PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Sasa Gusi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antti Sokka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Gusi kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Ekipa- BGD Syndicate. The crowd seem to be enjoying Sokka's choice of entrance music: Black Sun Aeon - Core of Winter. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Gusi
vs
Sokka

175 cm
28
195 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

185 cm
27
188 lbs
16 - 7 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Popeye’s Spinach - 159 + 158 Proof Supps

Perkele!

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 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Sasa Gusi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Sokka!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sokka throws a sloppy head kick and Gusi moves out of range easily.
Sokka fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Sokka throws a head kick but Gusi moves out of range.
Sokka throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sokka scores with a push kick.
Sokka tries a head kick but it misses.
Sokka uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Gusi.

Gusi moves into the clinch.

Sokka pulls Gusi into guard.
Sokka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Sokka pulls Gusi in to control the position.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sokka avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Gusi wants to control from the top but Sokka keeps moving.
Gusi won't allow Sokka to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokka is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Sokka throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Sokka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Gusi is fighting to break Sokka's control of his arms but Sokka is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gusi scoring with some ground and pound.
Sokka keeping moving, preventing Gusi from controlling successfully.
Sokka is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gusi throws an elbow that misses. Sokka uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gusi's guard. Nice move by Sokka!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gusi is adopting a defensive guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokka trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Sokka drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gusi looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gusi looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gusi!
Gusi with the ground and pound but Sokka regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Gusi scoring with strikes to the body and head.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gusi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sokka's head.
Sokka is staying active underneath Gusi, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Gusi throws a strike but Sokka avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gusi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sokka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gusi lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gusi is looking to work some ground and pound but Sokka has wrist control.
Gusi postures up in Sokka's guard and throws a big left but Sokka blocks it.
Sokka seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Gusi is in close to Sokka's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Sokka is trying to control the position but Gusi postures up.
Gusi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sokka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gusi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Sokka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sokka trying to keep a closed guard but Gusi is proving a slippery customer.
Gusi throws a strike but Sokka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sokka 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.
Sokka throwing strikes but missing.
Gusi wants to sweep here but Sokka controlling him for the moment.
Sokka wants to control from the top but Gusi keeps moving.
This has been an exciting period of action!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Gusi holds on and takes a little breather.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Antti Sokka will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A nice inside leg kick there by Sokka. That's going to slow Gusi down.
Nice body kick there by Sokka.
Antti Sokka seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sokka scores with a head kick. Gusi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.

It looks like Sasa Gusi has been cut.
Gusi moves out of range of the body kick.
Sokka throws a leg kick which misses Gusi's front leg but catches the back leg as Gusi tries to avoid it.
Gusi throws a hook but Sokka blocks it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick by Sokka misses
and Gusi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Sokka pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sokka tries a head kick but it misses.
Sokka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Gusi swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Sokka throws a head kick that Gusi semi-blocks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokka misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Gusi counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Nice defenses there by Gusi.
Sokka uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Gusi.
Sokka scores with a head kick. Gusi tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Gusi tries for a takedown but Sokka sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sokka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Gusi.
Gusi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Sokka enables Gusi to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Sokka manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Sokka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sasa Gusi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Sokka is pulling down on Gusi's head to control his posture.
Gusi trying to control but Sokka is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gusi throws a big elbow that misses.
Gusi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Sokka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Sokka trying to control the position.
Gusi wants to control from the top but Sokka keeps moving.
Gusi throws an elbow that misses. Sokka uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Gusi's guard. Nice move by Sokka!
Gusi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Gusi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sokka is one step ahead there.
Sokka trying to control the position from guard on top but Gusi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Gusi trying to control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Sokka - that will leave a mark!
Sokka plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Sokka moves out of range of the strikes.
Gusi shoots in for a takedown but Sokka shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Nice shot lands for Sokka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusi walks forward, straight into a front kick from Sokka.
Antti Sokka seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Gusi takes a kick to the side of the head.
Gusi slips under a jab from Sokka.
Sokka throws a head kick that misses.

Sokka gets a double leg takedown into Gusi's guard.
Sokka pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Gusi is keeping the position for now.
Sokka missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sokka looking to pass the guard.
Gusi is trying to control the position but Sokka postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Sokka showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Sasa Gusi's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Sokka tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Gusi is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Sokka's half guard.
Sokka is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sokka trying to control from the bottom.

Gusi wants to work for an arm triangle but Sokka is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sokka works his way to full guard. Good work.
Gusi throws a strike but Sokka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Sokka trying to control the position from guard on top but Gusi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sokka landing some decent shots from guard.
Gusi has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Gusi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Gusi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Sokka working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Gusi keeping moving, preventing Sokka from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sokka looking to sit in guard and control but Gusi gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Sokka holds on and takes a little breather.
Sokka lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gusi!
Sokka misses with a head shot.
Gusi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sokka looking to control but Gusi is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sokka jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Gusi is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Gusi and Sokka has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Sokka passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Gusi!

Sokka is standing up out of mount! Strange tactic there - he must really want this one on the feet!
Sokka misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.

Sokka feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Sokka trying to control the position from guard on top but Gusi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sasa Gusi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gusi trying to control the position.
Sokka sitting in guard, not really doing much.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Sokka postures up in Gusi's guard and throws a big left but Gusi blocks it.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sokka keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gusi's head.
Sokka postures up in Gusi's guard and throws a big left but Gusi blocks it.
Antti Sokka is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gusi 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.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antti Sokka comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Sokka winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antti Sokka!
Antti Sokka very nearly forgot to thank Undead clothing. All items 10$ amongst all the excitement of his win but just as the interview came to a close, he screamed their name. Hopefully he'll get a few nice freebies in the mail as a thank you.