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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Anzhor Azhiev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jarkko Lato (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?
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| 177 cm
30
144 lbs
12 - 41 - 0 |
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160 cm
20
140 lbs
3 - 2 - 0 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin |
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BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin |
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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
12 - 41 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anzhor Azhiev!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jarkko Lato!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Azhiev takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Azhiev takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Lato looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
We've been told by Azhiev's head coaches at Qube MMA that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.
Azhiev drives through with a takedown into Lato's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Lato trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Azhiev is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lato is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lato has escaped and now he's on top!
Lato stands up over Azhiev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lato avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Azhiev escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lato gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Azhiev will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Lato 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.
Lato has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Azhiev looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Lato passes into side control.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Lato is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Azhiev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Lato lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Azhiev down.
Lato is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Azhiev is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Azhiev prevents Lato from moving into mount.
Azhiev is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Azhiev manages to get back to half guard.
Lato scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Azhiev makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Azhiev.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lato is aware though and is defending well.
Lato lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lato trying to control but Azhiev is working from the bottom.
Azhiev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lato working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lato tries to free his leg and advance position but Azhiev is retaining full guard.
Azhiev is looking for a triangle but Lato pushes his legs off easily.
Lato trying to control but Azhiev is working from the bottom.
Lato works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Lato is looking for a kimura but Azhiev is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Lato to get the leverage.
Azhiev is refusing to be controlled, as Lato sits in half guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Azhiev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lato is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Azhiev doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lato.
Azhiev is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lato pulls his head out easily.
Lato working Azhiev over with strikes.
Lato is nestled in close to Azhiev, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Lato is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Lato is trying to work for a kimura but Azhiev is defending well.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lato is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Azhiev doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lato.
Azhiev looking for a kimura from the bottom but Lato passes into side control!
Azhiev is looking to reverse the position.
Azhiev gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Lato takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Lato slips a nice elbow through Azhiev's hands, connecting with Azhiev's forehead.
Lato takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Jarkko Lato dominated that round.
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.
Lato stuffs the takedown attempt from Azhiev. Azhiev gets slowly back to his feet.
Lato now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
Azhiev shoots in but no luck this time.
Azhiev fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anzhor Azhiev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Azhiev shoots in looking for a takedown. Lato tries to sprawl out of it but Azhiev keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lato manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Lato has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Lato displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Azhiev.
Azhiev is trying hard to land a takedown here. Lato sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lato is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Azhiev with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azhiev stuffs the takedown attempt from Lato. Lato gets slowly back to his feet.
Lato lands with a nice combination. Azhiev backs away looking to recover.
Lato throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Azhiev stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Lato throws a one two combo.
Azhiev shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Azhiev drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lato dives on top into guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Lato stands up over Azhiev, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Lato wants to control from the top but Azhiev keeps moving.
Lato is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Azhiev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lato is aware though and is defending well.
Lato showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Jarkko Lato has got the better of the ground game so far.
Lato is working Azhiev over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lato scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lato trying to control but Azhiev is working from the bottom.
Azhiev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lato is aware though and is defending well.
Azhiev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Lato wants to pass the guard but Azhiev is keeping the position.
Lato lands a couple of elbows.
Lato cracks Azhiev with a solid left hand.
Azhiev is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Lato is aware though and is defending well.
Lato trying to control but Azhiev is working from the bottom.
Lato working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Azhiev's head.
Lato drops back looking for a leg! Azhiev is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Azhiev manages to kick Lato off! Lato jumps back into Azhiev's guard.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lato wants to control from the top but Azhiev keeps moving.
Lato is working Azhiev over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Azhiev is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Lato's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lato works over Azhiev with some ground and pound from guard.
Azhiev keeping moving, preventing Lato from controlling successfully.
Lato working some strikes from top position.
Lato works over Azhiev with some ground and pound from guard.
Lato distracts Azhiev with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Lato is in close to Azhiev's body, working some short punches and elbows.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Azhiev is on top in guard.
Azhiev looking to pass the guard.
Azhiev is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Lato is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Lato has escaped and now he's on top!
Lato lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Azhiev keeping full guard, as Lato tries to pass.
Azhiev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lato defends it easily.
Lato works over Azhiev with some ground and pound from guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Jarkko Lato showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
Azhiev shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Lato but Lato pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Azhiev showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lato.
Azhiev attempts a counter takedown but Lato avoids it well and moves away.
Azhiev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lato counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Jarkko Lato is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Azhiev with a lazy takedown attempt
and Lato cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Anzhor Azhiev. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Lato throws a series of punches but Azhiev avoids them all with ease.
Lato throws a hook but Azhiev blocks it.
Lato throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Azhiev tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Lato defends well and Azhiev ends up having to push Lato into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Azhiev takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Left hook, right uppercut from Lato.
Lato gets caught napping as Azhiev dives in and scores a takedown. Lato manages to retain guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lato throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Azhiev looking to pass the guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Lato is looking for a triangle but Azhiev pushes his legs off easily.
Azhiev has gone for a leg lock! Lato slips out almost immediately though and dives into Azhiev's guard.
Lato scoring with punches to the head and body.
Lato lands a couple of elbows.
Lato avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lato wants to control from the top but Azhiev keeps moving.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lato pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Azhiev is keeping the position for now.
Azhiev working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lato doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lato manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Azhiev keeping full guard, as Lato tries to pass.
Lato working some strikes from top position.
Lato trying to control but Azhiev is working from the bottom.
Azhiev looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Anzhor Azhiev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Azhiev is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Lato's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Lato lands a couple of elbows.
Lato connects with a couple of short punches.
Lato is in close to Azhiev's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Lato lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Lato landing with the ground and pound.
Lato got a little sloppy there for a moment and Azhiev has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Lato has managed to get both his arms back between Azhiev's legs - danger averted.
Lato postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Azhiev throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Lato passes Azhiev's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lato trying to control from half guard but Azhiev is working away.
Azhiev wants to get back to full guard.
Lato is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Lato wants to work for an arm triangle but Azhiev is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Azhiev looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Lato passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Azhiev!
Azhiev working to try and regain half guard.
And that's the end of the fight!
Jarkko Lato comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Lato 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jarkko Lato!
In defeat, Anzhor Azhiev stepped up to the mic, saying 'I still want that title shot. Im the most experienced fighter here and everyday wants to see me smash the champ so lets do it whenever he starts ducking me.'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
41% |
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