PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pertti Silsa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lasse Willemoes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Silsa comes to the cage accompanied by Candy by Robbie Williams. The crowd seem to be enjoying Willemoes's choice of entrance music: Who Let the Dogs out??- Baha men. Pertti Silsa could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Lasse Willemoes's chin.

Silsa
vs
Willemoes

186 cm
30
203 lbs
11 - 9 - 0

185 cm
35
202 lbs
21 - 13 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 11 - 9 - 0, fighting out of London, Pertti Silsa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 13 - 0, fighting out of London, Lasse Willemoes!
The judges for this bout are Phil Schofield, Colin Fotheringham and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Willemoes fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Silsa on the side of the head.
Silsa missing with a left hand there. Willemoes was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Silsa wants to land a leg kick but Willemoes is out of range.
Silsa ducks under a wild hook from Willemoes.
Silsa avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Silsa fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Willemoes works Silsa's body with a nice hook.
Willemoes throws out a loose jab but Silsa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Silsa staying out of range there.
Willemoes misses with a looping left.
Silsa shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Willemoes defends it nicely.
Willemoes takes a swing at Silsa's ribcage but misses.
Silsa throws a nice looking combination but Willemoes bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Willemoes shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Willemoes throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silsa throws a jab when Willemoes was well out of range.

Willemoes gets caught flat footed, as Silsa shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Silsa controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Willemoes wants to sweep but no luck.

Willemoes is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Silsa defends well.
Willemoes trying to control the position here.
Silsa working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Willemoes has control of Silsa's left arm, preventing Silsa from doing any damage.

Willemoes had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Silsa defends it easily.
Willemoes keeping full guard, as Silsa tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Willemoes is trying to control the position but Silsa postures up.
Silsa stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Willemoes swivels though and keeps the full guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Willemoes wants to sweep here but Silsa controlling him for the moment.

Willemoes looking for a guillotine here but Silsa defends easily.
Silsa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Willemoes is keeping the position for now.
Silsa is working hard here to advance position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Willemoes is looking for a triangle but Silsa pushes his legs off easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silsa won't allow Willemoes to sweep him here.
Willemoes is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Silsa landing with the ground and pound.
Silsa is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Silsa is working Willemoes over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Silsa looking to pass the guard.
Willemoes keeping moving, preventing Silsa from controlling successfully.
Silsa is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willemoes manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Silsa manages to get himself to full guard.
Silsa keeping moving, preventing Willemoes from controlling successfully.
Silsa looking to control.
Silsa keeping full guard, as Willemoes tries to pass.
Silsa looking for a sweep. Not yet Silsa, not yet.
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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Silsa is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Willemoes is aware though and is defending well.
Willemoes pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silsa is keeping the position for now.
Silsa seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Silsa working a defensive guard here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Pertti Silsa will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Willemoes 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.
Willemoes trying to control the position from guard on top but Silsa is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Willemoes might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Silsa haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Willemoes throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Silsa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Willemoes stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silsa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Willemoes is looking to pass into half guard but Silsa pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Silsa is in guard.
Silsa wants to control from the top but Willemoes keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willemoes is trying to keep Silsa in close.

Willemoes has his foot on Silsa's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silsa works his way back into a safe position though.
Silsa trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Silsa stands up over Willemoes, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Silsa preventing the sweep.
Willemoes keeping full guard, as Silsa tries to pass.
Willemoes wants to sweep but no luck.
Silsa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Willemoes is keeping the position for now.
Silsa not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Pertti Silsa has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Silsa bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Willemoes's head backwards.
Silsa slips a jab from Willemoes.

Silsa shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Silsa was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Willemoes is looking for a sweep.
Silsa wants to control but Willemoes is keeping him busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silsa scores with a couple of short elbows.
Willemoes is trying to control Silsa's posture but Silsa avoids it.
Silsa just content to control the position.
Silsa trying to control the action but Willemoes is working from the bottom.
Willemoes is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Silsa off and has taken his back!

Silsa fending off the submission attempt from Willemoes.

Silsa is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willemoes lands with a hammerfist to the side of Silsa's head.
Pertti Silsa overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Willemoes is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Willemoes avoiding Silsa 's attempts to control his hands.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Willemoes looking to finish the fight with a rear naked choke. Silsa is controlling Willemoes 's left arm and he spins nicely into guard.
Willemoes keeping full guard, as Silsa tries to pass.
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 Pertti Silsa will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Willemoes dives in and scores a takedown into Silsa's guard.
Silsa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Willemoes!
Silsa tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Willemoes is trying to escape the mount.
Silsa moves to the back position.
Willemoes rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silsa wants to pass the guard but Willemoes is defending well.
Willemoes moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Silsa content to stall in guard here.
Willemoes is trying to keep Silsa in close.
Willemoes working a defensive guard but Silsa passes into half guard.
Willemoes tries to get to full guard but Silsa has control of the leg.
Willemoes slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Willemoes manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Willemoes.
Willemoes lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
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!
Willemoes landing strikes from the mount and Silsa is in trouble!
Silsa can't escape the position.
Silsa avoids a series of strikes thrown by Willemoes.
Willemoes has been taking part in the yoga sessions down at Axia Gym. Presumably he's going to look for a slick submission... Or maybe he's looking to avoid one.
Silsa sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Silsa is refusing to be controlled, as Willemoes sits in half guard.
Willemoes content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Willemoes moves nicely into side control.
Willemoes tries to advance to mount but Silsa denies him.
Silsa trying his best to control but Willemoes has mounted him.
Willemoes is stalling here but it's allowed Silsa to get half guard.
Willemoes trying to advance position but Silsa counters by regaining guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willemoes trying to control but Silsa is working from the bottom.
Willemoes sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Silsa's guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Willemoes connects with a nice short shot to Silsa's temple.
Silsa is doing well to control the position and prevent Willemoes from advancing to side control.
Willemoes is keen to just control but Silsa is a slippery customer.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Silsa is trying to get back to full guard.
Silsa makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Silsa.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lasse Willemoes comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Silsa has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Phil Schofield scores the fight 29:29
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:29
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 29:28

The fight is ruled a majority draw!