PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Nikolay Burdyalov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antero Mela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burdyalov comes to the cage accompanied by To The Metal. Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Burdyalov
vs
Mela

185 cm
20
220 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

175 cm
20
216 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Nikolay Burdyalov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antero Mela!
The judges for this bout are Chris Downing, Robert Twigg and Frank Dennis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Burdyalov!

It looks like Antero Mela has been cut.
Burdyalov displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Mela.
Mela is trying hard to land a takedown here. Burdyalov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Mela shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Burdyalov sprawls well. Burdyalov wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Mela gets slowly back to his feet.
Nikolay Burdyalov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antero Mela.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burdyalov looks to land a combination but Mela avoids it well.
Mela shoots in and drives through. Burdyalov sprawls well.
Mela dodges the punch combination from Burdyalov.
Burdyalov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mela circles away quickly and effectively.
Burdyalov fails to land with a series of punches.

Mela looking to score a takedown here. Burdyalov is defending well but Mela drives through and ends up in Burdyalov's guard.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Mela throws a big right hand that misses.
Mela won't allow Burdyalov to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Mela wants to control from the top but Burdyalov keeps moving.
Mela stopping the sweep attempt from Burdyalov.
Mela postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela trying to control but Burdyalov is working from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Mela working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Burdyalov wants to stand up but Mela is controlling him.

Mela is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
My spies in Team Finland inform me that Mela has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Mela stands up over Burdyalov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Mela postures up.
Mela chips away with some ground and pound.
Mela in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Mela is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Mela's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Mela chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mela wants to control from the top but Burdyalov keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mela chips away with some ground and pound.
Burdyalov wants to sweep but no luck.
Burdyalov is working hard here to advance position.
Burdyalov can't keep his opponent in guard - Mela advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Mela is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Burdyalov knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Mela on the ground.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Burdyalov is trying to get back to full guard.
Mela looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Mela throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Burdyalov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Mela looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burdyalov is trying to maintain the position but Mela is very close to passing his half guard.
Burdyalov is looking to improve his position.
Burdyalov moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Burdyalov trying to keep a closed guard but Mela is proving a slippery customer.
Mela throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Burdyalov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mela throwing strikes from guard but Burdyalov blocks nicely.
Mela with a flurry of punches that miss.
Burdyalov is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at St Petersburg MMA Gym that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mela lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Mela throwing strikes from guard but Burdyalov blocks nicely.
Mela keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Burdyalov's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Mela throwing strikes from guard but Burdyalov blocks nicely.
Burdyalov manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Burdyalov trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Mela is looking to get to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mela is squirming around, avoiding Burdyalov's attempts to control the action.
Burdyalov blocks Mela's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antero Mela dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Antero Mela's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Burdyalov swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Burdyalov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mela circles away quickly and effectively.
Sloppy strikes from Burdyalov. Those never looked like landing.
Mela fails with a takedown attempt.
Burdyalov fails to land with a series of punches.
Mela shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Burdyalov pinned against the cage. Burdyalov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Burdyalov lands a jab.
Mela looks for a takedown but Burdyalov sprawls well.
Nikolay Burdyalov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Antero Mela.
Mela avoids a punch combination nicely.
Burdyalov misses with a few strikes there.
Mela dodges the punch combination from Burdyalov.
Mela avoids a punch combination nicely.
Mela fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burdyalov throws a series of punches but Mela avoids them all with ease.
Mela closes the distance and clinches up with Burdyalov, looking for a takedown. Mela pushes Burdyalov against the cage but Burdyalov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Antero Mela seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Burdyalov stuffs the takedown.
Mela moves forwards but Burdyalov connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Burdyalov lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Mela closes the distance and clinches up with Burdyalov, looking for a takedown. Mela pushes Burdyalov against the cage but Burdyalov circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Mela fails with a takedown attempt.
Nikolay Burdyalov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Burdyalov throws a right and a left that Mela avoids nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Mela tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burdyalov defends well and Mela ends up having to push Burdyalov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mela jumps guard but Burdyalov stands there with Mela around his waist. Mela gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Burdyalov breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Mela dives in and grabs Burdyalov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Burdyalov pushes down on Mela's head and hops out.
Nice sprawl there from Burdyalov as Mela shoots in.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Burdyalov fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mela slips a jab and a cross from Burdyalov.
A punch combination from Burdyalov misses.
Burdyalov looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Mela shoots in but Burdyalov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Burdyalov misses with a two punch combination.
Mela takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Burdyalov scores with a shot to the body.
Burdyalov misses with a double jab.
Burdyalov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Mela throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Burdyalov's waist but Burdyalov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Mela off to one side.
Burdyalov swinging wildly here.
Mela fails to land the takedown.
Burdyalov feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Melas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Burdyalov throws a right and a left that Mela avoids nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mela shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Burdyalov pinned against the cage. Burdyalov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Mela tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Burdyalov defends well and Mela ends up having to push Burdyalov into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Mela tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

Burdyalov breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Burdyalov stuffs the takedown attempt from Mela. Mela gets slowly back to his feet.
Mela shoots in but Burdyalov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
A punch combination from Burdyalov misses.
Mela takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Burdyalov leaves Mela with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Mela doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Burdyalov counters with a left and a right that stings Mela.
Mela is breathing heavily.
Burdyalov lands with an uppercut that bounces Mela off the cage and back into range.
Burdyalov cracks Mela with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Mela is defended easily by Burdyalov.
Nikolay Burdyalov is winning the standup battle so far.
Mela on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burdyalov fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Mela avoids a punch combination nicely.
Burdyalov lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Mela circles away quickly and effectively.
Burdyalov is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
No luck for Mela with that takedown attempt.
Sloppy strikes from Burdyalov. Those never looked like landing.
Mela throws out a loose jab but Burdyalov uses good head movement to avoid it.
Mela shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Burdyalov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Jab from Burdyalov.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nice shot by Burdyalov.
Mela takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Mela tries to score a power double leg takedown but Burdyalov sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Mela somewhat.
Burdyalov tries to bum rush Mela with a series of wild strikes but Mela uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Nikolay Burdyalov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Antero Mela's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Mela looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Burdyalov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Mela not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Mela missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Burdyalov tries to get to full guard but Mela has control of the leg.
Mela lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Mela missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Mela wants to lay and pray for a moment but Burdyalov keeps working.
Mela prevents Burdyalov from standing back up.

Mela is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Burdyalov is just riding it out for now. Mela eventually gives up the hold.
Mela is trying to control. Burdyalov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mela is looking to advance position but Burdyalov won't allow it.
Burdyalov blocking the ground and pound attempt from Mela.

Mela is looking for a kimura but Burdyalov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Mela to get the leverage.
Mela wants to pass the guard but Burdyalov is defending well.

Mela is looking for a kimura here.

Mela is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Burdyalov defends it well.
Burdyalov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burdyalov wants to control but Mela is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Burdyalov is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Antero Mela has got the better of the ground game so far.
Burdyalov is trying to get back to full guard.

Mela looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Mela is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Burdyalov keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Mela passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Burdyalov wants to control but Mela postures up.
Mela works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Mela lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Burdyalov down.
Mela scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Burdyalov to see if he's OK.

Burdyalov is rocked!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mela misses with the ground and pound.
Oh Burdyalov is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
The crowd goes nuts as Mela knocks Burdyalov out cold with a massive hammerfist! Mela Jumps to his feet and climbs on top of the cage to celebrate with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:41 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Antero Mela!