PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rudy Fernandez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antti Kantola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Fernandez
vs
Kantola

180 cm
25
164 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

176 cm
22
182 lbs
6 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very strong

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Brute
Hellraiser Fightgear ($10-$20 clothing)

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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rudy Fernandez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Kantola!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fernandez moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Fernandez gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kantola counters with a nice double leg into side control. Fernandez won't be happy with that.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Kantola advances nicely into full mount.
Fernandez is looking to improve his position but Kantola isn't that keen on the idea.

Kantola working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Fernandez stops Kantola from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
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 is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Fernandez has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Fernandez!
Kantola is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Fernandez trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Fernandez throws an elbow that misses. Kantola uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fernandez's guard. Nice move by Kantola!
Kantola slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Fernandez wants to stand and escape but Kantola is having none of it.

Kantola has gone for a leg lock! Fernandez slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kantola's guard.
Fernandez looking to sit in guard and control but Kantola gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kantola sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Fernandez's guard.
Fernandez keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez is not content to let Kantola control the position.
Fernandez tries to get to full guard but Kantola has control of the leg.
Fernandez wants to get back to his feet.

Kantola is working for a submission of some sort.
Fernandez trying to control from the bottom.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kantola content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola is keen to just control but Fernandez is a slippery customer.
Fernandez wants to improve his position but Kantola is controlling well.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kantola tries to close the distance and clinch up but Fernandez swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kantola moves into range and connects with a jab.

Fernandez shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kantola's guard.
Fernandez has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Fernandez throws a strike but Kantola rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Fernandez seems keen to control Kantola's posture.
Fernandez is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Fernandez is thwarting Kantola's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fernandez looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fernandez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kantola is looking to improve his position.
Kantola is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Kantola looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kantola is pressing down on Fernandez's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Fernandez cracks Kantola with a solid left hand.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fernandez throws an elbow that misses. Kantola uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Fernandez's guard. Nice move by Kantola!
Kantola pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Fernandez is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Antti Kantola will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kantola feints and then cracks Fernandez's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Fernandez down.
Fernandez shoots in for a takedown but Kantola shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Fernandez fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Fernandez will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rudy Fernandez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
An inside leg kick lands from Kantola.
Fernandez tries to clinch but Kantola moves away
and Kantola counters with a straight right hand.

It looks like Rudy Fernandez has been cut.

Kantola shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Fernandez has his hands clasped together around Kantola's back. He's all about the action.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Fernandez is trying to stand back up but Kantola is controlling him
Kantola wants to pass the guard but Fernandez is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fernandez trying to hold on to Kantola's head to control him but Kantola postures up.
Kantola trying to control the action but Fernandez is working from the bottom.
Kantola has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Fernandez can't escape the position.
Kantola looking to control but Fernandez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

Kantola has hold of Fernandez's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Fernandez manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Fernandez tries to hold on but Kantola postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola looking to control but Fernandez is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kantola moves to back control.
Fernandez just trying to survive but Kantola is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Kantola is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Fernandez knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Fernandez for a finish.
Kantola is trying to stick to Fernandez's back but Fernandez is turning into Kantola. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Kantola's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Fernandez.
Antti Kantola has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Antti Kantola!
A relieved looking Antti Kantola thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.