PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Mike Swik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomi Ekbom (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Swik
vs
Ekbom

187 cm
22
183 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
22
184 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mike Swik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tomi Ekbom!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Swik stuffs the takedown.
Ekbom shoots for a takedown but Swik saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Swik closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Swik lands in his opponent's guard.
Swik stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ekbom swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Swik drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Swik jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Swik passes Ekbom's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

Swik seems to be working for a kimura but Ekbom defends the submission attempt.

Swik is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Ekbom has managed to free his arm - good work.

Swik is working for a submission of some sort.
Ekbom is looking for a sweep. Swik is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekbom slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ekbom looking for a sweep. Not yet Ekbom, not yet.

Ekbom working for a triangle but Swik defends it easily.
Swik passes into half guard.
Ekbom flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Ekbom actively working from the bottom here.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Swik wants to pass to mount but Ekbom is defending the position.

Swik is looking for a kimura here.
Swik is breathing heavily.
Ekbom gets full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekbom tries to strike from the bottom.
Swik preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A big right from Ekbom misses.
Ekbom with a poor takedown

and Swik counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Mike Swik has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomi Ekbom.
Swik looking to pass the guard.
Swik works a leg free and moves into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Swik is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ekbom manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ekbom looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ekbom is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Swik tries to free his leg and advance position but Ekbom is retaining full guard.
Swik is working hard here to advance position.
Ekbom wants to sweep here but Swik controlling him for the moment.
Swik postures up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Ekbom misses with a double jab

and Swik counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Swik.
Swik pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Ekbom is keeping the position for now.
Swik passes Ekbom's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are battling for position here. Ekbom manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Swik won't allow Ekbom to sweep him here.
Ekbom trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Ekbom is trying to keep Swik in close.

Swik is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ekbom is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ekbom has escaped and now he's on top!
Swik keeping moving, preventing Ekbom from controlling successfully.

Ekbom is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ekbom stands up over Swik, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mike Swik 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.

Swik will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Ekbom swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Swik counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ekbom's guard now.

Swik drops back, looking for a kneebar! Ekbom looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Ekbom looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Ekbom!

Ekbom tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Swik is looking to reverse the position.
Swik regains half guard.

Swik looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Swik tries to roll over but Ekbom keeps him under control.
Swik is in trouble now - Ekbom has advanced to mount!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ekbom with the ground and pound from mount.
Ekbom moves to back control.
Swik wants to escape the position.
Ekbom lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Swik tries to escape the position.
Ekbom lands shots from the back.
Ekbom lands shots from the back.
Swik covers up after that shot from Ekbom.

Swik preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Ekbom.
Mike Swik overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Swik breaks Ekbom's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Swik is pushing down on Ekbom's leg trying to pass to half guard. Ekbom is fighting to maintain full guard but Swik has managed to sneak the leg through.

Swik is trying to work for a kimura but Ekbom is defending well.
Ekbom has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

Swik is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Ekbom doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Swik.
Ekbom regains full guard. Nicely done.

Ekbom had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Swik is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Ekbom Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Swik's back instead.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Swik tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Swik is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ekbom looking to secure an arm triangle but Swik defends it well.
Swik sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Swik is trying to get back to full guard.
Ekbom working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ekbom lands strikes from half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Swik manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Swik has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Ekbom is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Swik.
Swik tries to improve position but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ekbom thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Swik manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Swik is looking for a kimura but Ekbom is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Swik to get the leverage.
Ekbom is pressing down on Swik's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Swik stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ekbom swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ekbom looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomi Ekbom showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Swik scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ekbom flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Swik is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Ekbom defends it well.
Ekbom slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Ekbom working for a triangle but Swik defends it easily.
Swik stands and throws Ekbom's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Ekbom is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Swik off and has taken his back!
Swik breaks Ekbom's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ekbom had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Swik is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Ekbom Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Swik's back instead.
Swik turns into Ekbom and is now in his guard.
Swik wants to pass the guard but Ekbom is keeping the position.
Swik has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Swik is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ekbom is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ekbom has escaped and now he's on top!
Swik looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ekbom is one step ahead there.

Ekbom drops back looking for a leg! Swik is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Swik manages to kick Ekbom off! Ekbom jumps back into Swik's guard.

Swik looking for a guillotine here but Ekbom defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ekbom sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Swik's guard.
Ekbom prevents Swik from improving his position.

Swik actively working from the bottom here.
Swik tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Ekbom has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Ekbom lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ekbom looking to isolate an arm here. Swik doesn't see it coming and as Ekbom extends the arm, he's forced to tap out! Nice submission by Ekbom!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Tomi Ekbom!