PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ari Kantola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Heinrich Auswitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ari Kantola could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Heinrich Auswitch's chin.

Kantola
vs
Auswitch

185 cm
20
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
26
270 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ari Kantola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Heinrich Auswitch!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kantola throws a left and a right that both miss
and Auswitch counters with a head kick.
Kantola feints and then cracks Auswitch's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Auswitch down.

Kantola moves into the clinch.

Kantola breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kantola goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Kantola dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Auswitch. That did some damage!
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 feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Kantola won't allow Auswitch to sweep him here.

Kantola gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Auswitch tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kantola swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kantola throws an overhand right that lands on Auswitch's shoulder, as Auswitch tries to avoid the shot.
Kantola throws an off balance right hand

and Auswitch moves into the clinch.

Kantola gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Kantola is thwarting Auswitch's attempts to control the position.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Kantola in particular looking to stall.
Auswitch is not content to let Kantola control the position.
Kantola missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Auswitch is trying to maintain the position but Kantola is very close to passing his half guard.
Kantola tries to pass the half guard into mount. Auswitch knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kantola. That's going to slow Auswitch down.
Kantola throws a combination that misses

and Auswitch counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Kantola has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Auswitch uses from the top position.
Kantola has his hands on Auswitch's head, controlling the position.

Kantola looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola wants to stand and escape but Auswitch is having none of it.

Auswitch decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kantola, up you get!
Kantola avoids the head kick by Auswitch.
Kantola falls off balance throwing a combination
and Auswitch counters with a body kick that stops Kantola in his tracks momentarily.
Auswitch tries to clinch but Kantola moves out of range.
A lazy left from Kantola finds it's target.
Kantola throws a hook but Auswitch blocks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kantola misses with a hook to the body

and Auswitch holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Kantola manages to break the clinch.
Ari Kantola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kantola throws a lazy uppercut

and Auswitch counters by moving into the clinch.

Kantola jumps guard.
Auswitch must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kantola throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Kantola is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kantola seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kantola is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Auswitch really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kantola. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Auswitch is not content to let Kantola control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

No joy there for Kantola, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A shot to the liver by Kantola. Beautiful body shot.
Kantola throws a series of punches but Auswitch moves out of range.
Kantola will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kantola tries a head kick but it misses.
Kantola throws a combination that misses

and Auswitch counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Kantola gets underhooks to prevent Auswitch's takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Auswitch gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Kantola blocking the ground and pound attempt from Auswitch.
Kantola regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kantola is pulling down on Auswitch's head to control his posture.
Auswitch wants to control from the top but Kantola keeps moving.
Auswitch won't allow Kantola to sweep him here.

Kantola uses the cage to get back to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Auswitch looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Heinrich Auswitch is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kantola misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kantola throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Auswitch tries to clinch there but Kantola circles away.
Auswitch chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Kantola can pounce on him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A head kick from Kantola lands but Auswitch takes it in his stride.
Auswitch takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Auswitch fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Kantola is out of range.
Kantola lands a head shot.

Kantola pushes Auswitch up against the cage in a clinch.
Auswitch is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Kantola to keep the fight standing.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Auswitch tries to score a body lock takedown but Kantola shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Ari Kantola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Heinrich Auswitch.

Kantola has picked Auswitch up - he's going for a ride! Kantola dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Kantola throwing shots but Auswitch is blocking nicely.
Kantola is trying to control the action in half guard but Auswitch is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kantola performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Kantola here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.
Auswitch is staying active underneath Kantola, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kantola is figuring out what he wants to do next.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ari Kantola.
Kantola throws a nice looking combination but Auswitch bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

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

Kantola has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Auswitch clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Auswitch trying to control but not successfully.
Kantola punishes Auswitch with strikes from the back mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Kantola dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kantola pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kantola throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Auswitch moves into the clinch.

Auswitch is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kantola is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Auswitch to the mat. Auswitch regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Kantola trying to control the position from guard on top but Auswitch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kantola accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Auswitch has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Kantola landing some decent shots from guard.
Kantola trying to control the position from guard on top but Auswitch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Auswitch looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Kantola gets to his feet - Auswitch follows without any prompting.
Kantola misses with a straight right.

Auswitch gets a clinch.
Auswitch is looking for a takedown.
Auswitch looking for a takedown.

Kantola jumps guard.
Auswitch is stalling in the full guard.
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.
Ari Kantola is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola keeping moving, preventing Auswitch from controlling successfully.

Kantola working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Auswitch doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Auswitch manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Auswitch trying to control the position from guard on top but Kantola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kantola looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Heinrich Auswitch.
A left lands for Kantola.

Kantola scores a takedown into full mount!
Kantola controlling from mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Auswitch is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kantola controlling from mount.
Auswitch is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kantola looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kantola landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kantola is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Auswitch can do to turn this around?
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kantola trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Kantola looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Auswitch is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Kantola showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kantola, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Kantola!