PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Albert Steller (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Elmeri Salonen (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.

Steller
vs
Salonen

185 cm
19
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Albert Steller!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Elmeri Salonen!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Steller shoots for a takedown but Salonen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Salonen leaves Steller with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Salonen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Salonen tries to clinch but Steller moves away
and Salonen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Salonen looks to clinch

and Steller holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Steller is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Albert Steller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Steller drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Salonen gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Salonen connects with a knee to the head.
Steller tries to score a body lock takedown but Salonen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Steller really is a fat lump.
A knee to the head by Salonen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salonen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Steller has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Steller tries to circle away but Salonen has him pinned against the cage.
Steller tries to score a body lock takedown but Salonen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Salonen lands an elbow just above Steller 's eye.
Steller takes an elbow to the temple.
Salonen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Steller is breathing heavily.
Salonen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Steller's face.
Steller has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Salonen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Salonen lands a knee to the head.
Salonen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Salonen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Salonen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Steller takes an elbow to the forehead.
Salonen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Salonen lands an elbow that stopped Steller in his tracks for a moment.
Salonen lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
A knee to the head by Salonen.
Salonen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Salonen lands a knee to the head.
Salonen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Salonen lands a damaging elbow.
Nice elbow from Salonen.
Salonen looking to throw knees to the head but Steller is blocking nicely.
Salonen landing knees to the head.
Salonen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Steller fails to pull guard.
Steller takes an elbow to the temple.
Steller tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Steller has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Salonen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Salonen is pressed up against the cage. Steller has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Salonen down to the mat. Salonen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Salonen tries to clinch
and Steller counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Steller fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Salonen tries to clinch but Steller is having none of it.
Steller misses with an uppercut. Salonen saw that one coming.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Steller is defended easily by Salonen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salonen tries to clinch up but Steller circles away and keeps his distance.
Steller circles away from the clinch attempt
and Steller counters with a stiff right hand.

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.
Steller fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Steller closes this distance looking for a takedown but Salonen circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elmeri Salonen dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Salonen tries to clinch but Steller moves away

and Steller counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Salonen misses with a knee strike.
Salonen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Salonen lands an elbow that stopped Steller in his tracks for a moment.
Salonen with a knee to the head.
Steller goes for a takedown in the clinch but Salonen prevents it.
Salonen lands an elbow inside.
Salonen lands an elbow inside.
Salonen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Salonen lands a damaging elbow.
Salonen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Salonen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Steller's face.
Salonen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Steller takes a knee right on the jaw!
Salonen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Salonen lands a nice elbow.
Steller looking for a takedown.
Salonen landing knees to the head.
A frustrated look appears on Steller's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Steller wants a takedown but no success here.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Albert Steller. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salonen stops a takedown attempt from Steller.
Salonen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
A nice right hand lands inside from Steller.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Steller drops down looking for an ankle pick but Salonen pulls his leg out and moves away.

Steller has taken the fight to the clinch.
Salonen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Salonen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Salonen lands an elbow inside.
Salonen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Salonen tries a knee to the head but Steller blocks it.
Steller has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Salonen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Steller is trying to drag Salonen to the mat but Salonen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Salonen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Steller tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Salonen smiles and moves away.
Salonen darts in trying to clinch
and Steller counters with a right hand to the body.
Salonen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Steller.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salonen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Salonen tries to clinch

and Steller counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Salonen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Salonen misses with a knee to the head.
Salonen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Salonen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Steller is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Salonen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Salonen misses with a knee strike.
Salonen looking to throw knees to the head but Steller is blocking nicely.
Salonen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Steller drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four 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.
Steller tries to break free but Salonen pushes him back against the cage.
Salonen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Salonen lands a knee to the head.
Steller has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Salonen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Salonen lands an elbow inside.
Salonen throws an elbow that misses.
Salonen misses with a knee to the head.
Salonen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Steller's face.
Salonen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Steller has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Salonen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Salonen with a knee to the head.
Salonen lands a damaging elbow.
Steller wants a takedown.
Salonen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Steller has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Salonen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Salonen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Steller changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Salonen fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Steller shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Salonen pinned against the cage. Salonen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Elmeri Salonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Steller fails with a takedown attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Steller tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Salonen swivels and escapes.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salonen tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Steller connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Steller tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Salonen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Steller wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Albert Steller. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Steller jumps into guard, dragging Salonen to the mat.
Steller looking to hit a scissor sweep but Salonen is one step ahead there.
Steller not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Steller is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Salonen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Steller's guard.
Salonen stopping the sweep attempt from Steller.
Salonen is looking to stand up but Steller won't let him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Salonen moves in looking to clinch but Steller pushes him off.
Salonen wants to clinch up but Steller keeps it at a distance.
Steller tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Salonen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Albert Steller seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Salonen is looking to clinch but Steller is avoiding it.
Albert Steller has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Steller fails to land the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Elmeri Salonen.
I've got Salonen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Elmeri Salonen!