and grabs Kiryazov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kiryazov pushes down on Mahtisaari's head and hops out.
Mahtisaari stuffs the takedown attempt from Kiryazov. Kiryazov gets slowly back to his feet.
Mahtisaari shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kiryazov as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Arttu Mahtisaari. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Mahtisaari throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kiryazov's waist but Kiryazov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mahtisaari off to one side.
Mahtisaari clobbers Kiryazov with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Mahtisaari fails with the takedown

and Kiryazov counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiryazov will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Mahtisaari up against the cage.
Kiryazov is looking to control Mahtisaari's arms but Mahtisaari gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kiryazov has his back to the cage.
Kiryazov goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Mahtisaari scores with a nice hook to the head.
Mahtisaari lands an uppercut.
Kiryazov pressing his opponent against the cage.
Kiryazov trying to stall but Mahtisaari improves his position.
Mahtisaari goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kiryazov avoiding damage.
The ref breaks the fighters up, due to lack of action by Ivaylo Kiryazov.
Mahtisaari misses with a takedown

and Kiryazov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Kiryazov.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mahtisaari controls Kiryazov momentarily but Kiryazov frees himself.
Mahtisaari is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kiryazov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Mahtisaari controlling Kiryazov's posture.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Mahtisaari keeping full guard, as Kiryazov tries to pass.

Mahtisaari is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiryazov trying to control but Mahtisaari is working from the bottom.
Mahtisaari trying to keep a closed guard but Kiryazov is proving a slippery customer.
Mahtisaari is really struggling to control Kiryazov but he's trying to hold on to the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Arttu Mahtisaari wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kiryazov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Kiryazov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Mahtisaari manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kiryazov sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahtisaari manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Mahtisaari with a couple of short strikes.
Kiryazov tries to hold on but Mahtisaari postures up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mahtisaari working Kiryazov over with strikes here.

It looks like Ivaylo Kiryazov has been cut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Mahtisaari lands a big elbow.

That has opened up Ivaylo Kiryazov's cut even more.
Kiryazov is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Arttu Mahtisaari dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ivaylo Kiryazov's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Mahtisaari shoots in for a double leg but Kiryazov sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mahtisaari with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kiryazov counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Mahtisaari avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kiryazov.
Kiryazov controlling the action here.
Kiryazov passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Mahtisaari!
Mahtisaari tries to reverse the position but Kiryazov maintains control.
Kiryazov punching from mount but Mahtisaari doing a good job of avoiding damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kiryazov unloads with some shots from mount but Mahtisaari bucks and avoids them well.
Kiryazov thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Mahtisaari avoids a series of strikes thrown by Kiryazov.
Mahtisaari is trying desperately to improve position.
Poor strikes thrown by Kiryazov there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Kiryazov unloads with some shots from mount but Mahtisaari bucks and avoids them well.
Mahtisaari can't escape the position.
Kiryazov throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Mahtisaari is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kiryazov throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Kiryazov trying to control but Mahtisaari is having none of it.
Kiryazov avoids the attempt from Mahtisaari to control.
Mahtisaari wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kiryazov.
Poor strikes thrown by Kiryazov there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Kiryazov misses with a head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kiryazov throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Mahtisaari because Kiryazov loaded up on that one.
Kiryazov avoids the attempt from Mahtisaari to control.
Mahtisaari wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Kiryazov.
Kiryazov throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Mahtisaari is looking to improve his position but Kiryazov isn't that keen on the idea.
Kiryazov controlling his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mahtisaari is looking to get to half guard.
Kiryazov tries to control but Mahtisaari wriggling away.
Mahtisaari tries to hold on but Kiryazov pushes him away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ivaylo Kiryazov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kiryazov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ivaylo Kiryazov!
After the fight, Ivaylo Kiryazov was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.