PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kaarlo Koskelo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Espen Braaten (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Koskelo
vs
Braaten

182 cm
19
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

176 cm
22
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Inexperienced

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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaarlo Koskelo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Espen Braaten!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Braaten. No joy for Koskelo on that attempt.
Koskelo throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Braaten's waist but Braaten gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Koskelo off to one side.
Koskelo moves in looking to clinch but Braaten pushes him off.
Braaten misses with the combination.

Koskelo drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Koskelo misses with the ground and pound.
Braaten tries to get back to half guard but can't.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koskelo controls the position.
Koskelo advances to full mount.
Koskelo unloads with some shots from mount but Braaten bucks and avoids them well.
Koskelo controlling the pace for now.
Koskelo unloads with some shots from mount but Braaten bucks and avoids them well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koskelo content just to control the position here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koskelo can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Braaten is looking to escape.
Koskelo takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Braaten is trying to stand up.
Koskelo wants to control the pace but Braaten is squirming around nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Koskelo controlling his opponent.
Koskelo's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kaarlo Koskelo just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Braaten uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Braaten defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Koskelo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaarlo Koskelo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Braaten lands with a straight right. Koskelo didn't see that one coming.
Braaten fails with an attempt to clinch.
Koskelo has a takedown stuffed.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Koskelo is defended easily by Braaten.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Koskelo shoots in looking for a takedown. Braaten tries to sprawl out of it but Koskelo keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Braaten manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Koskelo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Braaten defends it nicely.

Koskelo gets a clinch.
Koskelo lands a shoulder strike.

Koskelo jumps guard.
Koskelo wants to sweep but no luck.
Koskelo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Koskelo is breathing heavily.
Koskelo managing to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Braaten postures up.
Koskelo has his hands on Braaten's head, controlling the position.
Koskelo trying to keep a closed guard but Braaten is proving a slippery customer.
Braaten preventing the sweep.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koskelo is controlling Braaten's posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaarlo Koskelo dominated that round.
That's time! Koskelo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Koskelo clinches up with Braaten and pushes him back against the cage.

Koskelo jumps guard and drags Braaten to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Koskelo wants to sweep but no luck.
Koskelo is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Koskelo wants to sweep but no luck.
Koskelo controlling the position.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kaarlo Koskelo just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Some wild striking there from Braaten.
Koskelo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Braaten but Braaten pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Koskelo shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Braaten sprawls well. Braaten wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Koskelo gets slowly back to his feet.
Koskelo is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Braaten.
Braaten lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Braaten.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Braaten misses with a wild combination.

Koskelo shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Braaten manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Braaten keeping moving, preventing Koskelo from controlling successfully.
Koskelo slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Koskelo throws a big right hand that misses.
Koskelo controlling from the top position.
Braaten wants to get back to his feet but Koskelo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koskelo is stalling in the full guard.
Braaten not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Koskelo is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Koskelo slips nicely into half guard.
Koskelo stalling.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koskelo seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Braaten for as long as he can get away with.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kaarlo Koskelo just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Koskelo closes this distance looking for a takedown but Braaten circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaarlo Koskelo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Braaten misses with a series of wild punches.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Koskelo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Koskelo fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Braaten avoids it really well and circles away.
Koskelo tries to move into range but Braaten moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Koskelo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
A punch combination from Braaten misses.
Braaten paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Koskelo scores a takedown into full mount!
Koskelo controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaarlo Koskelo dominated that second round.
That's time! Koskelo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Koskelo shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Braaten pinned against the cage. Braaten gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Braaten scores with a three punch combo!
Braaten throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Koskelo has a takedown stuffed.
Braaten defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Koskelo.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaarlo Koskelo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koskelo fails to land the takedown.
Koskelo shoots in but Braaten avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Koskelo closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Braaten is trying to stand up here but Koskelo is controlling him well.
Koskelo looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koskelo trying to control from half guard but Braaten is working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koskelo is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Koskelo trying to mount his opponent but Braaten defends it.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Braaten can do anything to dispel that myth.
Koskelo with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Koskelo passes the guard and advances to mount!
Koskelo tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koskelo has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kaarlo Koskelo just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Koskelo bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Braaten gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Koskelo controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Espen Braaten has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaarlo Koskelo showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Koskelo, 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaarlo Koskelo!