PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Aapo Helminen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anzhor Azhiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Helminen comes to the cage accompanied by Kenny Loggins - Danger Zone . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Helminen
vs
Azhiev

168 cm
19
148 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

177 cm
29
144 lbs
10 - 38 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aapo Helminen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 38 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anzhor Azhiev!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Roosa Järviläinen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Helminen looks to land a left hand but Azhiev moved out of range nicely.
Azhiev dives in and grabs Helminen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Helminen pushes down on Azhiev's head and hops out.
A slow jab from Helminen misses its intended target.
A slow jab from Helminen misses its intended target.
Azhiev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Helminen as he jumps to the side.
Azhiev slips a jab from Helminen.
Azhiev shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Helminen as he avoids it easily.
Aapo Helminen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Anzhor Azhiev.
Helminen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Azhiev ducks under a wild hook from Helminen.
Helminen just misses with a punch to the body.
Azhiev closes the distance and clinches up with Helminen, looking for a takedown. Azhiev pushes Helminen against the cage but Helminen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Helminen lands a jab to the nose.
Azhiev steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Helminen.
Helminen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Azhiev on the side of the head.
Anzhor Azhiev seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Azhiev shoots in but Helminen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Helminen throws a jab but it's blocked by Azhiev.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Azhiev walks into a stiff left hand from Helminen.
Helminen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Helminen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Azhiev shoots in but Helminen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Helminen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Azhiev.
Azhiev throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Helminen's waist but Helminen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Azhiev off to one side.
Helminen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Azhiev. Azhiev circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Azhiev looks for a takedown but Helminen sprawls well.
Azhiev dives in for a single leg takedown but Helminen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Helminen.

Helminen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Azhiev avoids a punch combination nicely.
Helminen misses with a series of wild punches.
Azhiev takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Azhiev shoots for a double leg takedown but Helminen sprawls well. He's pushed Azhiev's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Azhiev looks for a takedown but Helminen sprawls well.
Nice shot by Helminen.

Azhiev is rocked!
Aapo Helminen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Helminen is throwing punches like he's double parked. Oh my word! Huge right hand from Helminen shuts the power down on Azhiev. Lights out, game over! Helminen is your winner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:08 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Punches). Aapo Helminen!
Aapo Helminen decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.
The defeated Anzhor Azhiev had this to say: 'I still want that title shot. Im the most experienced fighter here and everyday wants to see me smash the champ so lets do it whenever he starts ducking me.'.