PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rezagulu Jalaloglu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Iron Ispa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Jalaloglu
vs
Ispa

173 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

185 cm
22
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rezagulu Jalaloglu!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Iron Ispa!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jalaloglu will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ispa shoots in and drives through. Jalaloglu sprawls well.
Nice sprawl there from Ispa as Jalaloglu shoots in.
A punch lands to the side of Jalaloglu 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Ispa tries for a takedown but Jalaloglu circles away easily

so Jalaloglu counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Jalaloglu wants to control from the top but Ispa keeps moving.
Ispa working a defensive guard here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jalaloglu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ispa is keeping the position for now.
Ispa throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Jalaloglu forces his way into half guard.

Jalaloglu is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Ispa is just riding it out for now. Jalaloglu eventually gives up the hold.
Ispa is in trouble now - Jalaloglu has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ispa is trying to escape the mount.
Jalaloglu could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ispa wants to control but Jalaloglu is having none of it.
Jalaloglu working the ground and pound effectively.
Jalaloglu looking to control but Ispa is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The referee warns Ispa that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.

Jalaloglu is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Ispa has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Ispa!

Jalaloglu is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Jalaloglu is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ispa jumps guard but Jalaloglu stands there with Ispa around his waist. Ispa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Rezagulu Jalaloglu has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Iron Ispa.
Ispa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jalaloglu walks away with a smile on his face. Ispa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Jalaloglu has a takedown stuffed.
Ispa throws a nice head kick!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jalaloglu fails with the takedown.
A jab from Jalaloglu misses.
Ispa closes the distance and clinches up with Jalaloglu, looking for a takedown. Ispa pushes Jalaloglu against the cage but Jalaloglu circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Rezagulu Jalaloglu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jalaloglu fails with a takedown attempt.
Ispa fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Ispa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jalaloglu as he avoids it easily.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Jalaloglu is defended easily by Ispa.
Ispa misses with a takedown attempt

and Jalaloglu counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ispa is trying is best to control the position here.
Ispa tries to get to full guard but Jalaloglu has control of the leg.
Jalaloglu throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jalaloglu is keen to just control but Ispa is a slippery customer.
Ispa blocking the ground and pound attempt from Jalaloglu.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ispa trying to hold on to Jalaloglu's head to control him but Jalaloglu postures up.
Jalaloglu wants to take a breather but Ispa is having none of it.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jalaloglu chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Ispa can pounce on him.
Jalaloglu tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ispa swivels and escapes.
Jalaloglu shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ispa as he avoids it easily.

Ispa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Jalaloglu kicks off Ispa and gets to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rezagulu Jalaloglu dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ispa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ispa wants it to stay on the feet.
Ispa stuffs the takedown attempt from Jalaloglu. Jalaloglu gets slowly back to his feet.
Jalaloglu stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jalaloglu wants it to stay on the feet.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Jalaloglu.

Ispa darts in and clinches Jalaloglu up against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ispa.
Ispa has Jalaloglu pressed against the cage, preventing Jalaloglu from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Ispa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jalaloglu smiles and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Jalaloglu.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rezagulu Jalaloglu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jalaloglu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ispa looks for a takedown but Jalaloglu sprawls well.
Jalaloglu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ispa.
Ispa takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Jalaloglu stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Jalaloglu wants it to stay on the feet.
Horrible takedown by Jalaloglu or perhaps it was just good defense by Ispa which made him look bad.
Ispa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Ispa has managed to clinch.
Ispa jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Jalaloglu walks away with a smile on his face. Ispa gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ispa shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Jalaloglu as he avoids it easily.

Jalaloglu shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Ispa napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Jalaloglu working the head and body with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jalaloglu tries to score with some ground and pound. Ispa controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Jalaloglu takes a little break here. Ispa wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
The strikes coming from Jalaloglu are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
The ground and pound from Jalaloglu seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Jalaloglu throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Ispa wants to control but Jalaloglu postures up.
Rezagulu Jalaloglu overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jalaloglu creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Jalaloglu gets the takedown into side control.
Ispa tries to escape but Jalaloglu is in control.
Jalaloglu working the strikes but Ispa uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Jalaloglu seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ispa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Ispa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Jalaloglu's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Jalaloglu's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ispa wants to control but Jalaloglu manages to buck him off and is now in Ispa's guard! Nice work there by Jalaloglu!
Ispa utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ispa pulls Jalaloglu in close to his closed guard and prevents Jalaloglu from doing any damage or advancing position.
Ispa can't keep his opponent in guard - Jalaloglu advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Jalaloglu trying to control from half guard but Ispa is working away.
Ispa tries to roll over but Jalaloglu keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Jalaloglu keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Jalaloglu trying to control from half guard but Ispa is working away.
Ispa is trying to control but can't.
Jalaloglu seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Ispa does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jalaloglu missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Jalaloglu thows a body shot but no joy.
Jalaloglu shoots in but no luck this time.
Jalaloglu slaps away a takedown attempt from Ispa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ispa keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rezagulu Jalaloglu dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jalaloglu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Ispa sprawls well. Ispa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Jalaloglu gets slowly back to his feet.
Jalaloglu fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Ispa shoots in and drives through. Jalaloglu sprawls well.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ispa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Iron Ispa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Jalaloglu thows a body shot but no joy.
Ispa stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Ispa wants it to stay on the feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rezagulu Jalaloglu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Jalaloglu shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ispa looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Jalaloglu is fending him off so far but Ispa persists. Nope, Jalaloglu circles away and we're back to standing.
Horrible takedown by Ispa or perhaps it was just good defense by Jalaloglu which made him look bad.
Jalaloglu shoots for a takedown but Ispa saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ispa fails with a takedown attempt.
Jalaloglu tries for a takedown but Ispa circles away easily
and Ispa counters with a straight right hand.
Jalaloglu misses with a few strikes there.
Ispa lands a body shot.

Jalaloglu fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Ispa sprawls well initially but Jalaloglu persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Jalaloglu 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.
Jalaloglu wants to take a breather but Ispa is having none of it.
Ispa is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Jalaloglu is looking for a kimura here.
Ispa wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jalaloglu slips a nice elbow through Ispa's hands, connecting with Ispa's forehead.
Ispa trying to control but Jalaloglu postures up.
Jalaloglu wants to advance to full mount but Ispa doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Jalaloglu throws a strike but Ispa rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Ispa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jalaloglu is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jalaloglu keeping moving, preventing Ispa from controlling successfully.
Ispa looking to sit in guard and control but Jalaloglu gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Jalaloglu throwing strikes from guard but Ispa blocks nicely.
Jalaloglu might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jalaloglu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ispa is keeping the position for now.
Ispa trying to control the position here.

Ispa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Jalaloglu wants to control from the top but Ispa keeps moving.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Jalaloglu closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Jalaloglu lands a nice short elbow.
Jalaloglu sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ispa defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rezagulu Jalaloglu clearly takes that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jalaloglu throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ispa's waist but Ispa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jalaloglu off to one side.

Ispa forces Jalaloglu back against the cage and clinches.
Ispa tries to pull guard but Jalaloglu won't allow it.

Ispa jumps guard and drags Jalaloglu to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Ispa looking for a sweep. Not yet Ispa, not yet.
Jalaloglu postures up.
Jalaloglu wants to control from the top but Ispa keeps moving.
Jalaloglu advances to half guard.
Ispa wants to get back to full guard.
Jalaloglu throwing shots but Ispa is blocking nicely.
Jalaloglu is keen to just control but Ispa is a slippery customer.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ispa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jalaloglu.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Jalaloglu or perhaps it was just good defense by Ispa which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rezagulu Jalaloglu. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Ispa shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Ispa looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Jalaloglu wants to stand back up but Ispa manages to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ispa trying to control the action but Jalaloglu is working from the bottom.
Ispa working the strikes but Jalaloglu uses the opportunity to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ispa perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ispa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Jalaloglu tries to kick Ispa off but Ispa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ispa moves into full mount! Jalaloglu won't be happy about that!
Jalaloglu holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Ispa tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Jalaloglu holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Ispa tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Ispa controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iron Ispa dominated that fourth round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Jalaloglu fails with the takedown.
Jalaloglu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ispa throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Jalaloglu's head.
Jalaloglu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Ispa tries for a takedown but Jalaloglu sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
A head kick by Jalaloglu misses
and Ispa counters with a one-two to the body.
Jalaloglu throws a head kick but Ispa moves out of range.
Jalaloglu throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ispa's waist but Ispa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jalaloglu off to one side.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Ispa ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ispa is defended easily by Jalaloglu.
Jalaloglu shoots and misses
and Ispa counters with a one-two to the body.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rezagulu Jalaloglu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ispa defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Jalaloglu.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ispa digs a good hook to Jalaloglu's body.
Ispa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Jalaloglu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Jalaloglu throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ispa's waist but Ispa gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Jalaloglu off to one side.
Ispa tries to clinch up

and Jalaloglu counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Jalaloglu is trying to control. Ispa wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Jalaloglu is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Ispa is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Jalaloglu is really struggling to control Ispa but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Ispa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Jalaloglu scores with a couple of nice shots.
Ispa taking some punishment here, with Jalaloglu in his half guard.
Jalaloglu trying to control the action but Ispa is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ispa tries to get to full guard but Jalaloglu has control of the leg.
Ispa keeps control of the position for the meantime.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ispa with a lazy takedown attempt

and Jalaloglu counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jalaloglu prevents Ispa from improving his position.
Jalaloglu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Jalaloglu is looking to stall here but Ispa recovers full guard.
Jalaloglu throwing strikes from guard but Ispa blocks nicely.
Ispa keeping moving, preventing Jalaloglu from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ispa has his foot on Jalaloglu's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jalaloglu works his way back into a safe position though.
Jalaloglu slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Jalaloglu throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Jalaloglu trying to control the position but Ispa is working away.
Jalaloglu landing strikes.
Ispa gets back to half guard.
Jalaloglu looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Jalaloglu thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Ispa's head.
Jalaloglu tries to pass to full mount but Ispa defends it.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ispa fails with the takedown

and Jalaloglu counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ispa's guard now.
Jalaloglu trying to control but Ispa is working from the bottom.
Ispa is looking to stand up but Jalaloglu isn't so interested in that idea.
Jalaloglu passes Ispa's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jalaloglu not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Ispa is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Jalaloglu scores with a couple of nice shots.
Iron Ispa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rezagulu Jalaloglu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Jalaloglu looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rezagulu Jalaloglu showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Jalaloglu has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 49:46
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 49:46
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 49:46

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rezagulu Jalaloglu!
Rezagulu Jalaloglu is the new middleweight champion!