PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Gianluca Gattusi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Konstantin Zyuzin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gattusi comes to the cage accompanied by Fratelli d'Italia. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gattusi
vs
Zyuzin

190 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

186 cm
20
219 lbs
1 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gianluca Gattusi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Konstantin Zyuzin!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zyuzin bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Gattusi is trying to improve his position.
Gattusi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Zyuzin's best efforts.
Gattusi is refusing to be controlled, as Zyuzin sits in half guard.
Gattusi wants to get back to full guard.
Gattusi is working hard here to advance position.
Zyuzin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Gattusi is trying to get back to full guard.
Gattusi is trying to control but can't.
Gattusi is not content to let Zyuzin control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zyuzin is pressing down on Gattusi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gattusi is holding on for now.

Zyuzin is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Gattusi has managed to free his arm - good work.
Zyuzin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Gattusi is controlling Zyuzin's trapped leg to prevent Zyuzin from advancing to side control.
Zyuzin wants to take a breather but Gattusi is having none of it.
Gattusi on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Zyuzin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Gattusi misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Gattusi trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zyuzin is trying to control the action in half guard but Gattusi is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Zyuzin is pressing down on Gattusi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gattusi is holding on for now.
Gattusi wants to improve his position but Zyuzin is controlling well.
Zyuzin is looking to stall here but Gattusi recovers full guard.
Zyuzin with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Gattusi managing to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zyuzin trying to control but Gattusi is working from the bottom.
Gattusi manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Zyuzin can do anything to dispel that myth.

Gattusi moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Zyuzin has worked his arm free - good work by Zyuzin!
Gattusi misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

Gattusi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zyuzin, who protects the arm well.

Gattusi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gattusi has knee on belly and moves into mount.

Gattusi moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Zyuzin has worked his arm free - good work by Zyuzin!
Zyuzin wants to control but Gattusi postures up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gattusi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zyuzin avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Gattusi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Gianluca Gattusi will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Gattusi gets a takedown into half guard.
Zyuzin is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Gattusi missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gattusi prevents Zyuzin from improving his position.
Gattusi wants to pass to mount but Zyuzin is defending the position.

Gattusi is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Zyuzin trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zyuzin tries to roll over but Gattusi keeps him under control.
Zyuzin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Gattusi. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Zyuzin regains full guard. Nicely done.
Gattusi passes Zyuzin's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Gattusi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Zyuzin is looking to control Gattusi's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Zyuzin avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Gattusi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zyuzin has managed to free his arm - good work.

Gattusi is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Zyuzin is just riding it out for now. Gattusi eventually gives up the hold.
Gattusi is thwarting Zyuzin's attempts to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Gattusi is working for a kimura but Zyuzin is defending it quite comfortably.

Gattusi is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zyuzin has managed to free his arm - good work.

Gattusi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gattusi seems to be looking for submissions.

Gattusi wants to work for an arm triangle but Zyuzin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Gattusi throwing shots but Zyuzin is blocking nicely.

Gattusi wants to work for an arm triangle but Zyuzin is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gianluca Gattusi dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Gattusi fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Gattusi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zyuzin manages to avoid it.
Gattusi keeps the fight on the outside.
Gattusi is looking to clinch but Zyuzin is avoiding it.
Gattusi blocks the body kick.
Zyuzin leaves Gattusi with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Gattusi thuds his right hand into Zyuzin's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Zyuzin shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gattusi as he avoids it easily.

Gattusi moves into range and clinches up with Zyuzin.

Gattusi jumps into guard, dragging Zyuzin to the mat.
Zyuzin controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Gattusi is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Gattusi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zyuzin!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gattusi avoids the attempt from Zyuzin to control.

Gattusi swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Zyuzin is now in Gattusi's guard. A big mistake from Gattusi there, giving up the dominant position!
Zyuzin working some strikes from top position.
Gattusi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Gattusi keeping full guard, as Zyuzin tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gattusi has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Zyuzin has passed into side control.
Zyuzin tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Zyuzin wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gattusi keeps working.
Zyuzin creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Zyuzin tries to advance position but instead Gattusi slips a leg back in to half guard.
Gattusi regains full guard. Nicely done.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gattusi wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Zyuzin is now in half guard.
Gattusi manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zyuzin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zyuzin with a flurry of punches that miss.
Zyuzin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Gattusi being controlled here, momentarily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zyuzin trying to control the position from guard on top but Gattusi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gianluca Gattusi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Gattusi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zyuzin throws a big right hand that misses.
Zyuzin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gattusi swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gattusi bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Zyuzin's guard.
Gattusi looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Konstantin Zyuzin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Gattusi drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zyuzin looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zyuzin looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zyuzin!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Gianluca Gattusi.
Well Gattusi 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gianluca Gattusi!
A victorious Gianluca Gattusi thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.