PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Vejas Nupustas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rauno Taurkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vejas Nupustas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Nupustas
vs
Taurkonen

175 cm
25
135 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

218 cm
19
130 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very quick

Good wrestler
Brawler
Powerful

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vejas Nupustas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rauno Taurkonen!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Fedor Mirinova and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taurkonen throws a jab but it's blocked by Nupustas.
It looked like Nupustas was looking amped, ready to throw a big counter but didn't commit.

Taurkonen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Taurkonen showed some decent athleticism there.
Taurkonen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Taurkonen throwing shots but Nupustas is blocking nicely.
Nupustas misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Taurkonen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
It looks like Taurkonen 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.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taurkonen trying to control from half guard but Nupustas is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nupustas is looking to control Taurkonen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nupustas avoid being mounted?

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Taurkonen misses with a takedown

and Nupustas decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Taurkonen's guard.
Taurkonen wants to hit a switch here but Nupustas passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Taurkonen there!
Taurkonen is in all sorts of trouble here.

Nupustas has hold of Taurkonen's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Taurkonen manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Nupustas can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Taurkonen is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taurkonen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Nupustas really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Nupustas trying to control but Taurkonen is having none of it.
Taurkonen is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nupustas thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Taurkonen is looking to get to half guard.
Taurkonen takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Taurkonen wants to control but Nupustas is having none of it.

Nupustas working for a submission but Taurkonen is keeping him at bay.
Taurkonen is trying desperately to improve position.
Taurkonen regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taurkonen is looking to improve his position.
Taurkonen is controlling Nupustas's trapped leg to prevent Nupustas from advancing to side control.
Taurkonen is looking to control Nupustas's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Taurkonen avoid being mounted?
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taurkonen is looking for a sweep. Nupustas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nupustas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Taurkonen's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vejas Nupustas 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.

Taurkonen dives in and grabs Nupustas's left leg, looking for a takedown. Nupustas pushes down on Taurkonen's head and hops out.
Nupustas will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nupustas throws a sloppy head kick and Taurkonen moves out of range easily.
Taurkonen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nupustas.
Nupustas fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Nupustas uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Taurkonen.

Taurkonen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Taurkonen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Taurkonen is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nupustas keeping moving, preventing Taurkonen from controlling successfully.
Taurkonen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Taurkonen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nupustas is keeping the position for now.
Taurkonen content to stall in guard here.
Taurkonen trying to control but Nupustas is working from the bottom.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Taurkonen shoots for a takedown but Nupustas saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Taurkonen is breathing heavily.
Taurkonen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Nupustas circles away.
Vejas Nupustas has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rauno Taurkonen.

Nupustas moves into the clinch.
Nupustas goes for a takedown in the clinch but Taurkonen prevents it.
Taurkonen is looking to control Nupustas's arms but Nupustas gets an underhook and turns him. Now Taurkonen has his back to the cage.
Taurkonen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Nupustas is pressed up against the cage. Taurkonen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nupustas down to the mat. Nupustas avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Nupustas moves into the clinch successfully.

Nupustas breaks the clinch.

Nupustas darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Nupustas wants to control but Taurkonen is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taurkonen wants to control but Nupustas is keeping busy.
Taurkonen is looking for a sweep. Nupustas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nupustas not doing much here.
Taurkonen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Nupustas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Taurkonen has a hand on Nupustas's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Nupustas takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nupustas with good strikes from the mount here!

Nupustas get's back to his feet.
Taurkonen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Nupustas half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Nupustas is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Taurkonen can do to turn this around?
Nupustas tries a head kick but it misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Taurkonen.
Nupustas lifts his leg as if looking to counter with a high kick.
Nupustas lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Nupustas shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Taurkonen sprawls well. Taurkonen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Nupustas gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Vejas Nupustas dominated that second round.
That's time! Nupustas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Nupustas clinches up against the cage.
Nupustas is trying to break free.
Nupustas is pressed up against the cage. Taurkonen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Nupustas down to the mat. Nupustas avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Nupustas scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Taurkonen desperately trying to maintain half guard.
Taurkonen trying to control from the bottom.
Vejas Nupustas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nupustas content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Taurkonen wants to control but Nupustas is keeping busy.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nupustas passes into side control, despite Taurkonen's attempt to control the position.
Nupustas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Taurkonen keeps working.
Taurkonen trying to control but Nupustas flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!

Nupustas looking for the choke from the back.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Taurkonen is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Nupustas gets his way!

Nupustas is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Taurkonen knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Taurkonen for a finish.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Taurkonen is in bad spot here.
Nupustas misses with a punch to the head.
Taurkonen can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nupustas lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Taurkonen is really stuck here.
Taurkonen looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Taurkonen tries to escape the position.
Nupustas is not going to allow Taurkonen to sit and survive in this position.
Nupustas trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Taurkonen's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Nupustas tries to get the hooks in deep but Taurkonen pushed the leg off.
Nupustas slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Nupustas throwing sloppy strikes.
Nupustas is looking to control Taurkonen but Taurkonen is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Nupustas trying to secure his dominant position for a moment - making sure Taurkonen doesn't escape.
Nupustas struggling to keep hold of the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Taurkonen wants to escape the position.
Rauno Taurkonen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vejas Nupustas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Nupustas working for the choke.

And that's the end of the fight!
Vejas Nupustas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Nupustas has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Vejas Nupustas!
Vejas Nupustas got down on his knees post fight and begged the management for a title shot. 'Please, I want that title shot so bad! Give it to me!'