PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sami Vasara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Yuri Zirkhov (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.

Vasara
vs
Zirkhov

174 cm
18
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

167 cm
18
157 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Sami Vasara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Yuri Zirkhov!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Illya Tyunina and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zirkhov closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Vasara is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Zirkhov's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Zirkhov wants to pass the guard but Vasara is defending well.
Zirkhov prevents Vasara from standing back up.
Zirkhov is stalling here. Vasara is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Zirkhov seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Vasara has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Zirkhov is trying to get back to half guard.
Zirkhov tries to escape but Vasara is in control.
Vasara wants to lay and pray for a moment but Zirkhov keeps working.

Vasara decides to stand back up.
Vasara's corner calls for a 1-2. Vasara obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Zirkhov will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zirkhov checks a low kick from Vasara.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vasara missing with a left hand there. Zirkhov was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Zirkhov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Sami Vasara is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Zirkhov displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Vasara throws out the jab.
Vasara lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Vasara connects with a good right hand that stumbles Zirkhov. Zirkhov circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Vasara lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Vasara scores with a decent looking hook.
Vasara misses with a low kick.
Vasara lands the left hand.
Vasara fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
A combination from Vasara does no damage.
Zirkhov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Vasara misses with a straight right.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zirkhov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vasara as he avoids it easily.
Sami Vasara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Zirkhov.
A lazy left from Vasara finds it's target.
Sami Vasara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Zirkhov uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Vasara.
Zirkhov shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Vasara as he avoids it easily.
Vasara connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
A decent looking cross lands there for Vasara.
Vasara misses with a wild body shot.
Zirkhov shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Vasara sprawls well. Vasara wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zirkhov gets slowly back to his feet.

Zirkhov closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Vasara to the mat! Vasara manages to get full guard.
Vasara is trying to control the position but Zirkhov postures up.
Zirkhov is looking to advance position but Vasara has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zirkhov can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasara avoids the attempt from Zirkhov to control.
Zirkhov is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Vasara prevents Zirkhov from getting the reversal.
Vasara controlling the pace for now.

Vasara is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Vasara lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

Zirkhov scores a takedown into full mount!
Zirkhov looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Vasara is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasara holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Zirkhov tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Zirkhov moves to the back.
Zirkhov gets his hands free as Vasara looks to control.
Will Zirkhov go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Vasara trying to control the position but Zirkhov manages to sink in the hooks.

Zirkhov patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Vasara trying to control but not successfully.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Zirkhov is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Vasara defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Zirkhov looks gassed!
Zirkhov is trying to stick to Vasara's back but Vasara is turning into Zirkhov. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Zirkhov's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Vasara.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Vasara dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Vasara looks to land a combination but Zirkhov avoids it well.
Zirkhov avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Zirkhov tries to score a power double leg takedown but Vasara sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Zirkhov somewhat.
Zirkhov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Zirkhov on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Zirkhov keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Vasara.
Zirkhov is trying hard to land a takedown here. Vasara sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vasara is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Vasara sizes up Zirkhov with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Vasara connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Vasara throws a leg kick which misses Zirkhov's front leg but catches the back leg as Zirkhov tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zirkhov shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Vasara napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Zirkhov trying to control the position but Vasara is working away.

Zirkhov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Zirkhov is breathing heavily.
Vasara is looking for a sweep.
Zirkhov fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Vasara manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Zirkhov is pressing down on Vasara's thigh, looking to free his foot. Vasara is holding on for now.

Zirkhov is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Vasara defends it well.
Vasara has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zirkhov is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A jab from Vasara misses.
Vasara stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Vasara wants it to stay on the feet.
Sami Vasara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Yuri Zirkhov.
Vasara lands with a straight right. Zirkhov didn't see that one coming.
Zirkhov walks into a left hand.
Vasara bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Zirkhov's head backwards.
Vasara stuffs the takedown.
Vasara lands a glancing blow to the side of Zirkhov's head.

Zirkhov bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Zirkhov wants to lay and pray for a moment but Vasara keeps working.
Vasara manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasara wants to get back to his feet.
Zirkhov stalling away here and it's allowed Vasara to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Zirkhov looking to pass the guard.
Vasara wants to stand and escape but Zirkhov is having none of it.
Zirkhov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Zirkhov postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Vasara misses with a straight left.
Vasara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zirkhov tries for a takedown but Vasara sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Vasara bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Vasara works Zirkhov's body with a nice hook.
Vasara throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Vasara stuffs the takedown attempt from Zirkhov. Zirkhov gets slowly back to his feet.
Vasara getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Vasara loads up on a big right hand but Zirkhov slips the punch.
Vasara throws a lazy right hand but Zirkhov sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Zirkhov slips a straight right by Vasara.
Vasara fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Vasara throws an overhand right that lands on Zirkhov's shoulder, as Zirkhov tries to avoid the shot.
Zirkhov uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Vasara.
Vasara buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Vasara dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

The crowd cheers as Vasara lands an impressive looking overhand right. Zirkhov doesn't seem phased though.

Zirkhov shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Vasara manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Zirkhov landing some decent shots from guard.

Vasara working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Zirkhov doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Zirkhov manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Zirkhov trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Vasara manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
Vasara preventing the sweep.
Zirkhov wants to stand but Vasara is controlling the position.
Vasara wants to pass the guard but Zirkhov is keeping the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zirkhov wants to stand but Vasara is controlling the position.
Zirkhov takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Zirkhov wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Zirkhov takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Vasara lands a jab-cross combination.
Vasara leaves Zirkhov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Vasara scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Zirkhov closes this distance looking for a takedown but Vasara circles away.
Zirkhov tries to move into range but Vasara moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zirkhov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Zirkhov moves out of range of the strikes.
Zirkhov takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Vasara is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Vasara punishes Zirkhov's body with a nice straight punch.
Vasara cracks Zirkhov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Vasara moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Vasara misses with a looping left.
Vasara lands a nice shot to the body.
Zirkhov gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Zirkhov moves out of range as Vasara strikes.
A jab from Vasara finds it's way through Zirkhov's defenses.
Vasara cracks Zirkhov with an open hand slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vasara connects with a right hand. Zirkhov shakes it off.
Vasara throws a jab but it's blocked by Zirkhov.
Decent striking displayed by Vasara there.

Vasara gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Zirkhov tries to free his leg and advance position but Vasara is retaining full guard.
Zirkhov trying to control but Vasara is working from the bottom.
Zirkhov throwing strikes but missing.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vasara is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Zirkhov pushes Vasara off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Zirkhov takes one to the chin there.
Yuri Zirkhov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Zirkhov takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A decent looking cross lands there for Vasara.
Zirkhov takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Vasara scores with a hook to the body. Zirkhov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Vasara lands with an overhand left.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Vasara jabs Zirkhov right on the nose. Zirkhov blinks but takes it well.
Jab, jab by Vasara - just one landing.

Zirkhov scores a takedown into full mount!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vasara wants to control but Zirkhov is having none of it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Vasara showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vasara, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Sami Vasara!
Judge Illya Tyunina scores the fight for Sami Vasara!
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight for Sami Vasara!

Sami Vasara wins by unanimous decision!