PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ricardo Santana (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Kantola (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.

Santana
vs
Kantola

191 cm
23
215 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

185 cm
26
250 lbs
15 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Ricardo Santana!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 15 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ari Kantola!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Santana attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Santana throws a low kick but Kantola avoids it.
Kantola throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
Kantola throws a head kick but Santana moves out of range.
Sloppy strikes from Santana. Those never looked like landing.
Kantola digs a good body shot into Santana's ribs.
Santana defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kantola.
Santana tries to bum rush Kantola with a series of wild strikes but Kantola uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Santana fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Kantola.
Santana bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kantola's head backwards.
Kantola connects with a high kick.

It looks like Ricardo Santana has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Santana throws the kick towards the body but Kantola avoids it.
Santana misses with a wild body shot.
Santana throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Santana throws a jab but it's blocked by Kantola.
Kantola misses with a jab, cross combination.
Santana swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kantola counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kantola wants to land a leg kick but Santana is out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Santana tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Santana throws out a leg kick but Kantola moves out of range and Santana only half commits.
Kantola lands with a hook. Santana tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Santana works the jab nicely.
Santana looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Santana throws a sloppy head kick and Kantola moves out of range easily.
Santana tries to clinch but Kantola moves out of range.
Santana misses with a double jab.
Santana throws a head kick that Kantola semi-blocks.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Santana lands a leg kick that knocks Kantola off balance momentarily.
Kantola throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kantola thows a body kick. Santana tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Santana is breathing heavily.
A head kick misses from Kantola.
A head kick by Santana misses
and Kantola counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kantola pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Santana looks to throw the jab but Kantola is out of range.
Santana moves in looking to clinch but Kantola pushes him off.
Ricardo Santana is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Kantola connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Kantola throws a head kick that Santana semi-blocks.
Nice uppercut lands for Kantola. That snapped Santana's head back.
Kantola scores with the left hand. Santana knows he should have avoided that one.
Santana on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Kantola tries a head kick but it misses.
Santana misses with a right hand
and Kantola counters with a nice low kick that buckles Santana's knee momentarily.

Kantola drops Santana with a beautiful combination! Santana stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Kantola is looking for the KO!

Santana is rocked!
Nice body punch from Kantola.
Oh Santana is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kantola cracks the inside of Santana's front leg.
Santana seems to have got his legs back now.
Kantola throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Kantola pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Santana walks into a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kantola cracks Santana with a big right hand that sends him crashing to the floor. Kantola has the opportunity to follow him to the ground but instead he's beckoning Santana to stand back up!
Sloppy strikes from Kantola. Those never looked like landing.
Santana tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A low kick from Santana misses

and Kantola counters with a crisp one two that drops Santana! Kantola thinks about following him to the mat for a moment but instead steps back and waves Santana to his feet! Santana is in big trouble!
Kantola steps in with a hook that catches Santana right on the chin and knocks him to the floor! Kantola follows him down with more strikes and that's all she wrote! Santana looks absolutely devastated.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:24 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ari Kantola!
An out of breath Ari Kantola thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.