PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Vadim Nazarov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arttu Mahtisaari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nazarov's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, "Fade to Black" by Metallica. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Nazarov
vs
Mahtisaari

187 cm
31
195 lbs
21 - 10 - 2

178 cm
32
195 lbs
22 - 12 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Fast

Bullet Proof System

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vadim Nazarov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 12 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Arttu Mahtisaari!
The judges for this bout are Frank Antenori, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nazarov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Mahtisaari shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Nazarov swats away the attempt to clinch by Mahtisaari.
Nazarov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mahtisaari.
Nazarov circles away from the clinch attempt.
An attempted straight right counter from Nazarov misses the target.
Nazarov closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Nazarov slips a jab from Mahtisaari.
Arttu Mahtisaari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nazarov defending well as Mahtisaari loads up on a big left hand.
Mahtisaari misses with an uppercut
and Nazarov counters with a nice uppercut.
Mahtisaari swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Nazarov dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Nazarov ducks under a wild hook from Mahtisaari.
Mahtisaari misses with an uppercut.
Nazarov takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Mahtisaari slips a straight right by Nazarov.
A jab from Mahtisaari misses.
A jab from Nazarov misses.
Mahtisaari drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Nazarov defends it well.
A telegraphed right hand from Mahtisaari misses the target.
Mahtisaari misses with a hook. Nazarov ducked under it nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Mahtisaari moves away from the strike by Nazarov.
Mahtisaari takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Mahtisaari slips a jab from Nazarov.
Nazarov throws the left hand but Mahtisaari avoids the punch easily.
Mahtisaari scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Mahtisaari just misses with a punch to the body.
Nazarov is looking to counter punch.
Nazarov misses with a looping left.
Mahtisaari feints the counter takedown.
Nazarov misses with a body shot.
Mahtisaari walks into a left hand.
Mahtisaari throws a hook but Nazarov avoids it easily.
Nazarov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Nazarov misses with a looping right.
Mahtisaari changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Mahtisaari loads up on a big right hand but Nazarov slips the punch.
Nazarov moves out of range as Mahtisaari strikes.
Nazarov fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Mahtisaari manages to avoid it.
Nazarov has been working on his boxing with his coaches at Den of Tears (22 coaches, $900 fee) in the buildup to the fight.
Mahtisaari misses the jab.
Nazarov lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Nazarov comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Mahtisaari takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Mahtisaari misses with a straight left.
Nazarov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Good shot there by Nazarov.
A looping hook to the body misses from Nazarov. Mahtisaari does a little dance to reset his feet.
Mahtisaari drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Nazarov defends it well.
Mahtisaari waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Nazarov.
Nazarov throws a body punch but Mahtisaari moves out of range.
Mahtisaari throws the left hand but Nazarov avoids the punch easily.
Mahtisaari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
A counter left hand to the body from Nazarov misses its target.
Mahtisaari slips a jab from Nazarov.
Nazarov misses the jab.
Nazarov scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.
Nazarov stuffs the takedown attempt from Mahtisaari. Mahtisaari gets slowly back to his feet.
Mahtisaari throws a poor cross that misses
and Nazarov counters with a stiff right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Mahtisaari.
An attempted straight right counter from Nazarov misses the target.
Mahtisaari keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Mahtisaari throws a hook but Nazarov blocks it.
Mahtisaari is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.
Nazarov throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Mahtisaari counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Mahtisaari needs to keep his hands up - Nazarov had a free shot at his head there.
Mahtisaari ducks under a wild hook from Nazarov.
Nazarov moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Mahtisaari throws a body shot but no joy.
Mahtisaari walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.

Mahtisaari is rocked!
Mahtisaari moves out of range as Nazarov strikes.
Mahtisaari connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Nazarov defending well as Mahtisaari loads up on a big left hand.
It looked like Nazarov wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Mahtisaari misses with a wild combination.
Nazarov bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Nazarov swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Nazarov cracks Mahtisaari with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Mahtisaari getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nazarov throws a shot from downtown. Mahtisaari moves away and avoids it.
Nazarov scores with a nice strike.
Mahtisaari throws a body shot but no joy.
Mahtisaari is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Nazarov.
Nazarov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Mahtisaari on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Mahtisaari is still on wobbly legs! Can Nazarov finish him?
Nazarov throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Mahtisaari seems to have recovered his senses.
Mahtisaari misses with a body shot.
Nazarov is looking to counter punch.
Mahtisaari misses with a right hand
and Nazarov counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Mahtisaari misses the body punch
enabling Nazarov to counter with a crisp jab.
Mahtisaari walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Nazarov scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Mahtisaari swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Nazarov is looking to counter punch.
Nazarov lands an uppercut out of nowhere! Mahtisaari falls backwards - clearly groggy! Nazarov dives in and finishes the fight with more strikes for a TKO finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Vadim Nazarov!
After winning the bout, Vadim Nazarov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.