PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Guran Tkeshelashvili (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Olaf Viking (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Viking has chosen Techno Viking as his entrance music. Olaf Viking told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Tkeshelashvili
vs
Viking

182 cm
25
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
20
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Inexperienced

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Guran Tkeshelashvili!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Olaf Viking!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Fedor Mirinova.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Viking gets caught flat footed, as Tkeshelashvili shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Viking wants to stand but Tkeshelashvili is controlling the position.

Tkeshelashvili has gone for a leg lock! Viking slips out almost immediately though and dives into Tkeshelashvili's guard.

Tkeshelashvili is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Viking defends well.
Viking wants to get up but he can't break Tkeshelashvili's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Tkeshelashvili wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tkeshelashvili is trying to keep Viking in close.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Viking wants to get up but he can't break Tkeshelashvili's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Tkeshelashvili is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Guran Tkeshelashvili just wasn't active enough.
Tkeshelashvili shoots in looking for a takedown. Viking tries to sprawl out of it but Tkeshelashvili keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Viking manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Viking misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Some wild striking there from Viking.
Viking pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viking scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Tkeshelashvili throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Viking.
Viking throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Viking scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Viking looks to throw the jab but Tkeshelashvili is out of range.
Nice defenses there by Tkeshelashvili.
Viking avoids a punch combination nicely.

Tkeshelashvili drives through with a takedown into Viking's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Tkeshelashvili lands a couple of digs.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tkeshelashvili with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tkeshelashvili controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Viking wants to get back to his feet but Tkeshelashvili is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Viking working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tkeshelashvili.
Tkeshelashvili throws a big right hand that misses.
Viking is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tkeshelashvili is controlling him.
Tkeshelashvili trying to control the position from guard on top but Viking is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Viking is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tkeshelashvili is controlling him.
Tkeshelashvili throwing strikes but missing.
Viking is looking to stand up but Tkeshelashvili isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Viking looks winded!

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tkeshelashvili misses with the combination.
Good standup being displayed there by Viking as he connects with a hook.
Tkeshelashvili throws a right and a left that Viking avoids nicely.
Viking throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Viking misses with a few strikes there.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Tkeshelashvili.
Viking dodges the ground and pound from Tkeshelashvili.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Viking throws a head kick that looked like it stung.
Viking connects with a high kick.
Viking misses with the combination.
Viking lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Tkeshelashvili circles away quickly and effectively.

Tkeshelashvili shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Viking wants to get back to his feet but Tkeshelashvili is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Tkeshelashvili is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Tkeshelashvili postures up in Viking's guard and throws a big left but Viking blocks it.
Tkeshelashvili trying to control but Viking is working from the bottom.
Viking is breathing heavily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tkeshelashvili lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tkeshelashvili passes Viking's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Tkeshelashvili wants to control but Viking is keeping him busy.
Tkeshelashvili has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tkeshelashvili tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tkeshelashvili with a couple of short strikes.
Tkeshelashvili with the ground and pound from mount.
Tkeshelashvili is landing with some decent strikes but Viking is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Tkeshelashvili trying to control but Viking is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Viking is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Tkeshelashvili landing strikes from the mount.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
A nice elbow there by Tkeshelashvili.
Tkeshelashvili won't let Viking get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Tkeshelashvili lands with some strikes.
Tkeshelashvili in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Tkeshelashvili wants to control the pace but Viking is squirming around nicely.
Tkeshelashvili lands a nice shot to the head.
Viking is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tkeshelashvili landing punches.
Tkeshelashvili is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Viking can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Tkeshelashvili scoring with strikes but Viking is staying in there.

Tkeshelashvili looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Tkeshelashvili wants to control the pace but Viking is squirming around nicely.
Tkeshelashvili raining down hammerfists from mount.
Viking is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Tkeshelashvili lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Viking wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tkeshelashvili fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tkeshelashvili sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Tkeshelashvili cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Tkeshelashvili working Viking over with strikes here.

Tkeshelashvili jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Viking is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Viking and Tkeshelashvili has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Tkeshelashvili looks up at the clock and then as Viking takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Tkeshelashvili smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tkeshelashvili working the ground and pound but Viking is defending the strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tkeshelashvili blocks a jab.
Tkeshelashvili shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Viking as he jumps to the side.
Viking misses with a jab, cross combination.

Viking tries to sprawl but Tkeshelashvili drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Tkeshelashvili wants to advance to full mount but Viking doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Tkeshelashvili throws a big right hand that misses.
Tkeshelashvili is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tkeshelashvili slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Tkeshelashvili is chipping away with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tkeshelashvili wants to control but Viking is keeping him busy.
Tkeshelashvili lands a few punches from side control.
Tkeshelashvili lands a decent elbow from side control.
Tkeshelashvili cracks Viking with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Tkeshelashvili trying to control the action but Viking is working from the bottom.
Tkeshelashvili advances to mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Viking squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Tkeshelashvili looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tkeshelashvili working the ground and pound effectively.
The referee warns Viking that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Tkeshelashvili jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Viking manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Tkeshelashvili just content to control the position.
Tkeshelashvili is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Viking can do to turn this around?

Tkeshelashvili decides to stand up, so the ref orders Viking to his feet.
Viking misses with a wild combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tkeshelashvili steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Viking.
Tkeshelashvili avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Viking stuffs the takedown.
Viking throws a right and a left that Tkeshelashvili avoids nicely.
Viking lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Tkeshelashvili backs up against the cage.
Tkeshelashvili shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Guran Tkeshelashvili. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Viking looks to throw the jab but Tkeshelashvili is out of range.

Tkeshelashvili drives through with a takedown into Viking's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Viking is looking to stand up but Tkeshelashvili isn't so interested in that idea.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tkeshelashvili scoring with punches to the head and body.

Viking wriggles free and stands up.
Guran Tkeshelashvili is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Viking lands with a good body shot.
Viking throws a combination that misses
and Tkeshelashvili counters with a nice uppercut.
Tkeshelashvili shoots in looking for a takedown. Viking tries to sprawl out of it but Tkeshelashvili keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Viking manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tkeshelashvili on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.

And that's the end of the fight!
Guran Tkeshelashvili showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tkeshelashvili, 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Guran Tkeshelashvili!