PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ales Zhandunka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tero Elo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Zhandunka
vs
Elo

220 cm
41
291 lbs
33 - 23 - 0

187 cm
28
210 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 33 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ales Zhandunka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tero Elo!
The judges for this bout are Gwen Towbar, Chris Downing and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elo misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Zhandunka thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zhandunka tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Elo manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Elo gets a double leg takedown into Zhandunka's guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Elo wants to control from the top but Zhandunka keeps moving.

Elo drops back, looking for a kneebar! Zhandunka looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Zhandunka looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Zhandunka!
Elo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zhandunka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Zhandunka knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Elo on the ground.

Zhandunka stands up and beckons Elo to his feet.
Elo with a lazy takedown attempt
and Zhandunka counters with a stiff right hand.
Zhandunka throws the left hand but Elo avoids the punch easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zhandunka moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Zhandunka looks to score with a jab to the body but Elo is just out of range.
Zhandunka keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Ales Zhandunka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tero Elo.
Elo changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Zhandunka tries to avoid it but Elo manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Zhandunka to the ground. Zhandunka escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Zhandunka lands with a hook. Elo tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Elo shoots and misses
and Zhandunka counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Elo shoots for a takedown but Zhandunka saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Elo shoots in for a takedown but Zhandunka shows good takedown defense.
Zhandunka swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Elo shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zhandunka but Zhandunka pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Elo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zhandunka counters with a straight right hand.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Elo gets the takedown into side control.

Elo is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Zhandunka knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Elo is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Zhandunka has escaped the position, nice work there.
Zhandunka on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Zhandunka tries to get out of the position.
Zhandunka tries to buck Elo off but Elo is having none of it.
Zhandunka is working hard here to advance position.
Elo wants to control but Zhandunka is keeping him busy.

Elo tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Elo goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Zhandunka has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Elo but great work by Zhandunka.
Zhandunka will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Elo tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Zhandunka wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Elo can't do much from the bottom here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Elo gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Zhandunka is trying to control. Elo wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Elo tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Zhandunka works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Elo has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Zhandunka is working away from the top position though.
Zhandunka seems to have lost interest with the ground game and is thinking about standing back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Elo tries to roll over but Zhandunka keeps him under control.
Elo moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tero Elo will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Zhandunka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice jab there from Zhandunka.
Zhandunka throws the left hand but Elo avoids the punch easily.
Elo with a poor takedown
and Zhandunka cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

Elo throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Zhandunka tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Elo is in Zhandunka's guard.

Elo has gone for a leg lock! Zhandunka slips out almost immediately though and dives into Elo's guard.
Elo not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Zhandunka avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Zhandunka sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Elo's guard.
Zhandunka controlling the action here.
Elo is looking to control Zhandunka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Elo avoid being mounted?
Tero Elo has got the better of the ground game so far.
Elo gets full guard.
Zhandunka has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zhandunka stopping the sweep attempt from Elo.
Zhandunka pushing down on Elo's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Elo wants to improve his position but Zhandunka is controlling well.
Zhandunka wants to control but Elo is keeping him busy.
Zhandunka tries to stand but his arm is trapped.
Zhandunka tries to pass the half guard into mount. Elo knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Zhandunka wants to take a breather but Elo is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elo trying to hold on to Zhandunka's head to control him but Zhandunka postures up.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Elo is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Zhandunka is staying active.
Elo is staying active underneath Zhandunka, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Zhandunka tries to pass to full mount but Elo defends it.
Zhandunka seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Elo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Ales Zhandunka.
Elo fails with a takedown attempt.
Zhandunka stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Zhandunka wants it to stay on the feet.
Ales Zhandunka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tero Elo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nice defenses there by Elo.
Elo throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Elo doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zhandunka counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Tero Elo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Elo gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Zhandunka counters with a nice uppercut.

Elo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Zhandunka to the mat! Zhandunka manages to get full guard.
Elo trying to control but Zhandunka is working from the bottom.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zhandunka wants to get back to his feet but Elo is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Elo pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Zhandunka is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Tero Elo will probably get the nod - 10:9.
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. This is the final round!

Elo shoots and misses
letting Zhandunka counter with a right hand.
Elo will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Zhandunka is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Elo dives in and grabs Zhandunka's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zhandunka pushes down on Elo's head and hops out.
Ales Zhandunka has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tero Elo.
Elo fails with the takedown
and Zhandunka counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Elo thinking.
Elo shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Zhandunka defends it nicely.
Zhandunka connects with a looping right hand.
Elo staying out of range there.
Zhandunka throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Elo shoots and misses
and Elo takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zhandunka lands a right hook to the body.
Elo takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
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!
Zhandunka lands an overhand right.
Elo gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elo is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

Elo gets the takedown into side control.

Elo looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Zhandunka is trying to control Elo's posture but Elo avoids it.

Elo has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Zhandunka is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Elo yanks on the arm and Zhandunka is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Elo.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:59 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Tero Elo!
Post fight, Tero Elo took to the microphone: 'Let the big, bad, black motherfucker go!'.