PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Toms Gailitis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Isa Musa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gailitis
vs
Musa

170 cm
20
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

178 cm
22
181 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Toms Gailitis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Isa Musa!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Gailitis dives in and scores a takedown into Musa's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gailitis postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Gailitis throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Musa works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Gailitis in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Gailitis drops back, looking for a kneebar! Musa looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Musa looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Musa!
Musa landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.
Musa tries to advance to mount but Gailitis denies him.
Gailitis on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Musa tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
An elbow from Musa crashes against the mat.
Musa misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gailitis avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Musa.
Gailitis is not content to let Musa control the position.
Gailitis takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Gailitis parries the strikes from Musa easily there. Musa is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Gailitis to escape.
Gailitis dodges the ground and pound from Musa.
Gailitis is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Musa is looking to take a break and control but Gailitis is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Musa tries to stand but can't do so whilst Gailitis controls his leg.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gailitis is trying is best to control the position here.
Gailitis is looking to improve his position.
Musa not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Musa working the head and body with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Musa looks to land a strike but Gailitis avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Musa's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Gailitis is pulling down on Musa's head to control his posture.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Musa won't allow Gailitis to sweep him here.
Musa is pushing down on Gailitis's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gailitis is fighting to maintain full guard but Musa has managed to sneak the leg through.
Musa looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Gailitis is looking to improve his position.
Musa missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Musa throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Gailitis to regain full guard.
Musa trying to control but Gailitis is working from the bottom.
In the pre-fight buildup videos we saw Musa working his ground and pound in the gym. He isn't landing a great percentage of his ground strikes so far though.
Musa missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gailitis is trying to control the position but Musa postures up.
Musa postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Musa is looking to work some ground and pound but Gailitis has wrist control.
Musa postures up in Gailitis's guard and throws a big left but Gailitis blocks it.
Musa is pushing down on Gailitis's leg trying to pass to half guard. Gailitis is fighting to maintain full guard but Musa has managed to sneak the leg through.
Gailitis blocking the ground and pound attempt from Musa.
Musa thows a huge punch but Gailitis dodges it nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Gailitis regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Musa.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gailitis keeping full guard, as Musa tries to pass.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Isa Musa dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Musa takes one to the side of the head.
Gailitis moves out of range of the strikes.
Musa scores with a decent looking hook.
Musa checks the leg kick.
Gailitis misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Musa.
Musa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Gailitis fails with the takedown.
Musa jabs at Gailitis's body.
Musa fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Musa throws a jab but it's blocked by Gailitis.
A slow jab from Gailitis misses its intended target.
Gailitis takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Musa throws a shot from downtown. Gailitis moves away and avoids it.

Gailitis is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Musa's half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gailitis tries to pass the half guard into mount. Musa knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gailitis missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Gailitis lands strikes from half guard.
Gailitis lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Musa keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Musa is trying to get back to full guard.
Gailitis wants to lay and pray for a moment but Musa keeps working.
Ground and pound from Gailitis.
Gailitis not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gailitis stalling away here and it's allowed Musa to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Gailitis stopping the sweep attempt from Musa.
Gailitis throwing strikes from guard but Musa blocks nicely.
Gailitis controls from within his opponent's guard.
Musa is trying to hold Gailitis in close to prevent damage but Gailitis has managed to pass into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Musa is holding on to half guard well.
Ground and pound from Gailitis.
Musa keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Musa can do anything to dispel that myth.
Musa is looking for a sweep. Gailitis is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Nice strikes from Gailitis there.
Musa is staying active underneath Gailitis, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Musa on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Musa works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Musa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Gailitis!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Musa unloads with some shots from mount but Gailitis bucks and avoids them well.
Gailitis wants to hold on but Musa pushes him away.
BOOM! Musa connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Musa lands a nice shot to the head.
Gailitis manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Gailitis, under a barage of strikes from Musa.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Musa sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Gailitis defending well though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Toms Gailitis will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Gailitis shoots in but Musa avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Gailitis throws the left hand but Musa avoids the punch easily.
Musa displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Gailitis throws out the jab.
Musa stuffs the takedown.
Musa lands with a good body shot.

Musa changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Gailitis looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Gailitis seems a little lost for a moment, as Musa dominates the positioning.
Musa creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Gailitis sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Musa postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Musa throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Musa working away.
The strikes coming from Musa are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Musa tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Musa working the ground and pound but Gailitis is defending the strikes.
Musa has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Gailitis!
Gailitis avoids a series of strikes thrown by Musa.
Poor strikes thrown by Musa there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
A nice elbow there by Musa.
Musa has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Musa raining down shots from the mount!
Gailitis is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Musa raining down shots from the mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gailitis is trying desperately to improve position.
Musa throwing strikes here but Gailitis is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Gailitis wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Musa.
Musa raining down hammerfists from mount.
Musa postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Gailitis looks a forlorn figure.
Musa unloads with some shots from mount but Gailitis bucks and avoids them well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gailitis is desperately trying to improve his position but Musa has a good base and remains in mount.
Musa throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Gailitis because Musa loaded up on that one.
Gailitis is trying to escape the mount.
Musa throwing strikes here but Gailitis is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Gailitis keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Musa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Gailitis tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Musa 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 four minutes gone in the round.
Musa sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Musa with the ground and pound from mount.
Gailitis is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Musa thowing shots but they're missing.
Musa lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Gailitis blocking the ground and pound.
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.
Musa looking to finish with strikes here!
Musa lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Gailitis hang on?

And that's the end of the fight!
Isa Musa comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Musa has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Isa Musa!