PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vasiliy Khrapov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Taneli Maija (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Khrapov comes to the cage accompanied by Rocky road to Dublin (RUS). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that Taneli Maija was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Khrapov
vs
Maija

178 cm
29
170 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

183 cm
30
177 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

Excellent grappler
Basic striking
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vasiliy Khrapov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Taneli Maija!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Maija closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Khrapov to the mat! Khrapov manages to get full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Maija sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Maija looking to pass the guard.
My spies in Bad Pluto! inform me that Maija has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Maija looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Maija postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Maija trying to control but Khrapov is working from the bottom.
Maija trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Maija trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Khrapov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Maija on the ground.
Maija passes easily into side control. Nice work.

Maija tries for a kimura but Khrapov is defending well.

Maija is trying to get an arm triangle but Khrapov is defending well.
Khrapov's coaches at Red Square Gym have been working on his defensive grappling in preparation for this fight so let's see if he can get out of this tricky position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Maija is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Khrapov has escaped the position, nice work there.

Maija tries for a kimura but Khrapov is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Khrapov wants to control but Maija postures up.

Maija has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Khrapov is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Maija yanks on the arm and Khrapov is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Maija.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:29 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Taneli Maija!
A relieved looking Taneli Maija thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.