PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Iiro Ankerias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Saatana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ankerias comes to the cage accompanied by Teräsbetoni - Teräksen varjo. Saatana has chosen Impaled Nazarene - Sadhu Satana as his entrance music. Sami Saatana will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Ankerias
vs
Saatana

165 cm
19
160 lbs
1 - 1 - 1

185 cm
19
160 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Iiro Ankerias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Saatana!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ankerias closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Saatana is trying to control Ankerias's posture but Ankerias avoids it.
Saatana is trying to improve his position.
Ankerias slows the pace down.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Saatana wants to control but Ankerias postures up.
Saatana is looking to regain half guard here but Ankerias keeps moving and retains side control.
Saatana wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Ankerias blocks the strikes from Saatana.
Saatana tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Ankerias feints and as Saatana raises his hands in defense, Ankerias changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ankerias postures up.
Ankerias tries to free his leg and advance position but Saatana is retaining full guard.
Ankerias is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Saatana looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ankerias is one step ahead there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Saatana is trying to control the position but Ankerias postures up.
Saatana wants to sweep here but Ankerias controlling him for the moment.
Ankerias sitting in guard here, content to control.
Saatana pulls Ankerias in close to prevent any damage.
Saatana tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ankerias controls from within his opponent's guard.
Saatana tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ankerias is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Ankerias has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Saatana 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.
Ankerias sitting in guard here, content to control.
Saatana looking for a sweep. Not yet Saatana, not yet.
Ankerias controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Saatana wants to sweep but no luck.
Saatana tries to strike from the bottom.
Ankerias could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Saatana trying to keep a closed guard but Ankerias is proving a slippery customer.

Saatana throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Saatana looks gassed!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Saatana is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Saatana ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ankerias moves away.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ankerias.
Saatana manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ankerias's best efforts.
Ankerias not doing much here.
Saatana is looking for a sweep. Ankerias is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ankerias content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Saatana wants to improve his position but Ankerias is controlling well.
Well, if Ankerias is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Ankerias's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Saatana is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Ankerias sitting and controlling from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iiro Ankerias dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Ankerias looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Saatana!
Saatana tries to lock up and control but Ankerias gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Saatana is wriggling around trying to escape.
Saatana is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Ankerias tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Saatana working to try and regain half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ankerias takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Saatana trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ankerias controlling the position easily from mount.
Saatana is in all sorts of trouble here.
Saatana is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Saatana tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Saatana tries to hold on but Ankerias pushes him away.
Saatana is trying to escape the mount.
Ankerias looking to control and managing it successfully.
Saatana tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Saatana's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Saatana is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Saatana flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Saatana is looking to improve his position but Ankerias isn't that keen on the idea.
Saatana is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Ankerias prevents Saatana from getting the reversal.
Ankerias controlling the pace for now.
Saatana tries to lock up and control but Ankerias gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Saatana is squirming around, avoiding Ankerias's attempts to control the action.
Saatana is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saatana swinging wildly from the bottom but he's not landing.
Saatana is in all sorts of trouble here.
Saatana is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.
Saatana is looking to get to half guard.
Saatana is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Saatana is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ankerias avoids the attempt from Saatana to control.
Saatana trying desperately to get to his feet.
Saatana keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Saatana tries to hold on but Ankerias postures up.
Saatana tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ankerias wants to take his opponent's back but Saatana doesn't allow it.
Saatana is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Ankerias controlling the position easily from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Iiro Ankerias dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Saatana tries for a takedown but Ankerias circles away easily

and Ankerias counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Saatana wants to sweep here but Ankerias controlling him for the moment.
Ankerias controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Saatana throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Saatana takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Saatana being controlled here, momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ankerias advances position into side control!
The referee asks Ankerias politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Ankerias prefers to stall for the moment though.
Saatana is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Saatana being controlled for a moment.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Iiro Ankerias just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Saatana missing with a left hand there. Ankerias was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Saatana misses with a double jab

and Ankerias counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Iiro Ankerias overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ankerias is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Saatana keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Ankerias passes to side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ankerias takes a little break here. Saatana wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Saatana manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Ankerias is trying to control the action in half guard but Saatana is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Iiro Ankerias just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Saatana gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ankerias counters with a single leg into guard. Saatana didn't expect that.
Ankerias stays in close to Saatana's body and controls the position.

Saatana escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ankerias gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sami Saatana has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ankerias is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ankerias takes a decent strike to the side of the head.
Ankerias slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Ankerias wants to pass the guard but Saatana is keeping the position.
Saatana wants to sweep here but Ankerias controlling him for the moment.

Saatana looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ankerias looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Iiro Ankerias showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ankerias has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Iiro Ankerias!