PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Severi Suhonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shamil Basaev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Suhonen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Lentävä Kalakukko. Shamil Basaev told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Suhonen
vs
Basaev

185 cm
27
192 lbs
10 - 9 - 0

180 cm
30
201 lbs
8 - 4 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Insanely flexible

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
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 10 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Severi Suhonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Shamil Basaev!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Basaev throws a nice looking combination but Suhonen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Basaev thows a left - swing and a miss!
Suhonen throws a hook to the side of Basaev's head but Basaev sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Basaev blocks a head kick by Suhonen.
Suhonen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Basaev tries to bum rush Suhonen with a series of wild strikes but Suhonen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Basaev misses with a combination
and Suhonen counters with a low kick, right behind Basaev 's knee.
Suhonen on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Basaev misses with a combination
and Suhonen counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Suhonen throws a left and a right that both miss
and Basaev counters with a left and a right that stings Suhonen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Suhonen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Basaev throws a leg kick but Suhonen sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Basaev throws a looping overhand right but Suhonen ducks down to avoid it.
Suhonen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Suhonen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Suhonen connects with a crisp jab.
Suhonen connects with a single shot there.
Basaev takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Basaev ducks under a wild hook from Suhonen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Basaev does no damage.
Suhonen connects with a looping right hand.
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!
Suhonen with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Basaev scores with a jab to the head.
Basaev throws out a loose jab but Suhonen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Basaev falls off balance throwing a combination
and Suhonen counters with a big head kick but Basaev shrugs it off.

Suhonen lands a big head kick that sends Basaev tumbling to the mat! Suhonen takes a step backwards and waves Basaev back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Basaev is rocked!
Basaev misses with a body shot
and Suhonen counters with a perfectly timed head kick, knocking Basaev out cold! Wow, that took some serious skill and not a little luck! Suhonen is taking it in his stride though, strolling around like it's no big deal. What a guy.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Severi Suhonen!
Severi Suhonen bigged himself up after the win. The crowd seemed to love it.