PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Yuri Sichev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kamala Naamahaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Naamahaara is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Kishore Kumar : Chuu Kar Mere Mann Ko. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sichev
vs
Naamahaara

207 cm
34
221 lbs
28 - 23 - 0

193 cm
29
239 lbs
15 - 7 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Solid boxing
KO power

Good wrestler
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

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 28 - 23 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Sichev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kamala Naamahaara!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sichev blocks a head kick by Naamahaara.

Naamahaara closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Naamahaara throws a knee to the head but misses.

Sichev gets double underhooks and manages to take the fight to the ground.
Sichev stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Naamahaara swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Naamahaara has momentary wrist control but Sichev slips an elbow through the middle.
Naamahaara avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Sichev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Naamahaara has his hands on Sichev's head, controlling the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sichev wants to pass the guard but Naamahaara is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Naamahaara is looking to stand up but Sichev isn't so interested in that idea.
Sichev pushes down on Naamahaara's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sichev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Naamahaara avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sichev.

Sichev is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Naamahaara is just riding it out for now. Sichev eventually gives up the hold.

Sichev is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Naamahaara doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Sichev.
Sichev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

Sichev wants to work for an arm triangle but Naamahaara is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sichev seems to be working for a kimura but Naamahaara defends the submission attempt.
Naamahaara really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sichev. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Sichev throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Naamahaara is trying to stand.
Sichev takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Naamahaara wants to improve his position but Sichev is controlling well.
Sichev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Naamahaara avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sichev.
Sichev throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sichev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Naamahaara's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sichev lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Sichev looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

Sichev is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Naamahaara sees it coming and defends easily.
Sichev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Naamahaara is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sichev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Sichev is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Naamahaara sees it coming and defends easily.
Naamahaara blocking the ground and pound attempt from Sichev.
Sichev is trying to control the action in half guard but Naamahaara is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Sichev seems to be looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Sichev looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Sichev missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Sichev is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Sichev lands with a punch from half guard.
Naamahaara is looking for a sweep. Sichev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Sichev lands strikes from half guard.
Sichev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Naamahaara's head.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sichev scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Naamahaara avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Sichev.
Sichev looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Naamahaara with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Yuri Sichev dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Naamahaara scores with a push kick.

Naamahaara instigates a clinch.

Naamahaara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sichev fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Naamahaara manages to avoid it.

Sichev shoots in and gets a takedown into Naamahaara's guard.

Naamahaara is working an open guard so Sichev takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Sichev will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Naamahaara lands with a hook. Sichev tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Sichev fails with the takedown.
Sichev shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Naamahaara defends it nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Yuri Sichev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Naamahaara lands a jab to Sichev's midsection.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Naamahaara throws a head kick but Sichev moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Naamahaara throws a head kick but Sichev moves out of range.
Sichev shoots in looking for a takedown but Naamahaara manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Sichev's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Naamahaara pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sichev dives in for a single leg takedown but Naamahaara sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Naamahaara creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Sichev's defenses.
Sichev really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Knees to the body from Naamahaara.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Naamahaara takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.

Naamahaara breaks from the clinch.
Sichev darts in looking for a takedown but Naamahaara gets double underhooks and turns Sichev into the cage.
Sichev takes an elbow to the temple.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Naamahaara takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Naamahaara.
Nice elbow from Naamahaara.

Sichev turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Sichev manages to end up in side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Naamahaara can do anything to dispel that myth.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Naamahaara is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sichev tries for a kimura but Naamahaara is defending well.

Sichev goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Naamahaara rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Sichev's guard! Nice work there by Naamahaara!
Naamahaara wants to control from the top but Sichev keeps moving.
Naamahaara scoring with some ground and pound.
Naamahaara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sichev is keeping the position for now.
Naamahaara is working Sichev over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Sichev is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sichev not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Sichev throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sichev missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Naamahaara wants to control but Sichev is keeping busy.
Naamahaara is staying active underneath Sichev, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Sichev wants to work for an arm triangle but Naamahaara is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Naamahaara is not content to let Sichev control the position.

Sichev wants to work for an arm triangle but Naamahaara is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Naamahaara is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sichev sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Naamahaara defending well though.

Sichev seems to be working for a kimura but Naamahaara defends the submission attempt.
Naamahaara trying to hold on to Sichev's head to control him but Sichev postures up.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sichev thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Naamahaara's head.

Sichev is working for a kimura but Naamahaara is defending it quite comfortably.
Sichev thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Kamala Naamahaara will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Naamahaara gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Come on Naamahaara - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Naamahaara is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Naamahaara scores with a knee to the head.
Naamahaara tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Sichev wants a takedown but no success here.

Naamahaara's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Naamahaara chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Sichev fails in his attempt to clinch.
Naamahaara pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Naamahaara connects with a high kick.
Sichev blocks a head kick by Naamahaara.

Sichev shoots in and bounces Naamahaara off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sichev throwing strikes from guard but Naamahaara blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sichev makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Yuri Sichev overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sichev stops Naamahaara from standing up.
Naamahaara looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Sichev passes Naamahaara's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Naamahaara is looking for a sweep. Sichev is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Sichev lands a nice short elbow.
Sichev not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

Sichev looking for a submission but Naamahaara manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Naamahaara looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sichev is one step ahead there.
Sichev throws a big right hand that misses.
Sichev stopping the sweep attempt from Naamahaara.
Sichev lands a couple of elbows.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Sichev drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sichev jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Naamahaara utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sichev postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Naamahaara avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Naamahaara utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Sichev postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Naamahaara is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sichev, into his guard.

Sichev looking for a triangle here. Naamahaara is fighting it but it looks tight! Sichev pulls the arm across and this one won't last much longer! Nope, Naamahaara is tapping out - this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:47 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Yuri Sichev!