PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksateri Karjala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Harri Soikkeli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Karjala
vs
Soikkeli

205 cm
18
275 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

202 cm
20
297 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

recos laboratory

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aleksateri Karjala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harri Soikkeli!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Karjala scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Karjala sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Soikkeli defending well though.
Soikkeli gets full guard.
Karjala thows a big elbow that misses.
Karjala pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Soikkeli is keeping the position for now.
Soikkeli should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Soikkeli is trying to keep Karjala in close.
Karjala throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Soikkeli works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Karjala sitting in guard here, content to control.
Karjala throwing strikes but missing.
Soikkeli looking to hit a scissor sweep but Karjala is one step ahead there.
Soikkeli wants to stand up but Karjala is controlling him.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Karjala fails to land the takedown.

Karjala closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Soikkeli looks gassed!
Soikkeli manages to work his way to half guard, despite Karjala's best efforts.
Karjala slips a nice elbow through Soikkeli's hands, connecting with Soikkeli's forehead.
Karjala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Soikkeli keeps working.
Soikkeli is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Karjala scores with a couple of nice shots.

Karjala 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.
Karjala throwing shots but Soikkeli is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soikkeli avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Karjala.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Soikkeli stuffs the takedown attempt from Karjala. Karjala gets slowly back to his feet.
Aleksateri Karjala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice sprawl there from Soikkeli as Karjala shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksateri Karjala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Karjala fails with the takedown.
Karjala looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Soikkeli is fending him off so far but Karjala persists. Nope, Soikkeli circles away and we're back to standing.

Soikkeli looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Karjala!
Soikkeli throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Karjala because Soikkeli loaded up on that one.
Karjala is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Karjala slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Karjala flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Karjala works his way to full guard. Good work.
Karjala wants to sweep but no luck.
Karjala working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soikkeli.
Karjala on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Karjala tries to get out of the position.

Soikkeli stands up and waves to Karjala to follow him.
Karjala slips a jab and a cross from Soikkeli.

Karjala fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Soikkeli sprawls well initially but Karjala persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Soikkeli wants to get back to full guard.
Karjala trying to control the action but Soikkeli is working from the bottom.
Karjala has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Karjala dominating with strikes here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Karjala connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Soikkeli is looking to get to half guard.
Karjala postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Soikkeli looks a forlorn figure.
Karjala working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Karjala lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Soikkeli is wriggling around trying to escape.
Soikkeli taking shots to the head.
Karjala postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Soikkeli in real trouble here! The ref calls for Soikkeli to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Aleksateri Karjala!