PBP Commentary

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

Saplin
vs
Elomaa

195 cm
21
185 lbs
2 - 4 - 0

177 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

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 2 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Marcus Saplin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Glenn Elomaa!
The judges for this bout are Bruno Hogan, Steve Erwin and Skip Squint.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Elomaa scores a takedown into full mount!
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Elomaa tries to control but Saplin wriggling away.
Poor strikes thrown by Elomaa there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

Elomaa is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Saplin has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Saplin!
Saplin wants to get up but he can't break Elomaa's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Elomaa looking for a guillotine here but Saplin defends easily.
Saplin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saplin postures up.
Elomaa throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Saplin has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Elomaa is proving hard to escape from.

Elomaa is looking for a triangle but Saplin pushes his legs off easily.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Elomaa misses with a few strikes there.

Elomaa scores with a takedown into Saplin's guard.
Saplin really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Elomaa gets to his feet. Saplin looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Elomaa looks gassed!
Elomaa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Elomaa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Elomaa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Elomaa closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Saplin looking to throw knees to the head but Elomaa is blocking nicely.
Elomaa wants to break free but Saplin has control.
Elomaa jumps guard but Saplin stands there with Elomaa around his waist. Elomaa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saplin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Elomaa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Saplin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Saplin using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Elomaa has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Saplin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Elomaa blocks an elbow strike.
Saplin gets underhooks to prevent Elomaa's takedown attempt.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Elomaa just misses with a elbow thrown towards Saplin's brow.
Elomaa trying to stall but Saplin improves his position.
Saplin throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Elomaa blocks it with crossed arms.
Elomaa is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Saplin pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Marcus Saplin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Glenn Elomaa.
Elomaa is trying to stall.
Saplin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Saplin scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Glenn Elomaa has been cut.
With the fighters up against the cage, Saplin throws an elbow but misses.
Elomaa tries to stall but Saplin uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

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.
Saplin throws a knee to the head but misses.
Saplin looking to throw knees to the head but Elomaa is blocking nicely.
Elomaa drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Saplin connects with a knee to the head.
Saplin tries a knee to the head but Elomaa blocks it.
Elomaa tries to break the clinch but Saplin is controlling the position.
Saplin unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Elomaa trying to stall but Saplin improves his position.
Saplin landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Saplin with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Elomaa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saplin smiles and moves away.
Saplin goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Glenn Elomaa dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Glenn Elomaa's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Saplin moves in looking to clinch but Elomaa pushes him off.
Elomaa throws a sloppy head kick

and Saplin holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Saplin tries to land a knee to the head but Elomaa blocks with his arms.
Elomaa is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Saplin pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Elomaa working hard to break the clinch.
Elomaa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saplin has him pressed against the cage.
Saplin scores with a knee to the head.
Elomaa tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Saplin smiles and moves away.
Elomaa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saplin pinned against the cage. Saplin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Marcus Saplin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Glenn Elomaa.
Elomaa is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Horrible takedown by Elomaa or perhaps it was just good defense by Saplin which made him look bad.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saplin wants to clinch up but Elomaa keeps it at a distance.
Glenn Elomaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Elomaa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Saplin defends it nicely.
Saplin closes the distance looking to clinch

and Elomaa counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Elomaa.
Saplin lands a knee to the head.
Saplin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

That's two 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.
Elomaa taking a breather.
Saplin with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Saplin with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Saplin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Elomaa in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Elomaa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Saplin lands an elbow that stopped Elomaa in his tracks for a moment.
Elomaa takes a knee right on the jaw!
Saplin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Saplin lands a knee to the body.
Saplin putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Elomaa in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Saplin landing knees to the head.
Elomaa is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Saplin gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Elomaa avoids the elbow strike from Saplin, against the cage.
Elomaa takes an elbow to the temple.
A frustrated look appears on Elomaa's face as he tries to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saplin with a knee to the head.
Saplin tries a knee to the head but Elomaa blocks it.
Saplin tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Elomaa avoids it.
Elomaa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Saplin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Saplin tries a knee to the head but Elomaa blocks it.
Saplin looking to throw knees to the head but Elomaa is blocking nicely.
Elomaa will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Saplin up against the cage.

Elomaa jumps guard.
Elomaa trying to keep a closed guard but Saplin is proving a slippery customer.
Saplin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Marcus Saplin dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Glenn Elomaa's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Elomaa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saplin pinned against the cage. Saplin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Elomaa shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Saplin sprawls well. Saplin wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Elomaa gets slowly back to his feet.
Elomaa shoots in for a double leg but Saplin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Marcus Saplin has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Glenn Elomaa.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Saplin is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Elomaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elomaa wants to clinch but Saplin slips to the side
and Saplin counters with a head kick. That will keep Elomaa thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Elomaa has a takedown stuffed.

Saplin clinches.
Saplin scores with a knee to the head.
Saplin tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Saplin.
Elomaa wants a takedown.
Saplin with a knee to the head.
Saplin lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Saplin scores with a knee to the head.
Saplin lands a good knee to the midsection. Elomaa won't want to take too many of those.
Saplin using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saplin misses with a knee strike.
Saplin tries a knee to the head but Elomaa blocks it.
Saplin misses with an elbow over the top.
Elomaa using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Saplin has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Saplin misses with a knee strike.
Elomaa is looking to break free of the clinch but Saplin has double underhooks.
Elomaa jumps guard but Saplin stands there with Elomaa around his waist. Elomaa gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Elomaa on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Elomaa is trying to break the clinch but Saplin has him pressed against the cage.
Elomaa wants a takedown but no success here.
Elomaa tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Saplin just stands there and leans against the cage.
Saplin creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Elomaa has had enough of the clinch but Saplin keeps him there for the moment.
Saplin lands a knee to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saplin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Saplin tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Elomaa.
Elomaa fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Elomaa blocks an elbow strike from Saplin.
Elomaa looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Saplin pushes off an throws an elbow but Elomaa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Elomaa is trying to break the clinch but Saplin is controlling him.
Saplin looking to throw knees to the head but Elomaa is blocking nicely.
Saplin scores a nice knee to the body.
Elomaa wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Saplin has him pressed against the cage.
Saplin prevents a takedown attempt there.
Saplin pushes off an throws an elbow but Elomaa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Saplin trying to land knees to the body.
Elomaa tries to break the clinch but Saplin is controlling the position.

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.
Elomaa drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Saplin gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Saplin lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Saplin tries to land a knee to the head but Elomaa blocks with his arms.
Elomaa has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Saplin avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Saplin is pressed up against the cage. Elomaa has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Saplin down to the mat. Saplin avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Elomaa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Saplin pinned against the cage. Saplin gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Saplin wants to clinch.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elomaa shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Saplin counters by moving into the clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marcus Saplin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Saplin has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Bruno Hogan scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steve Erwin scores the fight 29:28
Judge Skip Squint scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Marcus Saplin!