PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Bill Nye (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.

Nye
vs
Kantola

180 cm
23
187 lbs
6 - 8 - 0

176 cm
22
182 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Great elbows
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 6 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Bill Nye!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Kantola!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nye tries to clinch up
and Kantola counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

Nye forces Kantola back against the cage and clinches.
Kantola blocks a body shot from Nye.
Kantola just leaning against Nye, taking a breather.
Kantola keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Nye's efforts to push away.
A short right from Kantola on the inside.

Kantola drags the fight down to the ground.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Kantola is looking for a triangle but Nye pushes his legs off easily.

Nye got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kantola has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nye has managed to get both his arms back between Kantola's legs - danger averted.

Kantola has his foot on Nye's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Nye works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nye is looking to stand up but Kantola won't let him.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kantola holds on and takes a little breather.

Kantola is looking for a triangle but Nye pushes his legs off easily.
Kantola manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kantola avoids the attempt from Nye to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nye is looking to improve his position but Kantola isn't that keen on the idea.

Kantola jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Nye is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Nye and Kantola has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

Kantola tries for a kimura but Nye is defending well.
Nye tries to escape but Kantola is in control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola laying and praying for a moment but Nye takes advantage and regains half guard.
Kantola controlling the action here.
Kantola is keen to just control but Nye is a slippery customer.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nye pushes Kantola off looking to stand but Kantola dives back in and keeps control.

Kantola is looking for a kimura here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nye is trying to get back to full guard.

Kantola is looking for a kimura here.
Nye tries to kick Kantola off but Kantola keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Kantola dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kantola throws a body punch but Nye moves out of range.

Nye clinches up with Kantola and pushes him back against the cage.
Nye jumps guard but Kantola turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Nye working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The referee is keeping an eye on Nye - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Kantola lands a shoulder strike.
Nye with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kantola is trying to pull guard but Nye turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Nye is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kantola tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nye avoids it.
Kantola lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Nye tries to pull guard but Kantola holds him up against the cage and eventually Nye drops back down to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kantola pulls guard effortlessly.
Nye stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kantola swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kantola trying to keep a closed guard but Nye is proving a slippery customer.

Kantola working for a triangle but Nye defends it easily.
Nye won't allow Kantola to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nye has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Kantola is proving hard to escape from.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kantola is on top in guard.
Nye wants to stand but Kantola is controlling the position.
Nye working a defensive guard here.
Kantola pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Nye is keeping the position for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Nye is looking to stand up but Kantola isn't so interested in that idea.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kantola throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kantola thuds a left hand into Nye's body.
Nye tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nye wants to clinch but Kantola slips to the side

and Kantola counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kantola stays in close to Nye's body and controls the position.
Kantola trying to control but Nye is working from the bottom.
Kantola sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kantola is looking to advance position but Nye has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Nye get's back to his feet.
Kantola is looking to land body kicks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Kantola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Nye is looking to clinch.
Kantola throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Nye stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Kantola fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kantola misses with a hook. Nye ducked under it nicely.
Kantola lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Nye drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nye tries to clinch there but Kantola circles away.
Nye tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in the close the distance. Kantola manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Both fighters circling a little - Kantola finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kantola sizes up Nye with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Kantola throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Bill Nye is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nye avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kantola lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Nye tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kantola paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Nye takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola thows a body shot but no joy.
No luck for Kantola with that takedown attempt.
Good shot there by Kantola.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Kantola lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Nye has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Nye and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Nye takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kantola fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kantola throws a sloppy head kick and Nye moves out of range easily.
Nye misses with a head kick.
Kantola keeps the fight on the outside.
Nye fails with an attempt to clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Kantola. Those never looked like landing.
Nye goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kantola lands with a shot to the body.
Nye connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola loads up on a big right hand but Nye slips the punch.
Kantola will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Nye misses with a low kick as Kantola jumps back.

Nye fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kantola, pushing him back against the cage.

Nye breaks the clinch.
Kantola misses with a jab to the body

and Nye counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kantola's guard now.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kantola has Nye pulled in close to control his posture.
Antti Kantola has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nye trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kantola's guard.
Kantola not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Antti Kantola is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Bill Nye has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Nye wants to stand but Kantola has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Antti Kantola.
Nye is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nye drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Nye is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Nye looks for a takedown but Kantola sprawls well.
Kantola attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Kantola thows a body shot but no joy.
Nye darts in trying to clinch
and Kantola counters with a nice body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Nye checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.

Kantola gets a clinch.
Kantola throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Kantola leaning against his opponent.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kantola blocks an uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kantola cracks Nye with a nice body shot.
Nye misses with an elbow over the top.
Nye throws a punch but it's blocked by Kantola.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antti Kantola comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kantola 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Antti Kantola!
During a confident post fight interview, Antti Kantola thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.