PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Liam Rekola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marat Gafurov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gafurov has chosen Queen – I Want To Break Free as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Marat Gafurov acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Rekola
vs
Gafurov

179 cm
25
149 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

175 cm
24
154 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Liam Rekola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marat Gafurov!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rekola is looking to clinch but Gafurov is avoiding it.
Rekola dives in and grabs Gafurov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gafurov pushes down on Rekola's head and hops out.
Rekola shoots for a takedown but Gafurov saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Gafurov gets a double leg takedown into Rekola's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gafurov showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Rekola tries to land a sweep but no joy.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Gafurov advances position into side control!
Gafurov is looking to take a break and control but Rekola is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rekola tries to buck Gafurov off but Gafurov is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rekola is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Gafurov is controlling him well.
Gafurov trying to control the position but Rekola is working away.
Rekola tries to buck Gafurov off but Gafurov is having none of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Gafurov working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Rekola struggling a bit here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Gafurov tries for a kimura but Rekola is defending well.
Gafurov tries to advance to mount but can't.
Gafurov landing strikes.
Gafurov prevents Rekola from escaping the position.
Gafurov trying to control the position but Rekola is working away.
Gafurov tries to advance position but instead Rekola slips a leg back in to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rekola is trying to control but can't.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Rekola just misses with a punch to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Gafurov as Rekola shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Rekola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
No luck for Rekola with that takedown attempt.
And Gafurov tries to counter it with a takedown but Rekola pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Rekola gets in close and instigates a clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gafurov manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Gafurov working for a triangle but Rekola defends it easily.
Gafurov is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Gafurov manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rekola manages to get himself to full guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gafurov trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marat Gafurov dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Rekola avoids the body shot from Gafurov.
A swing and a miss from Gafurov.
Rekola was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gafurov avoids the head kick by Rekola.
Liam Rekola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Rekola is defended easily by Gafurov.
We've been informed that Gafurov has been working hard on his conditioning in the buildup to the fight.
Gafurov swings away with a leg kick that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rekola lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Gafurov backs up against the cage.

Rekola fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Gafurov, pushing him back against the cage.
Gafurov displaying some good clinch control by pressing Rekola up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gafurov stalling.
Rekola blocks an uppercut.
Rekola blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Gafurov is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Rekola manages to break the clinch.
Rekola defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gafurov.
Gafurov has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Rekola.
Rekola shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Gafurov pinned against the cage. Gafurov gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Rekola. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rekola throws a series of punches but Gafurov moves out of range.
Rekola tries to clinch up.
Gafurov tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Rekola throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Gafurov's waist but Gafurov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Rekola off to one side.
Gafurov fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rekola looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rekola tries to clinch there but Gafurov circles away.

Rekola throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Gafurov was covering up waiting for the punch and Rekola finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Gafurov throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Rekola escapes and throws Gafurov's legs to the side, diving into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gafurov is looking for a sweep.

Rekola tries for a kimura but Gafurov is defending well.
Gafurov is looking for a sweep.
Gafurov manages to get back to half guard.
Gafurov is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Rekola performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Gafurov is pressing down on Rekola's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Gafurov is on top in guard.

Rekola not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Liam Rekola will probably get the nod.
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!

No luck for Rekola with that takedown attempt.
Gafurov changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Gafurov stuffs the takedown attempt from Rekola. Rekola gets slowly back to his feet.
Rekola throws a half hearted mid kick.
Rekola shoots in but Gafurov avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Liam Rekola. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Rekola misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gafurov throws a leg kick which misses Rekola's front leg but catches the back leg as Rekola tries to avoid it.
Rekola tries for a takedown but Gafurov sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rekola moves in looking to clinch but Gafurov pushes him off.
Gafurov wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Gafurov pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Rekola misses with a double jab

and Gafurov counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Rekola!
Gafurov tries to move into full mount but can't pass Rekola's legs.
Gafurov working the ground and pound.
Gafurov is chipping away with strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gafurov controlling from side mount.

Gafurov goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Rekola has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Gafurov but great work by Rekola.
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!
Gafurov tries to buck Rekola off but Rekola is having none of it.
A lull in the action here.
Gafurov tries to bench press Rekola off him but Rekola keeps the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rekola wants to lay and pray for a moment but Gafurov keeps working.
Gafurov is looking for a sweep.
Rekola tries to advance to mount but can't.
Gafurov tries to buck Rekola off but Rekola is having none of it.
Rekola wants to stand but Gafurov is controlling his arm.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The referee asks Rekola politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Rekola prefers to stall for the moment though.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Gafurov is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Rekola misses with a head kick.
Gafurov misses with a low kick.
Rekola tries to clinch

and Gafurov counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Gafurov.

Gafurov drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Rekola manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Gafurov has Rekola in his guard.

Gafurov has Rekola pulled in close to control his posture.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marat Gafurov comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Gafurov has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marat Gafurov!
Our winner, Marat Gafurov, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.