PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jackson Sanderson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juhani Aro (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jackson Sanderson had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Sanderson
vs
Aro

155 cm
19
134 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

176 cm
19
143 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Very strong

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jackson Sanderson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juhani Aro!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sanderson lunges at Aro with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Aro's hand.

Sanderson scores with a takedown into Aro's guard.
Aro will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Sanderson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Aro looking to control.

Sanderson drops back looking for a leg! Aro is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Aro manages to kick Sanderson off! Sanderson jumps back into Aro's guard.

Sanderson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Aro is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Sanderson, into his guard.
Sanderson working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aro.
Aro trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aro is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Aro throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sanderson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aro controlling from the top position.
Sanderson keeping moving, preventing Aro from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Aro is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Aro working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sanderson's head.
Aro loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Aro postures up in Sanderson's guard and throws a big left but Sanderson blocks it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aro trying to control the position from guard on top but Sanderson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Aro controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

Despite being in the dominant position, Juhani Aro just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
No joy there for Aro, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sanderson lands a nice hook to Aro's body. Aro takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Sanderson dives in and grabs Aro's left leg, looking for a takedown. Aro pushes down on Sanderson's head and hops out.
Nice uppercut there from Sanderson.
Aro throws a looping overhand right but Sanderson ducks down to avoid it.
Aro has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Aro there as he acknowledges the shot.
Sanderson scores with a jab to the body.
A head kick misses from Aro.

Sanderson shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Sanderson showed some decent athleticism there.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Sanderson is working for a submission of some sort.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sanderson is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Sanderson trying to mount his opponent but Aro defends it.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Aro wants to improve his position but Sanderson is controlling well.
Aro trying to hold on to Sanderson's head to control him but Sanderson postures up.
Aro tries to get to full guard but Sanderson has control of the leg.
Aro trying to hold on to Sanderson's head to control him but Sanderson postures up.

Sanderson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Aro has managed to free his arm - good work.
Aro wants to get back to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Aro gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Sanderson drops back looking for a leg! Aro is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Aro manages to kick Sanderson off! Sanderson jumps back into Aro's guard.
Sanderson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Aro is trying to keep Sanderson in close.

Sanderson drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Sanderson jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sanderson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Aro's guard.
Aro is looking to control Sanderson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Aro avoid being mounted?
Aro controlling the position well.
Aro really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sanderson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Sanderson looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Aro trying to control from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanderson is working for a submission of some sort.
Aro has his hands clasped together around Sanderson's back. He's all about the action.
Aro's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Sanderson seems to be looking for submissions.

Sanderson is trying to work for a kimura but Aro is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aro is trying to control but can't.
Aro is trying to stand up here but Sanderson is controlling him well.
Aro is trying to maintain the position but Sanderson is very close to passing his half guard.

Despite being in the dominant position, Juhani Aro just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Sanderson bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Aro tries to buck Sanderson off but Sanderson is having none of it.
Aro is breathing heavily.

Sanderson tries for a kimura but Aro is defending well.
Aro tries to buck Sanderson off but Sanderson is having none of it.
Aro is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Sanderson has hold of Aro's arm here. He's working for an Americana. It looks like he might have it! Aro tries to escape but he's just digging himself in deeper - Sanderson cranks the arm and Aro screams in pain! The ref makes a decision and ends the fight before the tap - no complains from Aro, who is just happy to have his arm attached to his body.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Americana). Jackson Sanderson!