PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Hero Tasaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sergei Dragunov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dragunov has chosen Red Army - Kalinka as his entrance music. Hero Tasaki has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Tasaki
vs
Dragunov

186 cm
28
197 lbs
8 - 11 - 0

190 cm
26
194 lbs
3 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hero Tasaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sergei Dragunov!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good exchange - Tasaki coming out on top.
Tasaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Dragunov misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Tasaki counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Hero Tasaki seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Tasaki decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Dragunov trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!
Tasaki avoids the attempt from Dragunov to control.
Dragunov manages to regain half guard. Good work.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tasaki slips a nice elbow through Dragunov's hands, connecting with Dragunov's forehead.
Tasaki scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Dragunov trying to control here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tasaki is keen to just control but Dragunov is a slippery customer.
Tasaki is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Tasaki is looking to take a break and control but Dragunov is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tasaki is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Dragunov is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Tasaki is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Dragunov is not content to let Tasaki control the position.

Tasaki 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Tasaki escapes and gets back to his feet.
Tasaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Tasaki swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov walks into a left hand.
Tasaki lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Dragunov backs up against the cage.

Dragunov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tasaki avoids the elbow strike from Dragunov, against the cage.
Dragunov creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Dragunov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Tasaki managing to block the knees to the body from Dragunov.
Tasaki scores with a hook to the body.
Still in the clinch, Tasaki scores with a nice short uppercut.
Dragunov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Tasaki.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Hero Tasaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Tasaki.
Tasaki blocks an elbow strike.
Dragunov looking to throw knees to the head but Tasaki is blocking nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dragunov with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Tasaki avoids a wild elbow strike from Dragunov.
Dragunov tries to land knees in the clinch but Tasaki avoids the damage to the body.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tasaki trying to stall but Dragunov improves his position.

Tasaki breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Tasaki keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dragunov.
Dragunov misses with a wild body shot.
Tasaki shoots in but no luck this time.
Tasaki throws a good cross that connects.
Dragunov is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Dragunov takes a shot right to the bread basket.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tasaki stalks Dragunov and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Dragunov's face. Dragunov staggers backwards, shaken.
Dragunov swings and misses with a hook to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tasaki fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Dragunov looks to score with a jab to the body but Tasaki is just out of range.
Tasaki throws a series of punches but Dragunov avoids them all with ease.
Tasaki lands with a big left! Dragunov is wobbled badly! Tasaki comes in with a flurry of punches and drops Dragunov to the floor. The ref jumps in to save him from unneccessary punishment.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:20 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Hero Tasaki!