PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Boris Brushnikov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikael Masu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Brushnikov
vs
Masu

170 cm
23
138 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

165 cm
22
135 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Boris Brushnikov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikael Masu!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Masu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Brushnikov sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Brushnikov pushes Masu up against the cage in a clinch.
Brushnikov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.

It looks like Mikael Masu has been cut.
Masu tries to break the clinch but Brushnikov is controlling the position.
Brushnikov is pressed up against the cage. Masu has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Brushnikov down to the mat. Brushnikov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
The fight stays on the outside here - Brushnikov looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Brushnikov fails in his attempt to clinch.
Brushnikov uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Masu.
Masu paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Boris Brushnikov seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Brushnikov drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Masu keeping his opponent close.

Brushnikov tries for a kimura but Masu is defending well.
Brushnikov works to advance to full mount. Masu defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Brushnikov avoids the attempt from Masu to control.

Brushnikov stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masu is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Brushnikov.

Brushnikov drives through and clinches with Masu against the cage.
Brushnikov trying to stall but Masu improves his position.
Come on Brushnikov - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.

Masu breaks from the clinch.
Masu tries to close the distance and clinch but Brushnikov swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Brushnikov misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Masu throws a jab when Brushnikov was well out of range.
Brushnikov keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Masu misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Boris Brushnikov has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikael Masu.
Masu looks gassed!
Masu throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Brushnikov tries to clinch there but Masu circles away.

Brushnikov has closed the distance and engaged Masu in a clinch.
Knees in the clinch landing for Brushnikov.
Masu is trying to break the clinch but Brushnikov has him pressed against the cage.
Masu has Brushnikov pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Brushnikov manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brushnikov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Brushnikov blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Masu takes an elbow to the forehead.
Brushnikov landing knees to the body.
Brushnikov lands an elbow inside.
Masu takes an elbow to the forehead.
Brushnikov throws an elbow that misses.
Brushnikov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Masu takes an elbow to the forehead.
Brushnikov scores a nice knee to the body.
Nice elbow from Brushnikov.
Brushnikov misses with an elbow over the top.
Masu letting Brushnikov take a breather here.
Brushnikov lands a nice elbow.
Brushnikov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Brushnikov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Brushnikov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Brushnikov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Brushnikov lands an elbow inside.

Brushnikov gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Brushnikov has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Brushnikov with shots to the head and body - Masu looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brushnikov is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Masu can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Brushnikov landing punches.
Masu really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Masu defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Brushnikov.
Brushnikov fails to advance to Masu's back.

Brushnikov working for a guillotine from mount but Masu is in no mood to give up.
Masu is trying desperately to improve position.

Brushnikov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brushnikov throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Masu wants to hold on but Brushnikov pushes him away.
Brushnikov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Masu is looking to escape.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Brushnikov cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

Brushnikov has hold of Masu's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Masu manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Masu really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Brushnikov. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Masu is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Masu is bucking up trying to escape but Brushnikov cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Brushnikov can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Masu is looking to escape.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Brushnikov dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Mikael Masu's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Brushnikov tries to close the distance and clinch but Masu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Brushnikov blocks a jab.

Brushnikov has taken the fight to the clinch.
Masu dodges an elbow strike from Brushnikov.
Masu lands with a short shot to the head.
Masu wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Masu blocks the elbow strike.
Brushnikov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Brushnikov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Brushnikov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Masu is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Brushnikov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Masu is trying to break free.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Masu has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Brushnikov avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Masu is looking to break free of the clinch but Brushnikov has double underhooks.
Masu has had enough of the clinch but Brushnikov keeps him there for the moment.
Masu is breathing heavily.
Brushnikov keeps control of Masu as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Masu wants to break the clinch but can't.
Brushnikov lands a nice elbow.
Brushnikov throws an elbow but it misses.
Masu can't break the clinch.
Masu takes an elbow to the temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masu takes an elbow to the temple.
Brushnikov misses with an elbow strike.
Brushnikov lands a nice elbow.
Brushnikov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Brushnikov unloads a knee to the mid-section. Masu lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Stalling in the clinch from Brushnikov.
Brushnikov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Brushnikov lands an elbow just above Masu 's eye.
Brushnikov lands an elbow inside.
Brushnikov prevents Masu from breaking the clinch.
Brushnikov scores a nice knee to the body.
Brushnikov lands a nice elbow.
Brushnikov lands an elbow inside.
Brushnikov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Brushnikov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Masu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Masu throws a head punch that misses.
Brushnikov throws an elbow but it misses.
Nice elbow from Brushnikov.
Brushnikov is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Masu pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Masu tries to break the clinch but Brushnikov is controlling the position.
Brushnikov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Brushnikov comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Brushnikov using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Brushnikov misses with an elbow over the top.
Masu drops down looking for an ankle pick but Brushnikov pulls his leg out and moves away.
Brushnikov shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Boris Brushnikov. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Masu darts in and clinches Brushnikov up against the cage.
Brushnikov lands a nice knee to the body.
Brushnikov throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Brushnikov has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Masu is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Masu is trying to break the clinch but Brushnikov has him pressed against the cage.
Brushnikov looking to stall.
Masu wants to get back to striking at distance but Brushnikov won't allow it.
Masu tries to break the clinch but Brushnikov is controlling the position.
Brushnikov lands an elbow that stopped Masu in his tracks for a moment.
Masu avoids the elbow strike from Brushnikov, against the cage.
Masu takes an elbow to the temple.
Brushnikov pushes off an throws an elbow but Masu leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Masu wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Brushnikov has him pressed against the cage.
Brushnikov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Brushnikov gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Masu.
Masu is looking to break free of the clinch but Brushnikov has double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brushnikov stalling the fight.
Brushnikov looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Masu swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Brushnikov keeps control of Masu as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Brushnikov unloads a knee to the mid-section. Masu lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Brushnikov prevents the takedown attempt.
Brushnikov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Brushnikov goes for a takedown attempt but Masu pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Brushnikov closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Masu is looking to break free of the clinch but Brushnikov has double underhooks.
Masu wants to break free but Brushnikov has control.
Brushnikov landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Masu tries to pull guard but Brushnikov won't allow it.
Brushnikov stalling in the clinch.
Masu wants to break the clinch but can't.
Brushnikov lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Masu takes an elbow to the temple.
Brushnikov tries to score a body lock takedown but Masu shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Brushnikov looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Brushnikov throws an elbow but it misses.
Brushnikov pushes off an throws an elbow but Masu leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Brushnikov pushes off an throws an elbow but Masu leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
With the fighters up against the cage, Brushnikov throws an elbow but misses.
Masu is trying to break free.
Masu is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Brushnikov trying to stall but Masu improves his position.
Masu scores with a shot to the side of Brushnikov's head.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Masu has a couple of punches blocked by Brushnikov.
Masu blocks the elbow strike.
Masu is looking to break free of the clinch but Brushnikov has double underhooks.
Masu blocks the elbow strike.
Brushnikov gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Brushnikov taking a breather.
With the fighters up against the cage, Brushnikov throws an elbow but misses.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Brushnikov crunches a lovely knee into Masu's ribcage.
Brushnikov keeps control of Masu as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Brushnikov lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Brushnikov is trying to maintain a safe position but Masu gets an underhook and turns Brushnikov into the cage.
Masu lands an uppercut.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Boris Brushnikov dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Mikael Masu's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Brushnikov tries to close the distance and clinch but Masu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Masu connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Masu uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Brushnikov.
Brushnikov doesn't manage to clinch there - Masu circles away.
Brushnikov circles away from the clinch attempt

and Brushnikov counters with a single leg into guard. Masu didn't expect that.
Brushnikov trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Brushnikov drops back looking for a leg! Masu is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Masu manages to kick Brushnikov off! Brushnikov jumps back into Masu's guard.
Masu wants to get back to his feet but Brushnikov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Brushnikov works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Brushnikov is trying to work for a kimura but Masu is defending well.
Brushnikov is tying to control. Masu wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Masu is trying to get back to full guard.

Brushnikov is looking for a kimura here.

Brushnikov is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Masu doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Brushnikov.
Brushnikov has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Masu is trying to stand up here but Brushnikov is controlling him well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Brushnikov passes the guard and advances to mount!
Brushnikov fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Masu is looking to get to half guard.

Brushnikov looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.

Brushnikov is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Masu has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Masu!

Brushnikov has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Masu can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masu stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Brushnikov swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Brushnikov looking for a guillotine here but Masu defends easily.

Brushnikov working for a triangle but Masu defends it easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masu looking to pass the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Brushnikov is on top in guard.
Brushnikov lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Brushnikov drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Brushnikov jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Brushnikov won't allow Masu to sweep him here.
Masu wants to get back to his feet but Brushnikov is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Masu wants to sweep here but Brushnikov controlling him for the moment.

And that's the end of the fight!
Boris Brushnikov showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Brushnikov, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Boris Brushnikov!