PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Al Astra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erkki Junttila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Junttila has chosen Disturbed - Voices as his entrance music. Erkki Junttila will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Astra
vs
Junttila

178 cm
18
205 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

190 cm
22
200 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Al Astra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Erkki Junttila!
The judges for this bout are Robert Twigg, Gwen Towbar and Tiny Johnson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Astra swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Astra misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Junttila.

Astra shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Astra was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Junttila can't escape the position.
Astra content just to control the position here.
Junttila tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Junttila throwing punches from his back but nothing is landing.

Astra looking for a guillotine from mount but Junttila is having none of it.
Junttila is looking to improve his position but Astra isn't that keen on the idea.
Astra can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Junttila is looking to escape.
Astra could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Junttila throwing hammer fists to the chest of Astra. What's that going to do exactly?
Junttila sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Astra seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Junttila does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Junttila kicks off Astra and gets to his feet.

Astra bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Astra is breathing heavily.
Junttila is trying to improve his position.
Junttila is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Astra's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Junttila looking for submissions off his back.
Junttila manages to get to full guard.

Astra thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Junttila looking for a guillotine here but Astra defends easily.
Astra trying to control but Junttila is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Junttila looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Junttila thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Junttila working for a triangle but Astra defends it easily.
Junttila trying to strike off his back.

Astra drops back looking for a leg! Junttila is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Junttila manages to kick Astra off! Astra jumps back into Junttila's guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Astra accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Junttila has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Astra off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Junttila is looking to clinch but Astra is avoiding it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Astra tries to bum rush Junttila with a series of wild strikes but Junttila uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Junttila is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Astra fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Junttila doesn't succeed with the takedown
enabling Astra to counter with a crisp jab.

Astra tries to keep at a distance but Junttila has taken the fight into the clinch.

Junttila breaks from the clinch.

Junttila instigates a clinch.
Junttila goes for a takedown attempt but Astra pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Junttila misses with a few strikes there.
Junttila ducks right into an uppercut from Astra.
Astra throws the left hand but Junttila avoids the punch easily.
Junttila tries to clinch up but Astra circles away and keeps his distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junttila throws a series of punches but Astra avoids them all with ease.
Astra doesn't manage to clinch there - Junttila circles away.
Junttila needs to keep his hands up - Astra had a free shot at his head there.
Astra has his takedown stuffed

and Junttila counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Junttila.
Astra looking to hit a scissor sweep but Junttila is one step ahead there.

Astra had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Junttila is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Astra Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Junttila's back instead.

Astra working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.
Astra scores with strikes from the back.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Junttila defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Astra's arms.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
This has been an exciting period of action!
Junttila tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erkki Junttila dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

A thudding body kick lands there by Junttila!
Astra fails with the takedown
and Junttila counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Junttila is looking to clinch.
Astra clobbers Junttila with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.

Astra closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Astra is looking to take a break and control but Junttila is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Junttila is trying to stand back up but Astra is controlling him

Astra seems to be working for a kimura but Junttila defends the submission attempt.

Astra is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Junttila kicks Astra off and gets back to his feet.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Junttila clinches up with Astra and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Astra prevents the takedown attempt.
Astra keeps control of Junttila as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Astra wants a takedown.
Junttila landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Junttila stalling in the clinch but Astra improves position.
Astra tries to score a body lock takedown but Junttila shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Al Astra. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Junttila drags the fight down to the ground.
Junttila keeping full guard, as Astra tries to pass.
Astra trying to control the position from guard on top but Junttila is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Astra slips nicely into half guard.
Astra trying to control the action but Junttila is working from the bottom.
Astra passes to full mount!

Junttila defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Astra.
Erkki Junttila has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Junttila keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Astra trying to control but Junttila is having none of it.
Astra scoring with strikes but Junttila is staying in there.
Junttila is trying desperately to improve position.
Astra landing strikes, looking to finish!
Junttila is looking to get to half guard.
Junttila regains half guard.

Astra is looking for a kimura but Junttila is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Astra to get the leverage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Junttila moves into full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Junttila has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Astra can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Junttila keeping moving, preventing Astra from controlling successfully.
Astra trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Astra trying to control but Junttila is working from the bottom.
Astra lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Astra passes into half guard.
Astra wants to take a breather but Junttila is having none of it.
Junttila punching from the bottom.

Junttila pushes Astra off and gets back to his feet.

Junttila closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Astra to the mat! Astra manages to get full guard.
Astra manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Junttila keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Junttila wants to get back to his feet.
Junttila is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Junttila throwing hammer fists to the chest of Astra. What's that going to do exactly?
Junttila sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Astra thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Junttila's head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Junttila makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Junttila.

Junttila has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Astra can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Junttila looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erkki Junttila showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Astra's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Astra throws a sloppy head kick
and Junttila counters with a one-two to the body.
Astra throws a shot from downtown. Junttila moves away and avoids it.
Junttila slips a jab from Astra.
Astra falls off balance throwing a combination

and Junttila counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Junttila.
Astra fails to pull guard.
Junttila landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Junttila escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Astra uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Junttila tries to clinch up.
Astra swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Junttila counters with a thumping low kick.

Junttila scores a takedown into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Junttila working for a submission but Astra is keeping him at bay.
Astra keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Astra slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Astra is trying to get back to full guard.

Astra is defending against the submission attempts here by Junttila.
Astra might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Astra is looking to control Junttila's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Astra avoid being mounted?

Junttila is working for a kimura but Astra is defending it quite comfortably.
Junttila thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Astra is trying to get back to full guard.
Astra gets full guard.
Junttila is in close to Astra's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Junttila advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Junttila has hold of the far side arm. He's working for the Kimura, can Astra defend it? Junttila steps over the head and cranks it - Astra is tapping out! That was textbook stuff right there - nice submission victory for Junttila!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:09 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Erkki Junttila!