PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Clark Channell (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antti Kantola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Channell
vs
Kantola

185 cm
22
182 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

176 cm
22
182 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q
Steel Terror-Trition: Video Proven 160Q

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Clark Channell!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Kantola!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Channell closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kantola throws a nice looking combination but Channell bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kantola throws a combination. Channell tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Channell connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Kantola stuffs the takedown.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Channell lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kantola circles away quickly and effectively.
Kantola moves out of range of the body kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Kantola.

Channell scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kantola manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kantola tries to get to full guard but Channell has control of the leg.

Channell is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kantola sees it coming and defends easily.

Channell is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kantola has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kantola tries to roll over but Channell keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola wants to control but Channell is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kantola tries to get to full guard but Channell has control of the leg.

Channell is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Channell seems to be looking for submissions.
Kantola regains full guard. Nicely done.

Kantola is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Channell is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kantola has his foot on Channell's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Channell works his way back into a safe position though.
Kantola utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Channell avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Channell tries to free his leg and advance position but Kantola is retaining full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Channell trying to control the position from guard on top but Kantola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kantola had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Channell defends it easily.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kantola controls Channell momentarily but Channell frees himself.
Channell tries to free his leg and advance position but Kantola is retaining full guard.
Channell is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Channell drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kantola manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Channell has Kantola in his guard.

Channell escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kantola gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kantola trying to control but Channell is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Channell is keeping the position for now.
Channell throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Kantola wants to pass the guard but Channell is keeping the position.
Channell keeping moving, preventing Kantola from controlling successfully.
Kantola might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Channell kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Antti Kantola hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Kantola fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Channell manages to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kantola shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kantola showed some decent athleticism there.
Channell works his way to full guard. Good work.

Channell looking for a guillotine here but Kantola defends easily.
Kantola trying to control but Channell is working from the bottom.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kantola trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Channell can't keep his opponent in guard - Kantola advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Kantola not doing much here.

Channell looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Kantola dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kantola fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Channell has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Channell throws a sloppy head kick and Kantola moves out of range easily.
Channell misses with a body shot
and Kantola counters with a low kick, right behind Channell 's knee.
Channell is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kantola.
Kantola fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Kantola cracks Channell with a good jab.
Kantola scores with a hook.
Channell blocks a jab.

Kantola shoots in and bounces Channell off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kantola trying to control but Channell is working from the bottom.
Channell bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Kantola's guard.
Channell wants to control from the top but Kantola keeps moving.
Channell pushes down on Kantola's leg and manages to get into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Channell is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kantola has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kantola trying to control but Channell postures up.
Kantola controlling the position well.
Kantola is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Channell scores with a couple of nice shots.
Channell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Channell is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Kantola sees it coming and defends easily.
Kantola wants to improve his position but Channell is controlling well.

Channell is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Kantola defends it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola is trying to maintain the position but Channell is very close to passing his half guard.
Channell missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kantola wants to control but Channell is keeping busy.
Channell working Kantola over with strikes.

Channell is trying to work for a kimura but Kantola is defending well.
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!
Kantola wants to control but Channell is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Channell is looking for a kimura here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola blocking the ground and pound attempt from Channell.
Channell is thwarting Kantola's attempts to control the position.
Kantola tries to get to full guard but Channell has control of the leg.
Channell seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kantola does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Channell prevents Kantola from improving his position.
Kantola blocking the ground and pound attempt from Channell.
Channell seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kantola does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Kantola actively working from the bottom here.
Kantola is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Channell seems to be looking for submissions.
Kantola manages to get to full guard.

Channell has gone for a leg lock! Kantola slips out almost immediately though and dives into Channell's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Channell working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kantola doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kantola manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kantola wants to control from the top but Channell keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Antti Kantola will probably get the nod - 10:9.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Kantola scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kantola slips a jab from Channell.
Channell throws a right hand that Kantola ducks under and follows up with a left that Kantola also avoids with ease.

Kantola clinches up with Channell and pushes him back against the cage.
Channell struggles to land a body shot inside as Kantola controls his hands.
Kantola lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Kantola lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Channell wants to stall.
Kantola throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kantola lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Channell backwards.
Kantola is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Channell is keeping busy.
Kantola blocks a body shot from Channell.

Kantola is fighting off a takedown attempt but Channell is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Kantola to the mat. Kantola regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Kantola pulls Channell in to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Channell postures up in Kantola's guard and throws a big left but Kantola blocks it.

Kantola throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Channell working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Channell wants to control from the top but Kantola keeps moving.
Channell makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kantola trying to keep a closed guard but Channell is proving a slippery customer.
Channell has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kantola preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Channell stopping the sweep attempt from Kantola.
Channell working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kantola's head.
Kantola trying to keep a closed guard but Channell is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kantola looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Channell throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kantola works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Kantola working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Channell doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Channell manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kantola working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Channell.

Kantola is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Channell defends well.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kantola is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Channell rolls with it to try and escape but Kantola cranks on the arm and Channell is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:56 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Antti Kantola!
A victorious Antti Kantola thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.