PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Kato Aspenia (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rolad Kjeldsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Aspenia
vs
Kjeldsson

172 cm
36
130 lbs
16 - 19 - 0

190 cm
25
145 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 19 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kato Aspenia!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of New York, Rolad Kjeldsson!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Aspenia moves out of range as Kjeldsson throws a body kick.
No joy there for Kjeldsson, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

Aspenia closes the distance and pushes Kjeldsson back into the cage.
Aspenia has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Kjeldsson avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Aspenia working hard to break the clinch.
Kjeldsson is trying to force a seperation but Aspenia has the dominant position.

Aspenia pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kato Aspenia seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kjeldsson missing with a left hand there. Aspenia was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Aspenia tries to close the distance and clinch but Kjeldsson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kjeldsson throws a head kick that misses.

Aspenia clinches.
Kjeldsson tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Aspenia wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kjeldsson has him pressed against the cage.

Aspenia breaks from the clinch.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Aspenia, as that shot connected.
Aspenia stalks Kjeldsson and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Kjeldsson's face. Kjeldsson staggers backwards, shaken.

It looks like Rolad Kjeldsson has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kjeldsson tries to bum rush Aspenia with a series of wild strikes but Aspenia uses good footwork to avoid the assault.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aspenia closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Aspenia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Aspenia rushes Kjeldsson and presses him up against the cage.
Kjeldsson blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

Aspenia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aspenia tries to clinch but Kjeldsson is having none of it.
Aspenia fails with an attempt to clinch.

Kjeldsson gets tackled into the cage by Aspenia. Aspenia maintains the clinch.
Aspenia is trying to break free.

Aspenia breaks from the clinch.
Sloppy strikes from Aspenia. Those never looked like landing.
Kjeldsson misses with the combination.
Aspenia tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kjeldsson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Aspenia shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Kjeldsson pinned against the cage. Kjeldsson gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aspenia shoots in for a takedown but Kjeldsson shows good takedown defense.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kato Aspenia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kjeldsson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Aspenia lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Aspenia tries to clinch up.
Rolad Kjeldsson is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kjeldsson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Aspenia.
Aspenia slips a straight right by Kjeldsson.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aspenia fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kjeldsson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

Aspenia gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Kjeldsson is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Kjeldsson is trying to break the clinch but Aspenia is controlling him.
Kjeldsson is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Kjeldsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kjeldsson throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aspenia swings for the body but Kjeldsson moves out of range.

Aspenia moves into the clinch successfully.
I was talking to Aspenia's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.

Kjeldsson breaks from the clinch.
Aspenia lands a leg kick that knocks Kjeldsson off balance momentarily.
Aspenia throws a series of punches but Kjeldsson avoids them all with ease.
Kjeldsson throws a right hand that Aspenia ducks under and follows up with a left that Aspenia also avoids with ease.
Aspenia tries to clinch up but Kjeldsson circles away and keeps his distance.
Aspenia fails with an attempt to clinch.
Aspenia uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kjeldsson.
Aspenia fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kjeldsson manages to avoid it.

Aspenia moves into the clinch.

Kjeldsson breaks from the clinch.
Kjeldsson throws a series of punches but Aspenia moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Aspenia. Those never looked like landing.
Aspenia throws a leg kick that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice jab there from Kjeldsson.
Kjeldsson dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Kjeldsson misses with a few strikes there.
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!
Kjeldsson thows a left - swing and a miss!

Aspenia closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Kjeldsson's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aspenia throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kjeldsson walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kjeldsson looks to land a combination but Aspenia avoids it well.
Aspenia throws a nice looking combination but Kjeldsson bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Aspenia changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Kjeldsson tries to avoid it but Aspenia manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Kjeldsson to the ground. Kjeldsson escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Aspenia throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Kjeldsson's waist but Kjeldsson gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Aspenia off to one side.
Aspenia is breathing heavily.
Kjeldsson scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kjeldsson punishes Aspenia's body with a nice straight punch.
A swing and a miss from Kjeldsson.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kato Aspenia dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rolad Kjeldsson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Kjeldsson looks to score with a jab to the body but Aspenia is just out of range.
Aspenia tries to clinch but Kjeldsson moves out of range.
Jab from Aspenia.
Kato Aspenia is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Aspenia tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kjeldsson swivels and escapes.
Kjeldsson fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Kjeldsson keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Aspenia throws a series of punches but Kjeldsson moves out of range.
Kjeldsson will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A big right from Kjeldsson misses.
Kjeldsson avoids the body shot from Aspenia.
Kjeldsson misses with a body kick.
Kato Aspenia is winning the standup battle so far.
Kjeldsson scores with a jab to the jaw.
Kjeldsson throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Aspenia clinches up with Kjeldsson and pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aspenia tries to land knees in the clinch but Kjeldsson avoids the damage to the body.
Aspenia creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Kjeldsson is trying to break the clinch but Aspenia is controlling him.

Aspenia breaks from the clinch.
Kjeldsson fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Aspenia misses with a double jab.
Kjeldsson is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Aspenia.
Aspenia throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kjeldsson.

Aspenia shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kjeldsson napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Aspenia wants to stand but Kjeldsson has him controlled and pulls him back into his guard.
Kjeldsson manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Aspenia manages to get himself to full guard.
Kjeldsson postures up in Aspenia's guard and throws a big left but Aspenia blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aspenia is wriggling around but Kjeldsson manages to pass to half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kjeldsson throwing shots but Aspenia is blocking nicely.
Kjeldsson with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Kjeldsson is pressing down on Aspenia's thigh, looking to free his foot. Aspenia is holding on for now.
Aspenia is looking to improve his position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aspenia wants to get back to his feet.
Kjeldsson missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Aspenia tries to kick Kjeldsson off but Kjeldsson keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Aspenia might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Kjeldsson decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.
Aspenia throws a right and a left that both miss.
Aspenia tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kjeldsson swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Aspenia darts in and clinches Kjeldsson up against the cage.

Kjeldsson escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Aspenia misses with a combination
and Kjeldsson counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
A bone on bone clash there as Aspenia blocks the leg kick.
Kjeldsson works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
A looping hook to the body misses from Kjeldsson. Aspenia does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kjeldsson throws a right hand that Aspenia ducks under and follows up with a left that Aspenia also avoids with ease.
Nice cross by Kjeldsson.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Aspenia misses with a two punch combination.
Kjeldsson keeps the fight on the outside.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kjeldsson swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kjeldsson looks to land a combination but Aspenia avoids it well.
Aspenia swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Aspenia shoots in looking for a takedown but Kjeldsson manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Aspenia's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Rolad Kjeldsson will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Rolad Kjeldsson's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kjeldsson throws a body punch but Aspenia moves out of range.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Kjeldsson in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Aspenia takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kjeldsson has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Aspenia rushes Kjeldsson and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kjeldsson breaks from the clinch.
Aspenia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Aspenia tries to clinch up.
Aspenia looks to clinch
and Aspenia takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kjeldsson takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Aspenia is looking to clinch but Kjeldsson is avoiding it.
Aspenia misses with a body shot
and Kjeldsson counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kjeldsson looks to land a combination but Aspenia avoids it well.
Aspenia rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kjeldsson moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aspenia lands a two punch combo.
Aspenia showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Kjeldsson.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kjeldsson misses with a straight left.
Sloppy strikes from Aspenia. Those never looked like landing.
Aspenia tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Kjeldsson defends well and Aspenia ends up having to push Kjeldsson into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Kjeldsson is trying to force a seperation but Aspenia has the dominant position.

Kjeldsson breaks from the clinch.
Aspenia swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kjeldsson counters with a straight right hand.
Aspenia tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Kjeldsson paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kjeldsson feints a jab promting Aspenia to slip. Kjeldsson then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Aspenia slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Aspenia ducks right into an uppercut from Kjeldsson.
Aspenia throws a right hand that Kjeldsson ducks under and follows up with a left that Kjeldsson also avoids with ease.
Left hook, right uppercut from Aspenia.
Kjeldsson lands with an overhand left.
Kjeldsson is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aspenia displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Kjeldsson throws out the jab.
Aspenia tries to clinch but Kjeldsson is having none of it.

Kjeldsson gets tackled into the cage by Aspenia. Aspenia maintains the clinch.
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!
Kjeldsson is looking to break free of the clinch but Aspenia has double underhooks.
Aspenia wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kjeldsson has him pressed against the cage.

Kjeldsson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aspenia takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kjeldsson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Aspenia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Aspenia ducks under a wild hook from Kjeldsson.
Aspenia scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
A combination from Kjeldsson does no damage.
Aspenia shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Kjeldsson eats them both and turns towards Aspenia to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Aspenia takes one to the side of the head.
The fighters circling - Kjeldsson throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aspenia shoots in for a takedown but Kjeldsson shows good takedown defense.
Kjeldsson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Aspenia moves away.
Nice takedown defense from Kjeldsson. No joy for Aspenia on that attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kato Aspenia. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kjeldsson misses with a few strikes there.
Kjeldsson looks to land a combination but Aspenia avoids it well.
Danga de danga de dang - Aspenia scores with a four punch combination!
Kjeldsson throws a series of punches but Aspenia moves out of range.
Aspenia fails with the takedown.
Kjeldsson lands the left hand.
Aspenia dives in and grabs Kjeldsson's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kjeldsson pushes down on Aspenia's head and hops out.
Some wild striking there from Kjeldsson.
Aspenia just misses with a punch to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kjeldsson rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Aspenia moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Aspenia slips a jab from Kjeldsson.
Aspenia is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Aspenia moves into the clinch.
Kjeldsson wants to break free but Aspenia has control.

Aspenia's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Aspenia wants to clinch up but Kjeldsson keeps it at a distance.
Kjeldsson swings widly with a right hand
and Aspenia counters with a two punch combo.
Aspenia tries to clinch but Kjeldsson is having none of it.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Aspenia throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kjeldsson scores with a jab to the head.
Aspenia slips a jab and a cross from Kjeldsson.
Aspenia fails in his attempt to clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Rolad Kjeldsson.
I think Kjeldsson 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Rolad Kjeldsson!
Rolad Kjeldsson took some time post fight to say the following; 'Blodet av mina fiender kommer att fortsätta att driva min framgång. Du bär vittne till min uppstigning. Guttentag mina vänner.'.