PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Musta Surma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pena Trasseli (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Trasseli comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Look at my horse! kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Surma
vs
Trasseli

167 cm
31
152 lbs
17 - 18 - 1

177 cm
29
150 lbs
20 - 8 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 18 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Musta Surma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pena Trasseli!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A swing and a miss from Surma.
Surma takes a swing at Trasseli's ribcage but misses.
Trasseli throws a looping overhand right but Surma ducks down to avoid it.
Surma misses with a straight right.
Trasseli throws a hook but Surma avoids it easily.

Surma lands a left and a right that sends Trasseli crashing to the canvas! Surma dives into mount looking to finish!

Trasseli is rocked!

It looks like Pena Trasseli has been cut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Trasseli is squirming around, avoiding Surma's attempts to control the action.
Surma controlling the position easily from mount.
Trasseli is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trasseli has worked his way to half guard, taking advantage of Surma's lack of action.
Surma wants to pass the guard but Trasseli is defending well.
Trasseli is trying to maintain the position but Surma is very close to passing his half guard.
Trasseli won't allow Surma to pass to mount.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Musta Surma just wasn't active enough.
Trasseli throws a head kick but Surma moves out of range.

Surma moves into the clinch successfully.
Trasseli misses with a knee to the head.
Surma pushes off an throws an elbow but Trasseli leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Surma gets through Trasseli's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Surma gets underhooks to prevent Trasseli's takedown attempt.

Surma has Trasseli pressed up against the cage. He's trying to work for a single leg takedown. Surma pulls back from the cage and twists to the side, sending Trasseli tumbling to the mat - Surma dives into Trasseli's guard.
Surma pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Trasseli is keeping the position for now.
Surma advances to half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Surma trying to control from Trasseli's half guard. Trasseli has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Trasseli lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Surma!
Trasseli throws some wild stikes that Surma manages to avoid easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trasseli cracks Surma with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Surma is squirming around, avoiding Trasseli's attempts to control the action.
Trasseli prevents Surma from getting the reversal.
Surma manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Surma, under a barage of strikes from Trasseli.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Trasseli lands a nice short elbow.
Trasseli thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Surma's head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Trasseli is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Trasseli throws a strike but Surma avoids it easily and moves to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trasseli looking to sit in guard and control but Surma gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Surma wants to pass the guard but Trasseli is keeping the position.
Trasseli has control of Surma's left arm, preventing Surma from doing any damage.
Trasseli looking for a sweep. Not yet Trasseli, not yet.
Surma is in a tricky position. We've heard reports from his gym mates at Team Finland that he's been drilling escapes, so let's see if he can get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Surma thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Trasseli manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Surma manages to get himself to full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Musta Surma dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Pena Trasseli's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Trasseli takes a swing at Surma's ribcage but misses.
Trasseli throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Trasseli swings for the body but Surma moves out of range.
Surma wants to clinch.
Trasseli lands a right hook to the body.
The fight stays on the outside here - Surma looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Surma tries a head kick but it misses.
Trasseli misses with a shot to the body
and Surma counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Surma is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Trasseli throws a big shot that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trasseli misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Surma.
Pena Trasseli seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Trasseli scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Trasseli stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Surma lands a head shot.
A combination from Trasseli does no damage.
Musta Surma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Trasseli lands a body shot.
Trasseli is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Surma rather than just go for the knockout.
Surma misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Trasseli cracks Surma with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
A slow jab from Trasseli misses its intended target.
Trasseli stuffs the takedown attempt from Surma. Surma gets slowly back to his feet.
Surma fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Surma misses with a wild combination.
Surma takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Surma misses with an uppercut
and Trasseli counters with a stiff right hand.
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!
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Trasseli, as that shot connected.
Trasseli looks to score with a jab to the body but Surma is just out of range.
Trasseli misses with a combination
and Surma counters with a two punch combo.

Surma closes the distance and clinches.
Trasseli blocks an elbow strike.
Surma keeps control of Trasseli as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Trasseli wants a takedown.
Surma working some nice short punches in the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trasseli is trying to break the clinch but Surma is controlling him.
Surma missing with knees to the body.
Trasseli managing to block the knees to the body from Surma.
Trasseli has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.

Surma pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Surma fails with an attempt to clinch.
Trasseli throws a head kick that misses.
Trasseli tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Trasseli lands with an overhand left.
Surma throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Trasseli tries a head kick but it misses.
A punch combination from Surma misses.
Surma drops his hands momentarily and Trasseli takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Trasseli cracks Surma with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Surma wants to clinch up but Trasseli keeps it at a distance.
Surma scores with a big left there. The judges will like that one.

Surma shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Trasseli napping and manages to drive through into side control!
This has been an exciting period of action!
A control attempt from Trasseli but he's now mounted!
Surma controlling the position easily from mount.
Trasseli working to try and regain half guard.
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.

That was a close second round but I would say that Musta Surma will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Pena Trasseli's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. And we move into the final round!

Surma tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Trasseli manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A jab from Trasseli does it's job there.
Trasseli throws a hook to the side of Surma's head but Surma sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Trasseli tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Surma was well out of range. Poor timing from Trasseli.
Trasseli uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Surma.
Surma throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Surma is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Trasseli gets tackled into the cage by Surma. Surma maintains the clinch.
Surma has Trasseli pressed against the cage, preventing Trasseli from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Trasseli tries for a takedown but Surma manages to get underhooks.
Trasseli is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Surma pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Surma is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Trasseli is defending well for now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Surma unloads a knee to the mid-section. Trasseli lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Surma unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Trasseli takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Trasseli is trying to force a seperation but Surma has the dominant position.
Surma gets underhooks to prevent Trasseli's takedown attempt.
Musta Surma has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pena Trasseli.
Surma creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Trasseli's defenses.
Trasseli tries to circle away but Surma has him pinned against the cage.
Surma cracks Trasseli with a nice body shot.
Surma lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Surma comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Nice elbow from Surma.
Trasseli avoids the elbow strike from Surma, against the cage.
Surma throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Surma lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Trasseli takes an elbow to the forehead.
Trasseli is looking to break free of the clinch but Surma has double underhooks.
Surma lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Trasseli is still on wobbly legs! Can Surma finish him?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Trasseli is trying to break the clinch but Surma is controlling him.
Surma using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Trasseli has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Surma lands an elbow inside that Trasseli shrugs off.
Surma gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Trasseli.
Musta Surma has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Surma lands a good knee to the midsection. Trasseli won't want to take too many of those.
Trasseli tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Surma smiles and moves away.
Trasseli seems to have recovered his senses.
Surma throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Trasseli showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Surma.
Pena Trasseli is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Surma throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Surma just misses with a punch to the body.
Trasseli has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Surma takes a jab right on the kisser.
Surma punishes Trasseli's body with a nice straight punch.
Trasseli missing with a left hand there. Surma was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Surma dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Surma fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Surma tries to clinch up.
Surma is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Surma tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Surma goes for a double leg but Trasseli avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Trasseli continues to drive forward.
Trasseli is trying to break free.
Pena Trasseli has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Surma gets through Trasseli's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Surma misses with an elbow over the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trasseli misses with a punch on the inside.
Surma landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Surma jumps guard and drags Trasseli to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Trasseli postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Trasseli accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Trasseli throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Surma works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Musta Surma is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Surma pulls Trasseli in close to prevent any damage.
Trasseli is looking to work some ground and pound but Surma has wrist control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Trasseli stopping the sweep attempt from Surma.

And that's the end of the fight!
Musta Surma showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Surma 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Musta Surma!
After the fight, Musta Surma was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.