PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Esa Pablo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Fransico Junior (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Esa Pablo has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Pablo
vs
Junior

182 cm
21
165 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

188 cm
19
184 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Experienced

Powerful takedowns
Brawler
Powerful

Red Light Clothing ► Amsterdam!

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 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Esa Pablo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Fransico Junior!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Roosa Järviläinen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A punch combination from Junior misses.
Junior takes a swing at Pablo's ribcage but misses.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Pablo misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Pablo tries to bum rush Junior with a series of wild strikes but Junior uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Nice body kick there by Pablo.
Junior lands a body shot.
Junior misses with a wild body shot.
Pablo throws a wild body kick that Junior sees coming a mile off.
Junior shoots in but Pablo avoids the takedown attempt easily.

Junior looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Pablo trying to control here.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Junior connects with a nice short shot to Pablo's temple.
Pablo is trying to stand up here but Junior is controlling him well.
Junior tries to pass to full mount but Pablo defends it.
Junior moves into full mount! Pablo won't be happy about that!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Junior misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Pablo wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Junior.
Pablo tries to hold on but Junior postures up.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Junior controlling the position easily from mount.
Pablo can't escape the position.
Pablo regains half guard.

Junior is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Pablo doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Junior.
Junior winds up and cracks Pablo with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

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.
Junior thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Junior lands a nice short elbow.
Junior throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Pablo wants to get back to full guard.
Pablo trying to control but Junior postures up.
Junior working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Pablo works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Pablo swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Junior postures up and lands a big shot to Pablo's brow.
Junior has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Junior pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pablo is keeping the position for now.
Junior working some strikes from top position.
Junior looks gassed!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Junior accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Junior pushing down on Pablo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Junior wants to advance to full mount but Pablo doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Pablo looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Junior trying to control but Pablo is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junior postures up.
Pablo avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Junior trying to control but Pablo is working from the bottom.
Junior postures up and lands a big shot to Pablo's brow.
Junior trying to control the position from guard on top but Pablo is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pablo wants to get back to his feet but Junior is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Junior scoring with some ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fransico Junior dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Junior is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Pablo.
Pablo fails to land with a series of punches.
Some wild striking there from Pablo.
Pablo scores with a push kick.
Junior changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Pablo tries to avoid it but Junior manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Pablo to the ground. Pablo escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Pablo rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Junior moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Pablo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Junior throws out a loose jab but Pablo uses good head movement to avoid it.
Junior misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Pablo.
Esa Pablo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Junior shoots for a takedown but Pablo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Pablo tries to bum rush Junior with a series of wild strikes but Junior uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Pablo lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Pablo.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pablo throws a series of strikes that have Junior backpedaling.
Pablo defending well as Junior loads up on a big left hand.
Junior swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Junior throws a hook but Pablo blocks it.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Junior ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Pablo moves away.
Junior paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pablo tries to close the distance and clinch but Junior swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Junior scores with a jab to the head.
Pablo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the ropes but Junior paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Junior thuds a left hand into Pablo's body.
Pablo doesn't manage to clinch there - Junior circles away.
Junior fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Pablo manages to avoid it.
Pablo lands a body shot.
Junior avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pablo lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Junior circles away quickly and effectively.
Junior misses with a wild combination.
Junior shoots for a takedown but Pablo saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Esa Pablo has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Fransico Junior.
A right-left combo lands from Pablo.
Junior throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Junior scores with a jab to the head.
Junior dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Junior throws a looping overhand right but Pablo ducks down to avoid it.
Pablo misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pablo tries a head kick but it misses.
Junior scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Pablo doesn't seem bothered though.
Junior works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.

Junior feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Pablo keeping full guard, as Junior tries to pass.
Junior postures up in Pablo's guard and throws a big left but Pablo blocks it.
Junior is pushing down on Pablo's leg trying to pass to half guard. Pablo is fighting to maintain full guard but Junior has managed to sneak the leg through.
Junior prevents Pablo from improving his position.
Junior trying to control the action but Pablo is working from the bottom.
Junior throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pablo is looking to improve his position.
Junior passes to side control.

Junior wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Pablo, who protects the arm well.
Junior scores with a couple of short elbows.
Pablo is working to avoid the ground and pound but Junior connects with a decent elbow.

Junior is trying to get an arm triangle but Pablo is defending well.
Junior trying to control the position but Pablo is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junior working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Junior throws a strike aimed at the side of Pablo's head but Pablo avoids it well.
Junior lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Pablo is trying to escape the position but Junior is controlling the position.
Sloppy strikes there by Junior.
Junior wants to lay and pray for a moment but Pablo keeps working.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Junior has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Fransico Junior showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Pablo's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Pablo throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Pablo is looking to clinch but Junior is avoiding it.
Pablo stuffs the takedown.
Junior throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Pablo tries a low kick but Junior avoids it.
Pablo throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Junior decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Pablo's guard.

Pablo is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Junior defends well.
Junior pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Pablo is keeping the position for now.
Pablo looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Pablo can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Junior controls the pace.
Junior connects with a couple of short punches.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pablo working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Junior.
Pablo keeping moving, preventing Junior from controlling successfully.
Junior postures up and lands a big shot to Pablo's brow.
Pablo keeping full guard, as Junior tries to pass.
Junior is working Pablo over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Junior advances position into side control!
Pablo gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!
Pablo is wriggling around trying to escape.
Fransico Junior is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Junior lands with some strikes.
Junior controlling his opponent.
Junior lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Junior can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Pablo is looking to escape.
Junior lands a heavy elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junior lands a big shot there that rocks Pablo but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

Junior throws some shoulder strikes here and then postures up. Oh, he's gone for an armbar! Pablo has his hands clasped together but Junior breaks the hold and Pablo is forced to tap! This one is aaaaaaaaaaall over! That was lightning fast by Junior!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:35 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Fransico Junior!