PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Erkki Elastinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Bill Nevin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Elastinen might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Cascada - Dangerous. Nevin comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Twin Atlantic - Free kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Elastinen
vs
Nevin

160 cm
37
148 lbs
25 - 23 - 0

169 cm
30
142 lbs
14 - 8 - 1

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Affordable Quality + Reliable Laundry
Milwaukee's Best 160

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 25 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erkki Elastinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 8 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Bill Nevin!
The judges for this bout are Lou da Vinci, Jorge Garcia and Anthony Taglia.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elastinen shoots in looking for a takedown. Nevin tries to sprawl out of it but Elastinen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Nevin manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Erkki Elastinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Good work by Elastinen as he checks the leg kick.
Nevin misses with a wild body shot.
Elastinen shoots in for a double leg but Nevin sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Elastinen fails to land the takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erkki Elastinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Elastinen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Nevin defends it nicely.
Elastinen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Elastinen.
Nevin prevents Elastinen from moving into mount.
Elastinen tries to score with some ground and pound. Nevin controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elastinen throwing strikes but Nevin manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Elastinen tries to buck Nevin off but Nevin is having none of it.

Nevin decides to stand back up.

Elastinen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

Elastinen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nevin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Elastinen.

Elastinen seems to be looking for submissions.
Nevin trying to hold on to Elastinen's head to control him but Elastinen postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nevin controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Nevin's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Elastinen trying to mount his opponent but Nevin defends it.

Elastinen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Nevin sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Elastinen is looking for a kimura here.
Elastinen content to control rather than advance.
Elastinen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Nevin is not content to let Elastinen control the position.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Elastinen is trying to work for a kimura but Nevin is defending well.
Elastinen is pressing down on Nevin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Nevin is holding on for now.

Elastinen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erkki Elastinen dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Nevin misses with an attempted mid kick.
Elastinen takes a body punch but keeps moving.

Elastinen 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.
Elastinen looking to pass the guard.
Nevin can't keep his opponent in guard - Elastinen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Elastinen is keen to just control but Nevin is a slippery customer.
Elastinen is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Elastinen trying to control but Nevin is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elastinen throws a big elbow that misses.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Elastinen looking to sit in guard and control but Nevin gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Nevin got a little sloppy there for a moment and Elastinen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Nevin has managed to get both his arms back between Elastinen's legs - danger averted.
Nevin would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Nevin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Elastinen controlling Nevin's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen 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.
Nevin trying to stand up but can't free himself from Elastinen's guard.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Elastinen 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.
Erkki Elastinen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Elastinen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Nevin is aware though and is defending well.
Nevin wants to stand and escape but instead Elastinen has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Elastinen trying to control but Nevin is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nevin keeping full guard, as Elastinen tries to pass.
Elastinen is working hard here to advance position.
Elastinen is looking to pass into half guard but Nevin pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Nevin is in guard.
Nevin stopping the sweep attempt from Elastinen.

Nevin stands up and waves to Elastinen to follow him.
Elastinen shoots in for a takedown but Nevin shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Horrible takedown by Elastinen or perhaps it was just good defense by Nevin which made him look bad.
Elastinen is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Nevin lands an overhand right.
Nevin misses with a low kick.
Nevin connects with a jab.
That's a knee to de groin and it's over and out! Elastinen crumples to the ground after an illegal strike from Nevin - the referee stops the clock and Elastinen gets 5 minutes to recover from that one. "I'm sorry" says Nevin. Elastinen manages to get back to his feet and the fight resumes.
Elastinen shoots in but Nevin avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erkki Elastinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Elastinen misses with a takedown
letting Nevin counter with a right hand.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Elastinen fails with the takedown.
Nevin throws a nice looking combination but Elastinen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nevin misses with an uppercut.
Both fighters circling a little - Nevin finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Elastinen shoots for a takedown but Nevin saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Nevin cracks Elastinen with a right hand to the side of the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Bill Nevin will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Elastinen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Nevin manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Elastinen tries to free his leg and advance position but Nevin is retaining full guard.
Elastinen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Elastinen advances to half guard.
Nevin is looking for a sweep. Elastinen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Elastinen wants to pass the guard but Nevin is defending well.
Elastinen wants to take a breather but Nevin is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Elastinen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Nevin has managed to free his arm - good work.
Nevin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Elastinen.

Elastinen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Nevin doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Elastinen.
Elastinen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nevin trying to control here.

Nevin manages to create a bit of space in order to work his way back to his feet. Elastinen keeps hold of his opponent and drives him back against the cage.
Nevin doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Nevin throws a punch but it's blocked by Elastinen.
Elastinen tries for a takedown but Nevin manages to get underhooks.

Nevin's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Elastinen looks for a takedown but Nevin sprawls well.
Nevin lands with a shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nevin slips under a jab.
Nevin with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Elastinen shoots in and drives through. Nevin sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erkki Elastinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nevin lands with a cross.

It looks like Erkki Elastinen has been cut.
Nevin connects with a jab.
Elastinen misses with a takedown attempt
and Nevin connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Nevin throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Nevin misses with a body shot.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Elastinen is defended easily by Nevin.
Nevin misses with a body shot.
Nevin finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Elastinen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Nevin swivels and escapes.
Elastinen misses with a takedown attempt - Nevin sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice sprawl there from Nevin as Elastinen shoots in.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Nevin tries to score with a low kick but Elastinen moves his leg out of the way.
Bill Nevin seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Elastinen shoots for a double leg takedown but Nevin sprawls well. He's pushed Elastinen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Elastinen ducks under a wild hook from Nevin.
Nevin with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Elastinen darts in looking for a takedown but Nevin gets double underhooks and turns Elastinen into the cage.
Elastinen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Nevin gets the underhooks and prevents it.

Nevin breaks from the clinch.

Nevin gets caught flat footed, as Elastinen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nevin seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Elastinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Nevin is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Bill Nevin.
I think Nevin 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 Lou da Vinci scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jorge Garcia scores the fight 30:29
Judge Anthony Taglia scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Bill Nevin!
Bill Nevin managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Milwaukee's Best Nutrition, into his post fight interview.