PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ivan Petkov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Petter Krustev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Krustev has chosen Hubava si moya goro. as his entrance music. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Petkov
vs
Krustev

189 cm
22
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Big right hand

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ivan Petkov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Petter Krustev!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Krustev avoids the head kick by Petkov.
Krustev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Some wild striking there from Krustev.
Petkov showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Krustev.
Petkov misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Petkov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Petkov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Ivan Petkov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Petkov throws a sloppy head kick and Krustev moves out of range easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Krustev.
Petkov misses with a takedown attempt - Krustev sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Krustev throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Petkov counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Petkov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Krustev doesn't manage to clinch there - Petkov circles away.
A nice combination there by Krustev.
Petkov tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Petkov stuns Krustev with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Krustev throws a series of strikes that have Petkov backpedaling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Petkov tries to clinch up
and Krustev counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Petkov is looking to clinch but Krustev is avoiding it.
Krustev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Krustev throws a series of punches but Petkov moves out of range.
Krustev circles away from the clinch attempt
and Krustev makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Petkov takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Petkov takes a jab right on the kisser.
Krustev misses with a two punch combination.
Petkov shoots for a double leg takedown but Krustev sprawls well. He's pushed Petkov's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Petkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Petkov is breathing heavily.
Krustev lands with a nice combination. Petkov backs away looking to recover.
Some wild striking there from Krustev.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Krustev, as that shot connected.
Petkov misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krustev will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Krustev throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Krustev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Petkov slips a jab and a cross from Krustev.

Petkov gets a clinch.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Petkov wants a takedown but no success here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Krustev has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Petkov regains guard immediately.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Petkov has a closed guard, preventing Krustev from standing up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Petter Krustev dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Petkov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Petkov shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Krustev as he jumps to the side.
Krustev misses with a wild combination.
Petkov is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Petkov moves in looking to clinch but Krustev pushes him off.
Left hook, right uppercut from Krustev.
Petkov closes the distance but Krustev moves to the side
and Krustev counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krustev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Petkov sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Petkov takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
A shot to the liver by Krustev. Beautiful body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Good leg kick by Petkov there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Petkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Krustev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A punch combination from Krustev misses.
Nice sprawl there from Krustev as Petkov shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Petkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Krustev throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Petkov lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Petkov misses with a lunging right hand
and Krustev counters with a series of strikes. Petkov will be more careful next time no doubt.
Krustev fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Petkov checks it well.
Petkov fails in his attempt to clinch.
No joy there for Krustev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Petkov misses with a right hand
and Krustev counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ivan Petkov is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Krustev fails with a takedown attempt.
Petkov shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Krustev defends it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krustev fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Petkov wants to clinch.

Krustev closes the distance and clinches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Krustev gets underhooks to prevent Petkov's takedown attempt.

Krustev breaks from the clinch.
Krustev closes this distance looking for a takedown but Petkov circles away.
Petkov wants to clinch.
Krustev fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Petkov is out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Krustev throws a right hand that Petkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Petkov also avoids with ease.
Krustev looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Petter Krustev showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Krustev stuffs the takedown.
Krustev throws a right hand that Petkov ducks under and follows up with a left that Petkov also avoids with ease.
Krustev drops his hands momentarily and Petkov takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Petkov shoots in and drives through. Krustev sprawls well.
Petkov avoids a punch combination nicely.
Petkov closes the distance but Krustev moves to the side
and Krustev connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Krustev throws a series of punches but Petkov moves out of range.
Petkov tries to clinch but Krustev moves out of range.
Krustev lands a right hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krustev defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Petkov.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ivan Petkov. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Krustev misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Krustev darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Krustev scores with a three punch combo!
Petkov fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Petkov blocks a head kick by Krustev.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Krustev leaves Petkov with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
No joy there for Krustev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Krustev throws a nice looking combination but Petkov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Petkov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Krustev swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Krustev throws a right and a left that both miss.
A punch combination from Krustev misses.
Krustev avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Krustev scores with a jab to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krustev ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Petkov tries to clinch up.
Krustev throws a right and a left that Petkov avoids nicely.
This is turning into a torrid day at the office for Petkov. He's trying desperately to land a takedown but he's failing miserably and getting slapped silly on the feet to compound his misery.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Petkov manages to break the clinch.
No joy there for Krustev, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Petkov shoots in looking for a takedown but Krustev manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Petkov's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krustev rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Petkov moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Krustev throws a nice looking combination but Petkov bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Petkov is looking to slow Krustev down with leg kicks.
Petter Krustev is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Sloppy strikes from Krustev. Those never looked like landing.
Petkov looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Krustev is fending him off so far but Petkov persists. Nope, Krustev circles away and we're back to standing.
Krustev swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Krustev lands a two punch combo.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
A slapping body kick lands there for Petkov.

And that's the end of the fight!
Petter Krustev comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Krustev winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Petter Krustev!
An out of breath Petter Krustev thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.