PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jarni Kutsoo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Anzhor Azhiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kutsoo kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Enter Sandman. Anzhor Azhiev is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Kutsoo
vs
Azhiev

169 cm
35
132 lbs
23 - 21 - 0

177 cm
33
144 lbs
17 - 49 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Counter fighter
Insanely flexible

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

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 23 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarni Kutsoo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 49 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anzhor Azhiev!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kutsoo drives through with a takedown into Azhiev's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Kutsoo lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Kutsoo chips away with some ground and pound.

Azhiev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Azhiev keeping moving, preventing Kutsoo from controlling successfully.
Kutsoo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Kutsoo scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Azhiev has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kutsoo can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Kutsoo got a little sloppy there for a moment and Azhiev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kutsoo has managed to get both his arms back between Azhiev's legs - danger averted.

Kutsoo 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.
Kutsoo controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Kutsoo works over Azhiev with some ground and pound from guard.
Kutsoo with a nice head shot there.
Kutsoo has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kutsoo stands up over Azhiev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Azhiev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kutsoo working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Azhiev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kutsoo stands up over Azhiev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Kutsoo pushes down on Azhiev's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Kutsoo is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Azhiev doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kutsoo.
Kutsoo winds up and cracks Azhiev with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kutsoo looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kutsoo scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kutsoo lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kutsoo seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Azhiev does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kutsoo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kutsoo drops an elbow to the side of Azhiev's head.

Kutsoo is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Azhiev has managed to free his arm - good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kutsoo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kutsoo is looking to take a break and control but Azhiev is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Azhiev really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kutsoo. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kutsoo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Azhiev with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kutsoo lands with a punch from half guard.

Azhiev is rocked!
Kutsoo is trying to control. Azhiev wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Kutsoo lands strikes from half guard.
Azhiev is still in real trouble! Can Kutsoo finish him?
Kutsoo looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Azhiev with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Kutsoo is working for a submission of some sort.
We've been hearing that Kutsoo has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!

Kutsoo is trying to work for a kimura but Azhiev is defending well.
Azhiev seems to have recovered his senses.

Kutsoo is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Azhiev sees it coming and defends easily.

Azhiev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kutsoo is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Azhiev looking for submissions off his back.
Ground and pound from Kutsoo.
Azhiev on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kutsoo is nestled in close to Azhiev, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kutsoo working Azhiev over with strikes.
Ground and pound from Kutsoo.

Kutsoo is working for a submission of some sort.
Kutsoo is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.

Azhiev looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kutsoo working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kutsoo lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kutsoo drops an elbow to the side of Azhiev's head.
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!
Kutsoo trying to control the pace.

Kutsoo is working for a kimura but Azhiev is defending it quite comfortably.
Kutsoo working the head and body with strikes.
Kutsoo lands with a punch from half guard.
Kutsoo landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Kutsoo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

Kutsoo is trying for a kimura here. Azhiev looks like he's in a lot of pain... and he's tapping out! Kutsoo wins by kimura!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Jarni Kutsoo!
An out of breath and clearly excited Jarni Kutsoo thanked Kore Fight Nutrition [TG] for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).
In defeat, Anzhor Azhiev stepped up to the mic, saying '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.'.