PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Mark Dunn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erkki Elastinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Dunn comes to the cage accompanied by Diary of a Madman. The crowd seem to be enjoying Elastinen's choice of entrance music: Cascada - Dangerous. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Dunn
vs
Elastinen

167 cm
37
135 lbs
26 - 22 - 0

160 cm
38
148 lbs
25 - 24 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 26 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Mark Dunn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 25 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erkki Elastinen!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Columbo Gatti and Chad Campbell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elastinen with a poor takedown
and Dunn counters with a straight right hand.

Dunn closes the distance and clinches.
Elastinen is looking to take this one to the mat.
The referee calls for Dunn to work.
Dunn is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Dunn throws an elbow but it's blocked.

Elastinen turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Elastinen manages to end up in side control.
Elastinen wants to control but Dunn is keeping him busy.
Dunn gives up the full mount - oops, sloppy defensive grappling there!

Elastinen looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Dunn is squirming around, avoiding Elastinen's attempts to control the action.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Poor strikes thrown by Elastinen there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dunn really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Elastinen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Elastinen avoids the attempt from Dunn to control.
Elastinen thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Dunn tries to hold on but Elastinen postures up.
Elastinen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Elastinen wants to control the pace but Dunn is squirming around nicely.
Elastinen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Dunn is squirming around, avoiding Elastinen's attempts to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dunn is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Dunn gets back to half guard.
Elastinen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Dunn knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Dunn controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Dunn wants to control but Elastinen is keeping busy and won't allow it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dunn is trying to get back to full guard.
Elastinen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Mark Dunn just wasn't active enough.
Dunn slaps away a takedown attempt from Elastinen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Mark Dunn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erkki Elastinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Elastinen fails to land the takedown.
Elastinen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Elastinen goes for a double leg but Dunn avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Dunn continues to drive forward.
Dunn lands a nice elbow from the clinch.

It looks like Erkki Elastinen has been cut.

Dunn tightens his grip and picks Elastinen up, before dumping him to the ground. Elastinen manages to land in guard.
Elastinen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dunn throwing strikes from guard but Elastinen blocks nicely.
Dunn lands a couple of elbows.
Dunn postures up in Elastinen's guard and throws a big left but Elastinen blocks it.
Dunn is working Elastinen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Dunn pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Elastinen is keeping the position for now.
Elastinen working a defensive guard here.
Elastinen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dunn manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dunn is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Elastinen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dunn swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Elastinen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Dunn's guard.
Elastinen wants to pass to mount but Dunn is defending the position.
Dunn has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Elastinen is working away from the top position though.
Dunn holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dunn is looking to control Elastinen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Dunn avoid being mounted?
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Mark Dunn.
Elastinen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dunn but Dunn pushes him off and we're back to square one.
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 Mark Dunn will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Erkki Elastinen's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Elastinen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Dunn circles away.
Elastinen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Dunn defends it nicely.

Elastinen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Elastinen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Elastinen prevents Dunn from getting back to his feet.
Elastinen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Elastinen tries to free his leg and advance position but Dunn is retaining full guard.
Dunn is trying to keep Elastinen in close.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Dunn.
Erkki Elastinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elastinen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Dunn is fending him off so far but Elastinen persists. Nope, Dunn circles away and we're back to standing.
Mark Dunn has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erkki Elastinen.
Elastinen fails to land the takedown.
Dunn scores with a nice head shot.
Dunn looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Jab, jab by Dunn - just one landing.
Dunn feints a jab promting Elastinen to slip. Dunn then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Elastinen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Elastinen slips a straight right by Dunn.
Elastinen darts in looking for a takedown but Dunn gets double underhooks and turns Elastinen into the cage.
Dunn gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Elastinen.
Knees to the body from Dunn.
Dunn lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Elastinen backwards.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen is looking to take this one to the mat.
Dunn is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Elastinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Elastinen is looking to take this one to the mat.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Dunn lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Elastinen blocking some punches.

Dunn breaks from the clinch.
Elastinen fails with the takedown
and Dunn counters with a left and a right that stings Elastinen.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Elastinen.
Elastinen with a poor takedown
letting Dunn counter with a right hand.
Elastinen has his takedown stuffed
and Dunn counters with a three punch combo that has Elastinen backing up. Elastinen nods at Dunn to acknowledge the strikes.

Elastinen is rocked!
Elastinen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Dunn but Dunn pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Elastinen is still on wobbly legs! Can Dunn finish him?
Dunn throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Elastinen.
Elastinen seems to have recovered his senses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dunn leaves Elastinen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Elastinen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Elastinen misses with a takedown attempt - Dunn sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Elastinen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Dunn defends well and Elastinen ends up having to push Dunn into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Dunn working aggressively here.

Dunn has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Elastinen clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Elastinen trying to control the position but Dunn manages to sink in the hooks.
Dunn has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Elastinen.
Dunn is hanging on to Elastinen's back as he tries to escape.
Elastinen has found himself in a tricky position here. He's been working his transitions in training so let's see if he can work his way out of it.

Dunn patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Dunn is looking to control Elastinen but Elastinen is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Dunn seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Elastinen is trapped and Dunn is scoring with shots to the head and body.
Dunn missing with strikes from the back.
Dunn scores with strikes from the back.
Mark Dunn overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Dunn is punishing Elastinen with some ground and pound.
Dunn trying to control.
Dunn has his opponent trapped and is landing shots. Not a good position for Elastinen.
Elastinen covering up well and avoiding damage.
Elastinen avoids the strikes from Dunn.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Dunn lands a shot to the head.
Dunn has Elastinen flattened out and is raining down punches.
Dunn is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Dunn gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Dunn gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Dunn apologises and we restart here on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Dunn dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Erkki Elastinen's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Horrible takedown attempt by Elastinen or perhaps it was just good defense by Dunn, which made it look bad.
Elastinen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Dunn.
Dunn tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Elastinen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Elastinen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dunn sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Elastinen somewhat.

Elastinen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Elastinen showed some decent athleticism there.

Elastinen seems to be working for a kimura but Dunn defends the submission attempt.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Elastinen passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Dunn!
Dunn tries to lock up and control but Elastinen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Elastinen working for a guillotine from mount but Dunn is in no mood to give up.
Dunn can't escape the position.
Dunn tries to lock up and control but Elastinen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Elastinen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Dunn is working to get back to half guard.
Elastinen controlling his opponent.
Elastinen prevents Dunn from getting the reversal.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen controlling his opponent.
Dunn is working to get back to half guard.
Elastinen tries to control but Dunn wriggling away.
Mark Dunn is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Elastinen is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Dunn avoids a series of strikes thrown by Elastinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dunn is in all sorts of trouble here.
Elastinen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Elastinen trying to control but Dunn is having none of it.

Elastinen working for a submission but Dunn is keeping him at bay.
Dunn keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Elastinen wants to control the pace but Dunn is squirming around nicely.
Dunn wants to try and get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dunn is squirming around, avoiding Elastinen's attempts to control the action.
Dunn wants to control but Elastinen is having none of it.
Dunn is working to get back to half guard.
Dunn is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Elastinen throws some wild stikes that Dunn manages to avoid easily.
Elastinen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Elastinen fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Elastinen looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Erkki Elastinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dunn tries to get back to half guard but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erkki Elastinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Dunn 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Columbo Gatti scores the fight 28:29
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Mark Dunn!
Mark Dunn managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Reaper Combatwear, into his post fight interview.