PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Cesar Pavlo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sanzhar Nurpulaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Pavlo
vs
Nurpulaev

192 cm
21
264 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
256 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cesar Pavlo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sanzhar Nurpulaev!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pavlo lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Nurpulaev backs up against the cage.
Nurpulaev takes one on the button.
Pavlo changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Pavlo could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nurpulaev misses with a hook. Pavlo ducked under it nicely.
Pavlo swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Jab, jab by Pavlo - just one landing.
A cross from Pavlo lands.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Pavlo enables Nurpulaev to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Pavlo manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nurpulaev is stalling in the full guard.
Nurpulaev trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurpulaev content to stall in guard here.

Nurpulaev stands up and waves to Pavlo to follow him.

Nurpulaev drives through with a takedown into guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nurpulaev not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Nurpulaev decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Pavlo, up you get!
Nurpulaev tries a head kick but it misses.

Nurpulaev looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Nurpulaev with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nurpulaev is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Pavlo sees it coming and defends easily.
Nurpulaev trying to mount his opponent but Pavlo defends it.
Nurpulaev stalling.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.

Nurpulaev looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Nurpulaev is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sanzhar Nurpulaev 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.

Pavlo slaps away a takedown attempt from Nurpulaev, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Nurpulaev shoots in and gets a takedown into Pavlo's guard.
Pavlo keeping full guard, as Nurpulaev tries to pass.
Nurpulaev is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Nurpulaev decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Nurpulaev closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Pavlo quickly recovers to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nurpulaev works his foot free and advances to mount.
Nurpulaev mounts Pavlo! Really nice guard pass there!
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Nurpulaev controlling his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Nurpulaev is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Sanzhar Nurpulaev has got the better of the ground game so far.

Nurpulaev is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Pavlo has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Nurpulaev takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Nurpulaev looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Pavlo is flailing around, obviously not happy about being mounted. Nurpulaev locks hold of one of his arms and spins for an armbar. He's got it! Pavlo is forced to tap!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:31 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Sanzhar Nurpulaev!