PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Julius Turunen (ranked 1374 p4p, 966 weight class) and Vladimir Kosmanov (ranked 178 p4p, 130 weight class). 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.

Turunen
vs
Kosmanov

173 cm
25
165
10 - 6 - 0

180 cm
26
170
8 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Brooklyn Apothecary
Brooklyn Threads

Urban Fighter

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Julius Turunen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Vladimir Kosmanov!
The judges for this bout are Ian Loll, Dillan Fox and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kosmanov ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Turunen moves away.
Kosmanov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Turunen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Turunen takes one on the button.
Nice cross by Turunen.
A jab from Turunen does it's job there.
Turunen drops his hands momentarily and Kosmanov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Kosmanov has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.

Turunen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kosmanov has control of Turunen's left arm, preventing Turunen from doing any damage.
Kosmanov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Turunen is one step ahead there.
Kosmanov keeping moving, preventing Turunen from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kosmanov wants to sweep here but Turunen controlling him for the moment.
Turunen works over Kosmanov with some ground and pound from guard.
Kosmanov is trying to keep Turunen in close.
Turunen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kosmanov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kosmanov working a defensive guard here.
Kosmanov keeping moving, preventing Turunen from controlling successfully.
Kosmanov trying to keep a closed guard but Turunen is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Turunen works over Kosmanov with some ground and pound from guard.
Kosmanov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Turunen is one step ahead there.
Turunen distracts Kosmanov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Turunen advances position into side control!
Kosmanov felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
You can see the frustration on Kosmanov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Turunen controlling from side mount.
Kosmanov is looking to regain half guard here but Turunen keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kosmanov sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kosmanov is looking to control Turunen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kosmanov avoid being mounted?
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Turunen lands a nice short elbow.
Still in half guard, Turunen seems content to control.
Kosmanov holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Kosmanov is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Turunen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Kosmanov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Turunen trying to control the action but Kosmanov is working from the bottom.
Turunen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kosmanov regains full guard. Nicely done.
Turunen preventing the sweep.
Turunen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kosmanov bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Turunen's guard.

Turunen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Turunen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kosmanov is one step ahead there.
Kosmanov wants to pass the guard but Turunen is keeping the position.
Turunen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kosmanov is one step ahead there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kosmanov trying to control but Turunen is working from the bottom.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Julius Turunen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Turunen tries to bum rush Kosmanov with a series of wild strikes but Kosmanov uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Turunen moves out of range as Kosmanov strikes.
Turunen checks a low kick from Kosmanov.

Turunen has Kosmanov up against the cage in a clinch.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Kosmanov creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kosmanov blocking some punches.
Turunen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kosmanov can do to turn this around?
Turunen working aggressively here.
Kosmanov blocking some punches.
Kosmanov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kosmanov throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Turunen blocks it with crossed arms.
Kosmanov tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Turunen avoids it.
Kosmanov misses with a hook to the ribs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Turunen misses with a punch to the body.
A nice right hand lands inside from Turunen.
Turunen blocks a body shot from Kosmanov.
Kosmanov is trying to pull guard but Turunen has him pressed against the cage.

Turunen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Turunen throws a right and a left that Kosmanov avoids nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kosmanov scores with a jab. Turunen acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kosmanov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Turunen sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Turunen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Kosmanov looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Turunen puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Kosmanov is staying active underneath Turunen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kosmanov is looking to improve his position.
Turunen lands strikes from half guard.
Turunen lands with a punch from half guard.
Turunen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kosmanov trying to control here.
Turunen looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kosmanov wants to get back to full guard.
Kosmanov is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Turunen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Turunen's back!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kosmanov is hanging on to Turunen's back as he tries to escape.
Turunen trying to get back to his feet but Kosmanov is in full control for now.
Turunen can't escape the position.
Turunen is working hard here to advance position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Turunen covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Kosmanov gets his hooks in and is throwing strikes.
Turunen 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.
Turunen covers up after that shot from Kosmanov.
Julius Turunen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kosmanov is trying to stick to Turunen's back but Turunen is turning into Kosmanov. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kosmanov's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Turunen.
Turunen wants to control from the top but Kosmanov keeps moving.
Kosmanov wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kosmanov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Turunen manages to get himself to full guard.

Kosmanov is in close to Turunen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kosmanov working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Turunen's head.
Turunen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kosmanov content to stall in guard here.
Kosmanov stopping the sweep attempt from Turunen.
Kosmanov postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kosmanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Turunen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Turunen wants to stand up but Kosmanov is controlling him.
Turunen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Kosmanov's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Kosmanov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kosmanov keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Turunen's head.
Turunen seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Kosmanov throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Turunen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kosmanov trying to control the position from guard on top but Turunen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kosmanov pushes down on Turunen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Vladimir Kosmanov will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Kosmanov clinches up against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Turunen.
Turunen stops a takedown attempt from Kosmanov.
Kosmanov misses with a hook to the ribs.
Turunen blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Turunen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Nice jab there from Kosmanov.
Julius Turunen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kosmanov misses with a hook.
Kosmanov ducks under a wild hook from Turunen.
Kosmanov throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Turunen is looking for a counter combo.
Turunen looks to score with a jab to the body but Kosmanov is just out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kosmanov misses with a wild body shot.
Kosmanov slaps away a takedown attempt from Turunen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Turunen misses with a two punch combination.
Kosmanov scores with a one two! Turunen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Kosmanov slips a jab and a cross from Turunen.
Kosmanov looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kosmanov swings for the body but Turunen moves out of range.
Kosmanov circles away from the clinch attempt.
Turunen misses with a wild combination.
Kosmanov tries to counter by closing the distance.
Turunen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Kosmanov.

Turunen is rocked!
Kosmanov pounces like a tiger and cracks Turunen with a vicious hook! Turunen is down but not out! Kosmanov follows up with more strikes forcing the ref to jump in and stop it!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:31 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Vladimir Kosmanov!
After winning the bout, Vladimir Kosmanov thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.