PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mikko Rask (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pontus Sternebring (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Rask
vs
Sternebring

186 cm
21
186 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

188 cm
21
184 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikko Rask!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pontus Sternebring!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sternebring throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Rask was covering up waiting for the punch and Sternebring finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Sternebring stands and throws Rask's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Rask holds on to Sternebring's head and controls the position momentarily.
Rask can't do much from the bottom here.
Rask tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Sternebring wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Sternebring is looking to take a break and control but Rask is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rask can't do much from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rask sneaks back into half guard.
Sternebring keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Sternebring stalling away here and it's allowed Rask to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Rask manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Sternebring manages to get himself to full guard.
Rask trying to control the position from guard on top but Sternebring is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Sternebring throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rask tries to stand but Sternebring is controlling from the bottom.
Rask wants to control from the top but Sternebring keeps moving.
Rask is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rask stands up and waves to Sternebring to follow him.
Sternebring displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Rask.
Sternebring is looking to clinch but Rask is avoiding it.

Sternebring instigates a clinch.
Rask has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sternebring avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Rask fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sternebring pushes Rask back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Rask is trying to force a seperation but Sternebring has the dominant position.
Rask is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Sternebring pulls him back up using the underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mikko Rask. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rask is breathing heavily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rask swings wildly with an uppercut but Sternebring uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rask is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.

Sternebring jumps guard.
Sternebring not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rask throwing strikes but missing.
Rask wants to stand but Sternebring is controlling his posture from full guard.
Sternebring pulls Rask in to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sternebring looking to control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pontus Sternebring dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sternebring shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

so Rask counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Rask passes into half guard.
Rask is trying to control. Sternebring wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Sternebring trying to control but Rask postures up.
Sternebring is looking to get back to full guard here but Rask has managed to pass to side control instead.
Rask wants to control the pace but Sternebring is squirming around nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Rask prevents Sternebring from getting the reversal.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Rask working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Sternebring is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sternebring keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sternebring tries to hold on but Rask postures up.
Sternebring is desperately trying to improve his position but Rask has a good base and remains in mount.

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.
Sternebring tries to lock up and control but Rask gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Rask controlling the pace for now.
Rask has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Sternebring is trying desperately to improve position.
Rask wants to control but Sternebring has made it back to half guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sternebring is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sternebring on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Sternebring is looking to escape.
Rask wants to take a breather but Sternebring is having none of it.
Rask seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Rask's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sternebring is refusing to be controlled, as Rask sits in half guard.
Sternebring is looking to control Rask's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sternebring avoid being mounted?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sternebring is staying active underneath Rask, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Rask dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sternebring misses with a takedown

and Rask counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sternebring won't be happy with that.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Mikko Rask just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Sternebring stalks Rask and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rask's face. Rask staggers backwards, shaken.
Mikko Rask is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rask looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sternebring is fending him off so far but Rask persists. Nope, Sternebring circles away and we're back to standing.
Rask fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Rask stuffs the takedown attempt from Sternebring. Sternebring gets slowly back to his feet.
Sternebring with a poor takedown

so Rask counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Mikko Rask has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pontus Sternebring.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Rask looking to sit in guard and control but Sternebring gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Rask has control of Sternebring's left arm, preventing Sternebring from doing any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sternebring postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rask preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Rask is looking to stand up but Sternebring isn't so interested in that idea.
Sternebring must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rask is trying to keep Sternebring in close.
Sternebring wants to control from the top but Rask keeps moving.

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.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Rask takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.

Sternebring closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Rask missing with knees to the body.
Sternebring jumps guard but Rask stands there with Sternebring around his waist. Sternebring gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Rask pulls guard.

Rask working for a triangle but Sternebring defends it easily.
Sternebring seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sternebring has gone for a leg lock! Rask slips out almost immediately though and dives into Sternebring's guard.
Sternebring not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Rask controlling from the top position.
Rask working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

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.
Sternebring trying to keep a closed guard but Rask is proving a slippery customer.

Rask decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Sternebring, up you get!

Sternebring closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rask tries to get to full guard but Sternebring has control of the leg.
Rask is concentrating on defense, preventing Sternebring from advancing position.
Rask slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikko Rask showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Rask 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikko Rask!