PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Gunni Nelsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timo Stara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nelsson
vs
Stara

188 cm
23
176 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

188 cm
22
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Big right hand

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Powerful

Clube Da Esquina Nutrition ($45 Q156 Rec)

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 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gunni Nelsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timo Stara!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelsson wants to clinch up but Stara keeps it at a distance.
Stara circles away from the clinch attempt.

Nelsson forces Stara back against the cage and clinches.
Nelsson drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Stara gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Stara tries to pull guard but Nelsson won't allow it.
Nelsson misses with the head strike.
Nelsson lands a right hand.

Stara has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Nelsson uses from the top position.
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.
Stara is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Nelsson is controlling him.
Stara keeping full guard, as Nelsson tries to pass.

Nelsson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Nelsson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

Nelsson has gone for a leg lock! Stara slips out almost immediately though and dives into Nelsson's guard.

Nelsson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Stara is aware though and is defending well.
Stara looking to pass the guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stara advances to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelsson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Stara is working away from the top position though.
Nelsson is staying active underneath Stara, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Stara might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Nelsson kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Nelsson is looking to control Stara's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nelsson avoid being mounted?
Stara controlling the action here.
Nelsson tries to roll over but Stara keeps him under control.
Stara prevents Nelsson from standing back up.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Stara tries to clinch up but Nelsson circles away and keeps his distance.
Nelsson misses the jab.

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.
Stara tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
The fight stays on the outside here - Stara looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Stara tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Nelsson tries to clinch up but Stara circles away and keeps his distance.
Stara will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nelsson avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Gunni Nelsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Nelsson moves into the clinch successfully.
Nelsson keeps control of Stara as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Nelsson has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Stara is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Stara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stara walks into a left hand.
Nelsson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Gunni Nelsson has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Timo Stara.
Stara circles away from the clinch attempt.

Nelsson clinches up against the cage.
Stara looking for a takedown.
Stara putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Nelsson in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Stara is fighting off a takedown attempt but Nelsson is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Stara to the mat. Stara regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Nelsson is breathing heavily.
Nelsson pushes down on Stara's leg and manages to get into half guard.

Nelsson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nelsson is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Nelsson is working for an americana but Stara has been sneaky and has managed to get back to half guard, whilst Nelsson was thinking about the submission.
Stara looking to control.

Stara has thrown up a leg looking for a triangle. Nelsson doesn't defend quickly enough and Stara has managed to lock this one up! Can Nelsson escape?! NO! He's tapping out! Damn, that was a quick submission - congrats to Stara on a fantastic submission victory.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Timo Stara!