PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Trygve Bondevik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kurul Aspanuhkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Bondevik
vs
Aspanuhkin

206 cm
30
272 lbs
10 - 12 - 1

210 cm
25
280 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 12 - 1, fighting out of London, Trygve Bondevik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kurul Aspanuhkin!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Bondevik scores with a kick to the midsection.
Aspanuhkin's coach down at MMA Sanok Training Center was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Aspanuhkin's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.
Bondevik pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Bondevik gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Aspanuhkin to score an easy takedown into full guard.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Bondevik seems keen to control Aspanuhkin's posture.
Bondevik controls Aspanuhkin momentarily but Aspanuhkin frees himself.
Bondevik lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Aspanuhkin!
Aspanuhkin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Bondevik wants to get back to his feet but Aspanuhkin is holding on tight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aspanuhkin regains half guard.
Bondevik wants to stand up but Aspanuhkin has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Aspanuhkin tries to kick Bondevik off but Bondevik keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Aspanuhkin is controlling Bondevik's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Bondevik wants to stand but Aspanuhkin has hold of a leg and an arm, so he's trapped for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Aspanuhkin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Bondevik seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
Bondevik wants to stand up but Aspanuhkin manages to regain full guard.
Bondevik wants to stand and escape but instead Aspanuhkin has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Aspanuhkin slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Bondevik is trying to keep Aspanuhkin in close.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bondevik working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aspanuhkin.
Bondevik bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Aspanuhkin's guard.
Bondevik wants to stand but Aspanuhkin is controlling his posture from full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aspanuhkin trying to keep a closed guard but Bondevik is proving a slippery customer.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Trygve Bondevik dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A clash of legs there as Aspanuhkin blocks the low kick.
Aspanuhkin tries to clinch but Bondevik moves out of range.
Bondevik pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Bondevik tries a head kick but it misses.

Aspanuhkin looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Aspanuhkin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Bondevik is looking to sweep but instead, Aspanuhkin has passed into half guard.
Bondevik makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Bondevik.
Aspanuhkin stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bondevik swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Bondevik looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bondevik manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Aspanuhkin manages to get himself to full guard.
Bondevik would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Trygve Bondevik overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Bondevik stopping the sweep attempt from Aspanuhkin.
Bondevik wanted to stand there but Aspanuhkin had control of the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aspanuhkin working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aspanuhkin has a closed guard, preventing Bondevik from standing up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A head kick misses from Aspanuhkin.
Bondevik shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Aspanuhkin throws a head kick that misses.
Aspanuhkin takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aspanuhkin tries to close the distance and clinch up but Bondevik swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aspanuhkin takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Bondevik looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Bondevik tries a low kick but Aspanuhkin avoids it.
Bondevik pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Aspanuhkin avoids a kick to the body.

Aspanuhkin closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Bondevik's guard.
Aspanuhkin is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bondevik trying to keep a closed guard but Aspanuhkin is proving a slippery customer.
Aspanuhkin tries to free his leg and advance position but Bondevik is retaining full guard.
Bondevik looking to control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Bondevik misses with a head kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!

Aspanuhkin scores with a takedown into Bondevik's guard.
Bondevik is trying to control the position but Aspanuhkin postures up.
Aspanuhkin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aspanuhkin accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Bondevik is trying to control the position but Aspanuhkin postures up.
Bondevik wants to sweep here but Aspanuhkin controlling him for the moment.
Aspanuhkin advances position into side control!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aspanuhkin tries to advance to mount but Bondevik denies him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kurul Aspanuhkin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Bondevik's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Aspanuhkin rushes Bondevik and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Bondevik has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.

Aspanuhkin has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Bondevik uses from the top position.

Aspanuhkin has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Bondevik can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Bondevik would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Aspanuhkin is looking to stand up but Bondevik isn't so interested in that idea.
Aspanuhkin has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Bondevik has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aspanuhkin struggling a bit here.
Bondevik wants to stand but Aspanuhkin has his arm trapped.
Aspanuhkin gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Bondevik wants to stand up but Aspanuhkin is controlling the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bondevik tries to stand and escape but Aspanuhkin actually recovers to full guard.
Bondevik wants to stand and escape but instead Aspanuhkin has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Bondevik bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Aspanuhkin's guard.

Aspanuhkin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Bondevik gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Bondevik has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Aspanuhkin is proving hard to escape from.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aspanuhkin tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Bondevik wants to stand but Aspanuhkin has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Aspanuhkin controls Bondevik momentarily but Bondevik frees himself.
Aspanuhkin wants to sweep but no luck.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Bondevik misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Bondevik gets caught flat footed, as Aspanuhkin shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Bondevik is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Bondevik keeping full guard, as Aspanuhkin tries to pass.
Bondevik wants to sweep here but Aspanuhkin controlling him for the moment.
Aspanuhkin is fighting to break Bondevik's control of his arms but Bondevik is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Bondevik is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Kurul Aspanuhkin.
I think Aspanuhkin has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!