PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jonas Sakalas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Shael Connen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sakalas kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Deliver Me. Connen has chosen Rock You Like a Hurricane as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Sakalas
vs
Connen

169 cm
27
172 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

175 cm
32
170 lbs
10 - 11 - 0

Good takedowns
Good kicks
Experienced

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Cyclone Nutrition Company
Reaper Combatwear

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 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Jonas Sakalas!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Shael Connen!
The judges for this bout are Wagner Zegers, Aafke Stam and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sakalas dodges the punch combination from Connen.
Sakalas fails with the takedown.
Sakalas fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Shael Connen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Connen throws a right and a left that Sakalas avoids nicely.

Connen drives through and clinches with Sakalas against the cage.

Connen has hold of one of Sakalas's legs. Sakalas is fighting the takedown attempt but Connen gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Connen looking to pass the guard.
Sakalas pulls Connen in close to prevent any damage.
Connen postures up.
Connen tries to free his leg and advance position but Sakalas is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sakalas utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Connen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Connen is in close to Sakalas's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Connen gets to his feet. Sakalas looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Nice takedown defense from Connen. No joy for Sakalas on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jonas Sakalas. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice body kick there by Sakalas.
Connen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Sakalas sprawls well. Sakalas wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Connen gets slowly back to his feet.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Sakalas stuffs the takedown.

Sakalas closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Connen did well to prevent Sakalas getting side control.
Connen is trying to stand.

Sakalas wants to work for an arm triangle but Connen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sakalas is breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sakalas prevents Connen from standing back up.
Connen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Connen tries to get to full guard but Sakalas has control of the leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Connen tries to get to full guard but Sakalas has control of the leg.

Sakalas is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Connen is looking for a sweep. Sakalas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Connen manages to get to full guard.
Sakalas throws a big elbow that misses.
Sakalas is looking to work some ground and pound but Connen has wrist control.
Connen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Connen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connen landing shots from mount.
Sakalas suckers Connen into throwing a sloppy strike and uses the momentum to reverse the position beautifully! Sakalas is now in Connen's guard!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Connen wants to stand but Sakalas is controlling the position.
Connen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Connen striking from the bottom here.
Connen throwing some rather feeble looking strikes off his back.
Connen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sakalas stops Connen from standing up.
Sakalas postures up and lands a big shot to Connen's brow.
Sakalas scoring with punches to the head and body.
Sakalas won't allow Connen to sweep him here.
Connen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sakalas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sakalas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Sakalas lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Sakalas won't allow Connen to sweep him here.
Sakalas with a flurry of punches that miss.
Connen wants to get back to his feet but Sakalas is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sakalas 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.
Connen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Sakalas preventing the sweep.
Connen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sakalas passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Connen is looking for a sweep.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Sakalas scores with a couple of short elbows.
Connen is looking for a sweep.
Check out the look on Sakalas's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Shael Connen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Connen feints a jab promting Sakalas to slip. Connen then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Sakalas slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Sakalas is trying hard to land a takedown here. Connen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.

Connen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Connen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Connen throwing strikes but missing.
Connen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Connen throwing strikes but missing.
Connen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Connen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Connen with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Connen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Connen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Connen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Sakalas is proving hard to escape from.
Connen slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Connen throws an elbow but Sakalas slips to the side and avoids it well.
Sakalas regains half guard, as Connen was trying to land strikes.
Connen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Connen thows a huge punch but Sakalas dodges it nicely.
Connen is pressing down on Sakalas's thigh, looking to free his foot. Sakalas is holding on for now.
Connen is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Connen thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Connen lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Connen unloads with some shots from mount but Sakalas bucks and avoids them well.
Connen breaks from Sakalas's wrist control and lands an elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Connen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Connen throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Sakalas because Connen loaded up on that one.
Connen sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Connen with good strikes from the mount here!
Connen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sakalas looks a forlorn figure.
Sakalas takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.

Sakalas is rocked!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Whack. That's a big, big shot from Connen! Sakalas is out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:57 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Shael Connen!
Shael Connen made sure to mention his sponsor, Cyclone Nutrition Company in his post fight interview.