PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ilian Mladenov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Konstantin Zyuzin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Konstantin Zyuzin is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Mladenov
vs
Zyuzin

189 cm
19
221 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
19
219 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Go 2 Sleep Fight Gear

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, Ilian Mladenov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Konstantin Zyuzin!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zyuzin shoots in and bounces Mladenov off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Mladenov is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zyuzin trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Mladenov looking to control.
Mladenov avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zyuzin passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Mladenov regains half guard.
Zyuzin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Zyuzin controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zyuzin connects with a nice short shot to Mladenov's temple.
Zyuzin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mladenov's head.
Zyuzin perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Zyuzin passes to side control.
Zyuzin controls the position from side control.
Mladenov takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Mladenov dodges the ground and pound from Zyuzin.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Zyuzin lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Mladenov down.
Zyuzin content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Mladenov is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zyuzin connects with a decent elbow.
Zyuzin working the ground and pound.
Zyuzin working away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Zyuzin working the ground and pound but Mladenov is defending the strikes.

Zyuzin is trying to get an arm triangle but Mladenov is defending well.
Zyuzin working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Mladenov takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Mladenov taking punishment in the form of punches.
Zyuzin scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Mladenov to see if he's OK.
A lull in the action here.
Mladenov is working to avoid the ground and pound but Zyuzin connects with a decent elbow.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zyuzin is working Mladenov over with some ground and pound from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Zyuzin works to advance to full mount. Mladenov defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Zyuzin scoring with strikes but Mladenov is staying in there.
Zyuzin scoring with strikes but Mladenov is staying in there.
BOOM! Zyuzin connects with a massive shot to the dome!

Zyuzin working for a submission but Mladenov is keeping him at bay.
Zyuzin lands a nice shot to the head.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Mladenov tries to lock up and control but Zyuzin gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Zyuzin dives in and scores a takedown into Mladenov's guard.
Zyuzin postures up and lands a big shot to Mladenov's brow.
Zyuzin trying to control the position from guard on top but Mladenov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Zyuzin controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Zyuzin distracts Mladenov with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Zyuzin throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Mladenov works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Mladenov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zyuzin working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.

Zyuzin drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Mladenov dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zyuzin wants to sweep here but Mladenov controlling him for the moment.
Mladenov trying to control the position from guard on top but Zyuzin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Mladenov being controlled here momentarily.
Zyuzin is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Zyuzin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Zyuzin holds on and takes a little breather.

We're going to have a standup here because Ilian Mladenov wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
A jab lands there for Mladenov.

Zyuzin drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Konstantin Zyuzin has got the better of the ground game so far.
Zyuzin slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Zyuzin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zyuzin working some strikes from top position.
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!
Mladenov looking to control.
Zyuzin sitting in guard here, content to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zyuzin makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Zyuzin has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Zyuzin sitting in guard here, content to control.
Zyuzin is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Zyuzin is stalling in the full guard.
Zyuzin trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Mladenov trying to keep a closed guard but Zyuzin is proving a slippery customer.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Zyuzin scores with a takedown into Mladenov's guard.
Zyuzin stops Mladenov from standing up.
Zyuzin seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zyuzin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Konstantin Zyuzin 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!

Zyuzin looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Zyuzin thows a huge punch but Mladenov dodges it nicely.
Zyuzin drops an elbow to the side of Mladenov's head.

Zyuzin is looking for a kimura but Mladenov is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Zyuzin to get the leverage.
Zyuzin is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Mladenov trying to hold on to Zyuzin's head to control him but Zyuzin postures up.

Zyuzin is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Zyuzin seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zyuzin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zyuzin working over Mladenov with some ground and pound. Mladenov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Zyuzin is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Zyuzin sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Zyuzin throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Zyuzin throwing shots but Mladenov is blocking nicely.
Zyuzin thows a huge punch but Mladenov dodges it nicely.
Ilian Mladenov has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zyuzin controlling the action here.
Mladenov has hold of Zyuzin's hands but Zyuzin slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Zyuzin with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Mladenov taking some punishment here, with Zyuzin in his half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Zyuzin thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Mladenov's head.
Zyuzin working the head and body with strikes.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Zyuzin connects with a nice short shot to Mladenov's temple.
Zyuzin landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Zyuzin lands with a punch from half guard.
Mladenov is looking to escape.
Zyuzin working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Zyuzin slips a nice elbow through Mladenov's hands, connecting with Mladenov's forehead.
Zyuzin controlling the action here.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zyuzin looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Zyuzin scoring with strikes to the body and head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zyuzin working over Mladenov with some ground and pound. Mladenov looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Zyuzin lands strikes from half guard.
Zyuzin lands strikes from half guard.

Zyuzin wants to work for an arm triangle but Mladenov is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Zyuzin takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Zyuzin in particular looking to stall.
Zyuzin lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zyuzin scores with a couple of good hammerfists.

And that's the end of the fight!
Konstantin Zyuzin comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Zyuzin has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 25:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 25:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Konstantin Zyuzin!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Konstantin Zyuzin waved his t-shirt featuring Key Clothing LLC's logo in front of the cameras.