EFC 9: Carneiro vs Saarrinen PBP Commentary

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jacques Gabriel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Calvin Space (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Gabriel
vs
Space

182 cm
28
200 lbs
16 - 8 - 0

180 cm
23
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter fighter
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Intelligent

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 16 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jacques Gabriel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Calvin Space!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.

Gabriel is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Space's half guard.
Gabriel looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Ground and pound from Gabriel.

Space looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Space won't allow Gabriel to pass to mount.
Space taking some punishment here, with Gabriel in his half guard.
Gabriel is thwarting Space's attempts to control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gabriel is nestled in close to Space, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.

Gabriel is working for a submission of some sort.
Gabriel wants to pass to mount but Space is defending the 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!
Space is looking to improve his position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Space is defending against the submission attempts here by Gabriel.
Gabriel looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Space with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Gabriel throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Space tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Gabriel has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gabriel scores with a couple of good head shots there.

Space is rocked!
Gabriel cracks Space with a big head shot that has him covering up instantly! He's rolled onto his side and the referee has seen enough - this one is aaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jacques Gabriel!
A victorious Jacques Gabriel thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
63%

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kyle Demarce (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Cesys Kazlauskas (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?

Demarce
vs
Kazlauskas

183 cm
26
162 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

170 cm
25
163 lbs
9 - 10 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Kyle Demarce!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Cesys Kazlauskas!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kazlauskas closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Kazlauskas looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Demarce is avoiding damage well.
Demarce is not content to let Kazlauskas control the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kazlauskas tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Demarce gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Demarce keeping hold of Kazlauskas's head, controlling as best he can.

Kazlauskas is working for a submission of some sort.
Demarce moves into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kazlauskas trying to control the position from guard on top but Demarce is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kazlauskas postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Demarce is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Kazlauskas frees his head nicely. Oh but Demarce has switched to an armbar! Kazlauskas is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Kyle Demarce!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
40%

Undercard bout

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Toni Kulmala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikael Saarrinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be a great matchup!

Kulmala
vs
Saarrinen

178 cm
20
142 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

188 cm
23
210 lbs
2 - 9 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Toni Kulmala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikael Saarrinen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Saarrinen wants to clinch

and Kulmala moves into the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Kulmala's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Saarrinen tries to circle away but Kulmala has him pinned against the cage.
Kulmala drops down looking for an ankle pick but Saarrinen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Saarrinen is looking to clinch but Kulmala is avoiding it.

Saarrinen knocks Kulmala to the floor with a head kick! Can he finish him!?

Kulmala is rocked!

It looks like Toni Kulmala has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Saarrinen wants to stand but Kulmala is controlling his arm.
Oh Kulmala is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kulmala is trying to control Saarrinen's posture but Saarrinen avoids it.
Kulmala seems to have got his legs back now.
Kulmala holding on.
Kulmala is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Saarrinen's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kulmala tries to roll over but Saarrinen keeps him under control.

Saarrinen decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Kulmala fails with a takedown attempt.
Saarrinen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kulmala paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kulmala drops his hands momentarily and Saarrinen needs no second invitation. He sets himself and throws a perfect high kick, that clips Kulmala just on the top of the head. Kulmala drops like a sack of potatoes to the canvas, out cold! Oooooooh yeah! Stick a fork in Kulmala - he's done!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:05 of round 1, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Mikael Saarrinen!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
63%

Co-main event

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Olaf Backstrom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Barnett (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). James Barnett is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Backstrom
vs
Barnett

195 cm
25
233 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

193 cm
22
220 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
Self confident

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Olaf Backstrom!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of London, James Barnett!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Backstrom takes a kick to the side of the head.
Barnett doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Backstrom counters with a nice double leg into side control. Barnett won't be happy with that.
A lull in the action here.
Barnett is looking for a sweep.
Backstrom working the ground and pound from side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Backstrom decides to stand back up.

Backstrom drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Backstrom is stalling in the full guard.
Barnett is trying to control the position from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Backstrom showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

We're going to have a standup here because Olaf Backstrom wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Backstrom looking to score a takedown here. Barnett is defending well but Backstrom drives through and ends up in Barnett's guard.
Backstrom is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

Backstrom gets to his feet - Barnett follows without any prompting.

Backstrom shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Barnett is trying to defend but Backstrom finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Backstrom passes to side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Backstrom has hold of Barnett's arm. He's looking for a kimura. Barnett seems comfortable defending it but Backstrom has shifted his position slighty and is cranking on the arm! Barnett is real pain and he's forced to tap out! Barnett is disgusted with himself for not defending it better but Backstrom couldn't care less - he's delighted!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:22 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Olaf Backstrom!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
48%

Main event

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Daniel Carneiro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arne Saarrinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carneiro's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, The Rasmus - In the Shadows. Daniel Carneiro could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Arne Saarrinen's chin.

Carneiro
vs
Saarrinen

188 cm
33
232 lbs
24 - 14 - 0

193 cm
23
239 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

Good takedowns
Solid Muay Thai
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Daniel Carneiro!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arne Saarrinen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Carneiro shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Carneiro was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Carneiro has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Saarrinen!
Saarrinen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Saarrinen is in all sorts of trouble here.

Saarrinen tries to improve his position but Carneiro has taken his back! Carneiro has a choke - it's sunk in pretty tight... Will Saarrinen tap? No... maybe... yes! He's tapped! Carneiro pushes Saarrinen away and gets up to celebrate with his corner!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:35 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Daniel Carneiro!
A determined Daniel Carneiro didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!