PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Roberto Baggio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mirko Majuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Baggio
vs
Majuri

174 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

197 cm
23
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Roberto Baggio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mirko Majuri!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Baggio tries to clinch up
and Majuri counters with a head kick.
Baggio closes the distance but Majuri moves to the side

and Majuri counters with a single leg into guard. Baggio didn't expect that.
Baggio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Majuri.
Majuri throwing strikes from guard but Baggio blocks nicely.

Majuri drops back looking for a leg! Baggio is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Baggio manages to kick Majuri off! Majuri jumps back into Baggio's guard.
Majuri wants to pass the guard but Baggio is keeping the position.
Majuri has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Majuri controlling from the top position.
Baggio can't keep his opponent in guard - Majuri advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Majuri is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Baggio!
Majuri thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Majuri thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Majuri looking to secure an arm triangle but Baggio defends it well.
Baggio avoids a series of strikes thrown by Majuri.
Majuri cracks Baggio with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Baggio in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Majuri working some short elbows here. He postures up to throw some more ground and pound but Baggio slips a leg through to get back to half guard. Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Well, if Majuri 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Baggio blocking the ground and pound attempt from Majuri.
Majuri sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Baggio defending well though.
Majuri is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

Majuri is looking for a kimura but Baggio is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Majuri to get the leverage.
Majuri thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Baggio's head.

Majuri postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Baggio to stand up.

Baggio tries to keep at a distance but Majuri has taken the fight into the clinch.

Majuri has hold of one of Baggio's legs. Baggio is fighting the takedown attempt but Majuri gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Majuri pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Baggio is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Baggio preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Majuri looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Majuri pushing down on Baggio's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Majuri is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Majuri missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Majuri dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Baggio wants to clinch but Majuri slips to the side

and Majuri counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Majuri stands up and waves to Baggio to follow him.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Majuri, right into the meat.
Baggio tries to close the distance and clinch but Majuri swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Mirko Majuri is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Baggio is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Baggio tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Majuri counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Majuri advances to half guard.
Baggio has hold of Majuri's hands but Majuri slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Majuri scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Majuri throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Majuri controlling the action here.
Baggio might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Majuri thows a huge punch but Baggio dodges it nicely.

Majuri gets to his feet - back to striking we go!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Baggio is looking to clinch.
Majuri will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Decent striking displayed by Majuri there.
Baggio tries to clinch up

and Majuri counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Majuri.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Majuri sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Majuri stands and steps away. Baggio gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

Majuri takes the fight into the clinch.
Majuri has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Majuri is trying to break free.
Baggio is pressed up against the cage. Majuri has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Baggio down to the mat. Baggio avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Majuri is breathing heavily.
Baggio tries to clinch there but Majuri circles away.
Baggio tries to clinch but Majuri moves out of range.
Baggio tries to close the distance and clinch up but Majuri swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Baggio forces Majuri back against the cage and clinches.
Baggio is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Roberto Baggio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mirko Majuri.
Majuri takes an elbow to the forehead.
Majuri has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Baggio is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Baggio trying to control the position but instead, Majuri has worked for underhooks and has pushed Baggio into the cage.
Baggio lands an elbow inside.
Majuri wants to break free but Baggio has control.
Baggio blocks an elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Majuri tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Baggio avoids it.
Baggio lands a nice elbow.
Baggio lands an elbow just above Majuri 's eye.
Majuri fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Baggio lands a nice elbow.
Baggio lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Majuri tries to break free but Baggio pushes him back against the cage.
Majuri has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Baggio after a bit of a struggle.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Baggio lands an elbow inside that Majuri shrugs off.
Baggio lands a damaging elbow.
Baggio creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Majuri's defenses.
Baggio tries a knee to the head but Majuri blocks it.
Baggio gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Baggio scores a nice knee to the body.
Baggio utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Baggio lands an elbow just above Majuri 's eye.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mirko Majuri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Baggio doesn't manage to clinch there - Majuri circles away.
Majuri avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Baggio tries to clinch up.
Majuri circles away from the clinch attempt

and Majuri counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Baggio!
Majuri trying to control the action but Baggio is working from the bottom.

Majuri is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Baggio knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Majuri takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Majuri sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Baggio is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Majuri stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Majuri circles away from the clinch attempt.
Baggio tries to close the distance and clinch up but Majuri swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Baggio fails with an attempt to clinch.
Baggio throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Baggio tries to clinch but Majuri moves out of range.
Majuri circles away from the clinch attempt.
Baggio tries to clinch

and Majuri counters with a shoot takedown. Baggio fights it but they end up in guard.
Majuri works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Roberto Baggio has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Baggio is trying to get back to full guard.

Majuri is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Majuri wants to take a breather but Baggio is having none of it.
Baggio tries to get to full guard but Majuri has control of the leg.
Majuri works his way into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Majuri throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Baggio defending against the ground and pound.
Baggio tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Baggio tries to escape but Majuri is in control.
Baggio is looking for a sweep.
Baggio takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Majuri tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Majuri advances nicely into full mount.

Majuri working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Baggio turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Majuri off and cradles Baggio's limp body as Majuri celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:28 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Mirko Majuri!