PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Jenni Salonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Absten Brews (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jenni Salonen could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Absten Brews's chin.

Salonen
vs
Brews

157 cm
22
130 lbs
6 - 10 - 0

181 cm
18
142 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 10 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jenni Salonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Absten Brews!
The judges for this bout are Vladimir Khabensky, Igor Prikhodko and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brews shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Salonen sprawls well. Salonen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Brews gets slowly back to his feet.
Brews tries to clinch but Salonen is having none of it.

Brews has taken the fight to the clinch.
Brews gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Salonen.

Salonen tightens his grip and picks Brews up, before dumping him to the ground. Brews manages to land in guard.

Brews throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Salonen connects with a couple of short punches.
Salonen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Salonen is working hard here to advance position.
Brews utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Brews lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Salonen!
BOOM! Brews connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brews tries to control but Salonen wriggling away.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Salonen is looking to get to half guard.
Salonen wants to try and get back to his feet.

Brews swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Salonen is now in Brews's guard. A big mistake from Brews there, giving up the dominant position!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Salonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Brews swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Brews looking to hit a scissor sweep but Salonen is one step ahead there.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Brews is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Salonen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Salonen throws a big right hand that misses.
Salonen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Salonen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Brews throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Salonen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Brews is keeping the position for now.
Brews looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brews manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Salonen manages to get himself to full guard.
Salonen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Salonen keeping moving, preventing Brews from controlling successfully.
Salonen wants to stand but Brews is controlling the position.
Salonen has a closed guard, preventing Brews from standing up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Brews throws a strike but Salonen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Salonen postures up in Brews's guard and throws a big left but Brews blocks it.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Brews fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Salonen sprawls well initially but Brews persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Brews is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Brews looks gassed!
Salonen is staying active underneath Brews, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Salonen looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jenni Salonen will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Salonen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Brews clinches up with Salonen and pushes him back against the cage.

Salonen lands a takedown into guard.
Salonen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Brews is looking for a triangle but Salonen pushes his legs off easily.
Salonen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Salonen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Brews is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salonen pushing down on Brews's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Brews is trying to maintain the position but Salonen is very close to passing his half guard.
Brews is pressing down on Salonen's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Salonen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Brews is trying to keep Salonen in close.
Salonen scoring with some ground and pound.
Brews controls Salonen momentarily but Salonen frees himself.
Brews 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 postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Brews is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

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.
Brews manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

Brews goes for an armbar but Salonen turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Salonen.
Salonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Brews swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Salonen is looking to work some ground and pound but Brews has wrist control.
Salonen is pushing down on Brews's leg trying to pass to half guard. Brews is fighting to maintain full guard but Salonen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Salonen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Brews is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salonen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Brews's head.
Salonen thows a huge punch but Brews dodges it nicely.
Salonen throws a strike but Brews avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Salonen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Brews is keeping the position for now.
Brews manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Salonen manages to get himself to full guard.
Brews pushes down on Salonen's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Salonen is refusing to be controlled, as Brews sits in half guard.
Brews missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Brews wants to lay and pray for a moment but Salonen keeps working.
Brews works his way into full mount!
Salonen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

Brews is working for a guillotine from mount but Salonen frees his head quite easily.
Brews thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Salonen is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Jenni Salonen will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Brews shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Salonen as he jumps to the side.
Brews is looking to clinch but Salonen is avoiding it.
Brews shoots for a double leg takedown but Salonen sprawls well. He's pushed Brews's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Brews keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Salonen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Brews sprawls well. Brews wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Salonen gets slowly back to his feet.
Brews fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Salonen avoids it really well and circles away.
Jenni Salonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Absten Brews.
Salonen has his takedown stuffed

and Brews counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Brews is struggling to control the position.
Brews looking to stall.

Brews breaks the clinch.
Brews shoots in and drives through. Salonen sprawls well.
Jenni Salonen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Salonen forces Brews back against the cage and clinches.
Brews working hard to break the clinch.
Salonen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Brews pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salonen takes an elbow to the temple.

Brews pulls guard successfully.
Salonen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Salonen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Brews wants to sweep but no luck.
Salonen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Brews's head.
Salonen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Salonen working away.
Check out the look on Salonen's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Brews struggling a bit here.
Brews takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Salonen working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brews takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Brews tries to improve position but can't.
Salonen in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Salonen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Salonen tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Salonen sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Brews is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
You can see the frustration on Brews's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Salonen is working Brews over with some ground and pound from side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brews gets back to half guard.
Salonen stops Brews from getting back to his feet.
Brews blocking the ground and pound attempt from Salonen.
Salonen throwing shots but Brews is blocking nicely.
Brews wants to control but Salonen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Salonen wants to pass to mount but Brews is defending the position.
Jenni Salonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Salonen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Brews does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Salonen passes to full mount!

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.
Brews wants to hold on but Salonen pushes him away.
Salonen is landing with some decent strikes but Brews is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Brews regains half guard.
Brews tries to roll over but Salonen keeps him under control.
Salonen is keen to just control but Brews is a slippery customer.
Brews trying to control here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Salonen is trying to control. Brews wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Absten Brews has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Jenni Salonen.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Salonen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 29:28

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