PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Antti Kantola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexander Nevsky (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Alexander Nevsky has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kantola
vs
Nevsky

176 cm
31
182 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

178 cm
37
186 lbs
28 - 18 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Kantola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 18 - 0, fighting out of London, Alexander Nevsky!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kantola throws a body punch but Nevsky moves out of range.
Kantola misses with a wild body shot.
Nevsky lands with a straight right. Kantola didn't see that one coming.
Kantola lands a nice shot that snaps Nevsky's head back.

Nevsky throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kantola was covering up waiting for the punch and Nevsky finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Nevsky preventing the sweep.
Nevsky wants to control from the top but Kantola keeps moving.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!

Kantola is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Nevsky is in close to Kantola's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kantola working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Nevsky.
Nevsky working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kantola utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola looking to control.
Nevsky throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kantola is trying to control the position but Nevsky postures up.
Nevsky working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Kantola is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Nevsky trying to control but Kantola is working from the bottom.
Nevsky postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kantola pulls Nevsky in close to prevent any damage.
Kantola bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nevsky's guard.
Nevsky working a defensive guard here.

Nevsky escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kantola gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola wants to pass the guard but Nevsky is keeping the position.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Nevsky looking to control.
Nevsky is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Nevsky looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Nevsky uses the cage to get back to his feet.
Kantola lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Kantola misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Nevsky shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kantola napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kantola is looking to regain half guard here but Nevsky keeps moving and retains side control.
Nevsky lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Kantola down.

Nevsky tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Nevsky has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Kantola is looking for a sweep.
Kantola can't do much from the bottom here.
Nevsky throws an elbow but Kantola slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kantola is trying to improve his position.
Nevsky fails to land a wild elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nevsky cracks Kantola with a big right hand but Kantola just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nevsky working away.
Kantola is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.
Nevsky scoring with punches and elbows.
Check out the look on Nevsky's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Kantola regains half guard, as Nevsky was trying to land strikes.
Nevsky missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kantola keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Nevsky dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kantola tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Nevsky was well out of range. Poor timing from Kantola.
Nice defenses there by Kantola.
Kantola ducks under a wild hook from Nevsky.
Kantola connects with a body shot that sends Nevsky's belly button to the back.

Nevsky scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Nevsky working away.
Nevsky scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kantola manages to work his way to half guard, despite Nevsky's best efforts.
Nevsky wants to free his trapped foot but Kantola is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Nevsky is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Kantola is looking for a sweep. Nevsky is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nevsky throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Nevsky wants to take a breather but Kantola is having none of it.
Nevsky missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Alexander Nevsky has got the better of the ground game so far.
Nevsky looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Nevsky.
Kantola avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Nevsky.
Ground and pound from Nevsky.
Kantola is looking to control Nevsky's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kantola avoid being mounted?
Nevsky missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nevsky stalling away here and it's allowed Kantola to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Nevsky throws a strike but Kantola rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kantola wants to control from the top but Nevsky keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nevsky wants to get back to his feet but Kantola is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kantola won't allow Nevsky to sweep him here.
Kantola trying to control the position from guard on top but Nevsky is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kantola is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Antti Kantola wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Kantola works over Nevsky's head and body with a nice combination.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nevsky doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kantola makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Nevsky really felt that one!
Nevsky throws a shot from downtown. Kantola moves away and avoids it.
Nevsky cracks Kantola with an open hand slap.
Nevsky takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kantola scores with a jab to the body.
Kantola connects with a crisp jab.
Kantola stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Kantola wants it to stay on the feet.
Kantola lands a glancing blow to the side of Nevsky's head.
Kantola is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kantola throws out a powerful jab.
Kantola lands a jab to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
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!
Kantola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Nevsky.
Kantola lands a body shot.
A jab from Kantola does it's job there.

Nevsky is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Kantola's half guard.
Kantola has a hand on Nevsky's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Nevsky takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Nevsky is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Kantola is wriggling around trying to escape.
Kantola wants to control but Nevsky is having none of it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kantola really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Nevsky landing strikes from the mount and Kantola is in trouble!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Nevsky showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Kantola rushes Nevsky and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kantola pulls Nevsky into guard.
Kantola utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Nevsky trying to control the position from guard on top but Kantola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Nevsky won't allow Kantola to get back to his feet.
Kantola keeping moving, preventing Nevsky from controlling successfully.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kantola is on top in guard.
Kantola trying to control but Nevsky is working from the bottom.
Nevsky manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nevsky lands a big elbow.
Nevsky lands a nice shot to the head.
Kantola is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kantola is in all sorts of trouble here.
A big strike lands for Nevsky! That's really hurt Kantola and he's turned his back - Nevsky keeps firing away and the ref dives in to stop the fight! Nevsky jumps to his feet to celebrate the victory!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:57 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Alexander Nevsky!
A relieved looking Alexander Nevsky thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.