PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Paul Crown (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sahko Zelenko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Crown
vs
Zelenko

180 cm
19
188 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
185 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Good kicks
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Paul Crown!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sahko Zelenko!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Crown looks to land a combination but Zelenko avoids it well.
Crown throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zelenko avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Crown.
Zelenko misses with the combination.
Zelenko stuffs the takedown attempt from Crown. Crown gets slowly back to his feet.
Crown avoids the head kick by Zelenko.
Crown tries for a takedown but Zelenko sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Crown. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sloppy strikes from Zelenko. Those never looked like landing.
Crown throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Crown slips a jab and a cross from Zelenko.
Zelenko stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zelenko wants it to stay on the feet.
Crown will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zelenko looks to land a combination but Crown avoids it well.
Zelenko throws a head kick that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Zelenko.
Crown tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Zelenko scores with a head kick. Crown tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Crown lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Crown looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zelenko is fending him off so far but Crown persists. Nope, Zelenko circles away and we're back to standing.
Sahko Zelenko is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Crown moves away from the strike by Zelenko.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Zelenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Crown goes for a double leg but Zelenko avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zelenko continues to drive forward.
Zelenko dodges an elbow strike from Crown.

Zelenko breaks the clinch.
Zelenko tries to bum rush Crown with a series of wild strikes but Crown uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Zelenko throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Zelenko slaps away a takedown attempt from Crown, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Crown dives in and grabs Zelenko's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zelenko pushes down on Crown's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zelenko lands a jab-cross combination.

Crown looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Zelenko actively working from the bottom here.
Crown trying to control from half guard but Zelenko is working away.
Crown throwing shots but Zelenko is blocking nicely.
Crown wants to stand but Zelenko has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crown is trying to control the action in half guard but Zelenko is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Paul Crown just wasn't active enough.
Zelenko stuffs the takedown.
Sahko Zelenko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Crown goes for a double leg but Zelenko avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zelenko continues to drive forward.
Zelenko tries to circle away but Crown has him pinned against the cage.

Crown drags the fight down to the ground.
Zelenko preventing the sweep.
Crown lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Zelenko!
Crown 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.
Crown with the ground and pound from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zelenko tries to lock up and control but Crown gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Crown trying to control but Zelenko is having none of it.

Crown is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Zelenko can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Crown cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Paul Crown dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Crown misses with a takedown attempt - Zelenko sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Zelenko throws a left and a right that both miss
and Crown counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Zelenko is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Crown will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Crown dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Zelenko. That did some damage!
Zelenko pulls out of a head kick attempt.
The fighters circling - Zelenko throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Crown moves in looking to clinch but Zelenko pushes him off.
Crown shoots in and drives through. Zelenko sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Paul Crown. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Zelenko as Crown shoots in.
Zelenko leaves Crown with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Zelenko throws a head kick but Crown moves out of range.
Paul Crown is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Crown misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Crown fails to land the takedown.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Crown blocks a head kick by Zelenko.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Zelenko.
A left lands for Zelenko.
Crown fails with a takedown attempt.
Zelenko looks to land a combination but Crown avoids it well.
Zelenko's jab looks to have found its range, popping Crown under the eye.
Crown fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Zelenko goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Zelenko looks to land a combination but Crown avoids it well.
Zelenko fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Crown pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Crown darts in looking for a takedown but Zelenko gets double underhooks and turns Crown into the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zelenko wants to break free but Crown has control.
Crown is looking for a takedown.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zelenko wants to break free but Crown has control.
Zelenko wants to get back to striking at distance but Crown won't allow it.
Zelenko blocks a body shot from Crown.
Zelenko is trying to push Crown away but Crown has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Zelenko is trying to break the clinch but Crown has him pressed against the cage.

Crown ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Crown no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Crown escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Zelenko gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Crown is trying to keep Zelenko in close.
Zelenko is looking to stand up but Crown won't let him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Crown is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Crown has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Crown is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Zelenko wants to stand but Crown has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Crown throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Crown tries to strike from the bottom.
Paul Crown overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zelenko is looking to stand up but Crown won't let him.
Zelenko wants to stand and escape but instead Crown has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Crown wants to stand but Zelenko is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Crown wants to control from the top but Zelenko keeps moving.
Zelenko trying to strike off his back.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Crown trying to control the position from guard on top but Zelenko is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Crown is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Paul Crown will probably get the nod.
That's time! Crown's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Crown misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Crown tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Zelenko swivels and escapes.
Crown blocks a head kick by Zelenko.
Crown throws a head kick that misses.

Crown scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.

Crown tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Crown working away.
Crown tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Crown wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zelenko keeps working.
Zelenko trying to control but Crown flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

Crown working from the back looking to end the fight with a rear naked choke. Zelenko is doing well to defend. Crown seems to have got his hand under the chin though and he's sunk the choke in! Zelenko is forced to tap and this one is over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:50 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Paul Crown!