PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kostya Zhuravlev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steffen Hansen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zhuravlev comes to the cage accompanied by Aria - Volja i Razum. Kostya Zhuravlev could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Steffen Hansen's chin.

Zhuravlev
vs
Hansen

162 cm
26
170 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

185 cm
27
180 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kostya Zhuravlev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Steffen Hansen!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Konstantin Menshow and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hansen lands a jab to the nose.
Zhuravlev lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Hansen at a distance.
Zhuravlev shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hansen as he jumps to the side.
Hansen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Zhuravlev manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Zhuravlev shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Hansen sprawls well. Hansen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Zhuravlev gets slowly back to his feet.
Hansen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Zhuravlev moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Hansen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Zhuravlev pinned against the cage. Zhuravlev gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

Zhuravlev clinches up with Hansen and pushes him back against the cage.

Hansen pulls guard effortlessly.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Zhuravlev throws a big right hand that misses.
Zhuravlev stands up over Hansen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Hansen wants to stand and escape but Zhuravlev is having none of it.
Zhuravlev in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Zhuravlev is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Zhuravlev drops back looking for a leg! Hansen is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Hansen manages to kick Zhuravlev off! Zhuravlev jumps back into Hansen's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hansen wants to stand up but Zhuravlev is controlling him.
Zhuravlev loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Zhuravlev is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Zhuravlev with a nice head shot there.
Zhuravlev forces his way into half guard.

Zhuravlev wants to work for an arm triangle but Hansen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Zhuravlev maintaining the dominant position here and is working for a kimura. He's locked it up! Hansen could be in real trouble here! He's trying to wriggle out but Zhuravlev has cracked it and Hansen is screaming in pain - he's tapped out! Great finish by Zhuravlev!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kostya Zhuravlev!
A very excited looking Kostya Zhuravlev made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.