PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Erkki Elastinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jao Lai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elastinen comes to the cage accompanied by Cascada - Dangerous. Erkki Elastinen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Elastinen
vs
Lai

160 cm
28
148 lbs
11 - 11 - 0

184 cm
27
145 lbs
11 - 3 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Brown Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 11 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erkki Elastinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jao Lai!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elastinen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Lai defends it nicely.
Elastinen thows a body shot but no joy.
Lai turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Lai tries to clinch up but Elastinen circles away and keeps his distance.

Elastinen shoots in and bounces Lai off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Elastinen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lai is keeping the position for now.
Lai keeping moving, preventing Elastinen from controlling successfully.
Elastinen tries to free his leg and advance position but Lai is retaining full guard.
Lai pulls Elastinen in close to prevent any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lai is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Jao Lai.
Elastinen avoids a kick to the body.

Elastinen gets a takedown into half guard.
Elastinen wants to take a breather but Lai is having none of it.
Elastinen trying to mount his opponent but Lai defends it.
Elastinen not doing much here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lai gets full guard.
Elastinen stands and throws Lai's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Lai is not content to let Elastinen control the position.
Who's going to make the next move?
Lai is looking to regain half guard here but Elastinen keeps moving and retains side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen controls the position from side control.
Elastinen wants to control but Lai is keeping him busy.
Check out the look on Elastinen's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Lai is looking for a sweep.
Elastinen is looking to take a break and control but Lai is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Lai is looking to reverse the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lai is not content to let Elastinen control the position.
Elastinen moves into full mount!
Lai tries to hold on but Elastinen pushes him away.
Lai is looking to improve his position but Elastinen isn't that keen on the idea.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Elastinen trying to control but Lai is having none of it.
Lai is looking to improve his position but Elastinen isn't that keen on the idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erkki Elastinen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Lai has closed the distance and engaged Elastinen in a clinch.

Elastinen tightens his grip and picks Lai up, before dumping him to the ground. Lai manages to land in guard.
Elastinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Lai is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lai controls Elastinen momentarily but Elastinen frees himself.
Lai keeping moving, preventing Elastinen from controlling successfully.
Elastinen wants to pass the guard but Lai is keeping the position.
Elastinen advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elastinen trying to control the action but Lai is working from the bottom.
Lai manages to get back to half guard.
Elastinen slows the pace down in half guard.
Elastinen is looking to advance position but Lai won't allow it.
Elastinen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen controlling the pace for now.
Lai tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Elastinen jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Lai is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Lai and Elastinen has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Elastinen content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lai is looking to reverse the position.

Elastinen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Lai has escaped the position, nice work there.
Elastinen laying and praying for a moment but Lai takes advantage and regains half guard.
Lai is refusing to be controlled, as Elastinen sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lai is defending against the submission attempts here by Elastinen.
Elastinen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Elastinen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erkki Elastinen dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Lai swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Lai lands a nice looking body shot.
Elastinen wants to clinch up but Lai keeps it at a distance.

Elastinen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Lai sprawls well initially but Elastinen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Elastinen tries to pass to full mount but Lai defends it.

Elastinen is trying to work for a kimura but Lai is defending well.
Lai tries to roll over but Elastinen keeps him under control.
Lai wants to control but Elastinen passes into side.
Elastinen tries to advance to mount but Lai denies him.
Erkki Elastinen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lai is looking for a sweep.
Lai is not content to let Elastinen control the position.
Lai is trying to improve his position.
Elastinen tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
A lull in the action here.
Lai tries to buck Elastinen off but Elastinen is having none of it.
Jao Lai has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Elastinen goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Lai has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Elastinen but great work by Lai.
Lai is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Elastinen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Elastinen is looking for a sweep. Lai is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Elastinen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Lai won't allow Elastinen to sweep him here.
Lai trying to control but Elastinen is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen controls Lai momentarily but Lai frees himself.
Elastinen can't keep his opponent in guard - Lai advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Lai missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Lai wants to take a breather but Elastinen is having none of it.
Elastinen is looking to improve his position.
Elastinen wants to control but Lai is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Elastinen moves into full guard.

Elastinen is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Lai frees his head nicely. Oh but Elastinen has switched to an armbar! Lai is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Erkki Elastinen!