PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Erwin Korba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keijo Kerjalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keijo Kerjalainen has the eye of the tiger tonight.

Korba
vs
Kerjalainen

185 cm
24
185 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

179 cm
25
171 lbs
10 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Zentrope Fighting Universe

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of London, Erwin Korba!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Keijo Kerjalainen!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Vladimir Khabensky and Sergei Dronov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kerjalainen blocks a head kick by Korba.

Kerjalainen moves into the clinch.
Korba drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Kerjalainen presses Korba against the ropes and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Korba tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Kerjalainen just stands there and leans against the ropes.

Korba escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kerjalainen buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kerjalainen throws a leg kick which misses Korba's front leg but catches the back leg as Korba tries to avoid it.
Korba scores with a nice right hand.

Korba scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
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!
Kerjalainen wants to control but Korba postures up.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Korba trying to control the action but Kerjalainen is working from the bottom.

Korba is trying to get an arm triangle but Kerjalainen is defending well.
Korba working away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Korba seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Kerjalainen is looking for a sweep.
Korba 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.
Korba tries to move into full mount but can't pass Kerjalainen's legs.
Sloppy strikes there by Korba.
Kerjalainen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kerjalainen is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Korba working away.
The strikes coming from Korba are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Korba is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Kerjalainen has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kerjalainen prevents Korba from moving into mount.
Korba lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kerjalainen down.

Korba tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Korba is looking to take a break and control but Kerjalainen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Korba tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kerjalainen wants to control but Korba postures up.

Korba tries for a kimura but Kerjalainen is defending well.
Kerjalainen is trying to control Korba's posture but Korba avoids it.
Korba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kerjalainen keeps working.
Korba throwing shots but missing, from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Korba is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kerjalainen is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Korba wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kerjalainen keeps working.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Korba working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erwin Korba dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kerjalainen slips a jab from Korba.
Kerjalainen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Korba.
Kerjalainen pivots, looking for a leg kick but Korba is out of range and Kerjalainen settles back down.

Kerjalainen pushes Korba up against the ropes in a clinch.
Kerjalainen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Korbas head.
Korba jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Kerjalainen walks away with a smile on his face. Korba gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Thud! ouch! good body kick from Kerjalainen - that will leave a mark!
Kerjalainen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kerjalainen throws a sloppy head kick and Korba moves out of range easily.
Korba throws a nice looking combination but Kerjalainen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Keijo Kerjalainen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Korba blocks a low kick nicely.
Nice sprawl there from Kerjalainen as Korba shoots in.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korba throws a body kick that misses.
Korba closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kerjalainen circles away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erwin Korba. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Korba misses with a double jab
and Kerjalainen makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Korba really felt that one!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kerjalainen connects with a right hand. Korba shakes it off.
Korba looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kerjalainen feints and then cracks Korba's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Korba down.
Kerjalainen tries to close the distance and clinch but Korba swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Korba scores a takedown into full mount!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kerjalainen is looking to get to half guard.
Korba looking to ground and pound but Kerjalainen is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerjalainen can't escape the position.
Korba wants to control the pace but Kerjalainen is squirming around nicely.
Korba throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kerjalainen because Korba loaded up on that one.
Korba avoids the attempt from Kerjalainen to control.
Korba looking to control but Kerjalainen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Korba goes for an armbar but Kerjalainen turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Kerjalainen.
Korba wants to sweep here but Kerjalainen controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerjalainen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Korba wants to control but Kerjalainen passes easily into half guard.
Korba trying to control but Kerjalainen postures up.
Korba wants to improve his position but Kerjalainen is controlling well.
Erwin Korba overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Korba is working hard here to advance position.
Kerjalainen blocks the strikes from Korba.
Kerjalainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Korba keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerjalainen is just content to waste time from the top position. Korba takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Korba tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kerjalainen would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kerjalainen wants to control from the top but Korba keeps moving.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Keijo Kerjalainen wasn't active enough on the ground.
Kerjalainen lands with a slapping head kick.

It looks like Erwin Korba has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Korba with a poor takedown
and Kerjalainen counters with a leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keijo Kerjalainen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Erwin Korba's cut.
That's time! Korba's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Korba avoids the head kick by Kerjalainen.
A head kick by Korba misses
and Kerjalainen counters with an outside leg kick.
Korba connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Kerjalainen's hands.
Kerjalainen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Korba. That did some damage!
Kerjalainen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Korba gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Kerjalainen makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kerjalainen scores with the left hand. Korba knows he should have avoided that one.
Korba drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Kerjalainen fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Korba has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Korba throws a lazy head kick
and Kerjalainen counters with a nice kick to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Kerjalainen.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kerjalainen scores with a head kick. Korba tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Kerjalainen is looking to clinch but Korba is avoiding it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Korba is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kerjalainen.
Korba is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kerjalainen.
Kerjalainen lands with a kick to the ribs.
Kerjalainen connects with a solid leg kick.
Kerjalainen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Kerjalainen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Korba has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Kerjalainen.
Korba dodges the punch combination from Kerjalainen.
Sloppy strikes from Korba. Those never looked like landing.
Kerjalainen lands a head kick. Korba smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Keijo Kerjalainen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Korba looks to land a combination but Kerjalainen avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerjalainen lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
A chopping leg kick lands by Kerjalainen.
Kerjalainen throws a head kick that misses.
Korba takes a kick to the side of the head.

Erwin Korba's cut is getting worse.
Kerjalainen connects with a solid leg kick.
Kerjalainen scores with a leg kick.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Kerjalainen, right into the meat.

Kerjalainen lands a big head kick that sends Korba tumbling to the mat! Kerjalainen takes a step backwards and waves Korba back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Korba is rocked!
Kerjalainen tries a head kick but it misses.
Oh Korba is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Kerjalainen lands a big right hand that sends Korba crashing to the mat! Kerjalainen stays standing though and waves Korba back to his feet!

Erwin Korba's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Korba uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kerjalainen.
Kerjalainen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Korba tries a head kick but it misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Korba throws a head kick that misses.
Korba seems to have got his legs back now.
Kerjalainen lands a nice leg kick that just misses Korba's sensitive parts.

Kerjalainen closes the distance and pushes Korba back into the ropes.
Kerjalainen stops a takedown attempt from Korba.
Kerjalainen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Kerjalainen crunches a lovely knee into Korba's ribcage.
Kerjalainen working Korba over with knees to the body.
Kerjalainen working some nice short punches in the clinch.

Kerjalainen manages to break the clinch.

Kerjalainen rushes Korba and presses him up against the ropes.
Kerjalainen lands an elbow inside.
Kerjalainen gets through Korba's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kerjalainen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A right hook to the body lands for Kerjalainen.
A right handed body shot lands from Kerjalainen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerjalainen is working Korba over against the ropes.
Kerjalainen lands an uppercut.
Korba is looking for a takedown up against the ropes. Kerjalainen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kerjalainen.
Kerjalainen slowing the pace effectively.
Kerjalainen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Kerjalainen digs a right hand into Korba's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Korba's gas tank.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Kerjalainen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kerjalainen unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Kerjalainen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kerjalainen throws a head kick but Korba moves out of range.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Korba swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Erwin Korba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Keijo Kerjalainen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Kerjalainen gets a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keijo Kerjalainen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kerjalainen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight for Keijo Kerjalainen!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Keijo Kerjalainen!
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Keijo Kerjalainen!

Keijo Kerjalainen wins by unanimous decision!
A relieved looking Keijo Kerjalainen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.