PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Sabed Azbuhlev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jartsa Raatis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sabed Azbuhlev has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Azbuhlev
vs
Raatis

172 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
18
155 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 2 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sabed Azbuhlev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jartsa Raatis!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, James Atkins and James Glass.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Raatis has managed to clinch.
Azbuhlev scores with an uppercut up the middle.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Raatis has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.
Raatis tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Azbuhlev presses Raatis against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Azbuhlev is pressed up against the ropes. Raatis has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Azbuhlev down to the mat. Azbuhlev avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Raatis looking to score a takedown here. Azbuhlev is defending well but Raatis drives through and ends up in Azbuhlev's guard.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Azbuhlev looking to hit a scissor sweep but Raatis is one step ahead there.
Raatis trying to control the position from guard on top but Azbuhlev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Azbuhlev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Raatis 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jartsa Raatis.
Azbuhlev scores with a jab to the jaw.
A decent looking cross lands there for Azbuhlev.
Raatis throws a series of punches but Azbuhlev avoids them all with ease.
Sabed Azbuhlev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Raatis wants to clinch.
Azbuhlev tries to close the distance and clinch up but Raatis swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Azbuhlev takes the fight into the clinch.
Azbuhlev wants a takedown.
Azbuhlev gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raatis tries for a takedown. No joy.

Azbuhlev gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Azbuhlev throwing shots but Raatis is blocking nicely.
Raatis is not content to let Azbuhlev control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Raatis slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Raatis has his hands on Azbuhlev's head, controlling the position.
Azbuhlev trying to control but Raatis is working from the bottom.
Azbuhlev missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Raatis lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Raatis passes Azbuhlev's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Azbuhlev is staying active underneath Raatis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Raatis throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Raatis is trying to control. Azbuhlev wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Raatis tries to stand but can't do so whilst Azbuhlev controls his leg.
Raatis seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
It looks like Raatis might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jartsa Raatis has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Azbuhlev moves into range and connects with a jab.
Raatis swats away the attempt to clinch by Azbuhlev.
Nice straight punches there by Azbuhlev. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Azbuhlev.
Raatis takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Azbuhlev feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Raatiss jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Raatis dodges the punch combination from Azbuhlev.
Raatis circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Raatis shoots in looking for a takedown but Azbuhlev manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Raatis's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Sabed Azbuhlev has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jartsa Raatis.
Raatis fails with a takedown attempt.
Nice sprawl there from Azbuhlev as Raatis shoots in.
Raatis takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Raatis takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Azbuhlev lunges at Raatis with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Raatis's hand.
Azbuhlev lands with a cross.
Azbuhlev thumps Raatis with a low kick.
Azbuhlev displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
No joy there for Azbuhlev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Azbuhlev drives through and clinches with Raatis against the ropes.
Raatis has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Azbuhlev is struggling to control the position.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Raatis prevents a takedown attempt there.
Raatis is pressed up against the ropes. Azbuhlev has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Raatis down to the mat. Raatis avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Azbuhlev is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Raatis scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Azbuhlev slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Raatis trying to control but Azbuhlev is working from the bottom.
Azbuhlev is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Azbuhlev utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.
Azbuhlev not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Raatis is looking to stand up but Azbuhlev won't let him.
Azbuhlev trying to control the position.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Sabed Azbuhlev has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Azbuhlev tries to clinch
and Raatis counters with a leg kick.
Azbuhlev lands a nice shot that snaps Raatis's head back.
Azbuhlev works over Raatis's head and body with a nice combination.
Azbuhlev scores with a crisp jab that stopped Raatis in his tracks.
Raatis shoots in and drives through. Azbuhlev sprawls well.
Raatis misses with a takedown
and Azbuhlev counters with a stiff right hand.
Raatis is looking to clinch but Azbuhlev is avoiding it.

That's eight minutes gone in the round.
Raatis showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Azbuhlev.
Raatis takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Azbuhlev clinches with his opponent.
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!
Raatis jumps guard but Azbuhlev turns him against the ropes and keeps the fight standing.
Azbuhlev has Raatis pressed against the ropes, preventing Raatis from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

Raatis has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Azbuhlev is trying to keep an underhook but Raatis manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Raatis seems to be working for a kimura but Azbuhlev defends the submission attempt.
Azbuhlev keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Raatis working Azbuhlev over with strikes.

That's nine minutes gone in the round.
Azbuhlev missing with punches from the bottom.

Azbuhlev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Azbuhlev slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Raatis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Azbuhlev works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Azbuhlev looking to control but Raatis passes into half guard.
Raatis is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sabed Azbuhlev dominated that round.
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. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Azbuhlev wants to clinch but Raatis slips to the side
and Raatis counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Azbuhlev stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Azbuhlev lands an overhand right.
Raatis shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Azbuhlev scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
A right-left combo lands from Azbuhlev.

Azbuhlev has managed to clinch.

Azbuhlev breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Raatis shoots in and gets a takedown into Azbuhlev's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Raatis trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Azbuhlev can't keep his opponent in guard - Raatis advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Azbuhlev wants to control but Raatis is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raatis wants to take a breather but Azbuhlev is having none of it.
Raatis controlling the action here.
Azbuhlev looks like he's trying to stand up.
Raatis is thwarting Azbuhlev's attempts to control the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sabed Azbuhlev has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.

Raatis shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Raatis controlling the action here.
Raatis is thwarting Azbuhlev's attempts to control the position.
Raatis perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Azbuhlev trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Raatis sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Raatis looking to control but Azbuhlev is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Raatis content just to control the position here.
Azbuhlev is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Azbuhlev tries to hold on but Raatis pushes him away.
Poor strikes thrown by Raatis there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Raatis controlling from mount.
Raatis postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Azbuhlev looks a forlorn figure.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

That's five minutes gone in the round.
Raatis controlling from the full mount.
Raatis can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Azbuhlev is looking to escape.

That's six minutes gone in the round.
Raatis content just to control the position here.
Azbuhlev is looking to get to half guard.
Jartsa Raatis has got the better of the ground game so far.
Raatis tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jartsa Raatis was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Raatis shoots in but Azbuhlev avoids the takedown attempt easily.

That's seven minutes gone in the round.

Azbuhlev gets a double leg takedown into Raatis's guard.
Azbuhlev lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Raatis has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Azbuhlev doesn't defend quickly enough and Raatis has managed to lock this one up! Can Azbuhlev escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Raatis on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 7:37 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Jartsa Raatis!