PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Erkki Elastinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Brent (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elastinen's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Cascada - Dangerous. Brent has chosen David Brent - 'Life on the Road' as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Elastinen
vs
Brent

160 cm
41
148 lbs
31 - 29 - 1

168 cm
27
148 lbs
8 - 6 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 29 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Erkki Elastinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, David Brent!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elastinen looks for a takedown but Brent sprawls well.

Elastinen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Elastinen trying to control the action but Brent is working from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Brent's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Elastinen tries to advance to mount but Brent denies him.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elastinen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Brent keeps working.

Elastinen is trying to get an arm triangle but Brent is defending well.
Brent holds on to Elastinen's head and controls the position momentarily.
Elastinen is looking to take a break and control but Brent is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Elastinen slows the pace down.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Brent is not content to let Elastinen control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Elastinen slips a jab from Brent.

Elastinen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into side control! Oh, that's bad for Brent!
Brent is looking for a sweep.

Elastinen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Brent has escaped the position, nice work there.
Elastinen taking a breather here.
Elastinen tries to move into full mount but can't pass Brent's legs.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Elastinen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Brent is looking for a sweep.

Elastinen tries for a kimura but Brent is defending well.
Elastinen trying to control the position but Brent is working away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

Elastinen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Elastinen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Brent is not content to let Elastinen control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brent holding on.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erkki Elastinen dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Elastinen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Brent sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Elastinen somewhat.
Elastinen shoots in for a double leg but Brent sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Elastinen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Brent as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erkki Elastinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Elastinen shoots in but Brent avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Brent with the counter takedown but Elastinen avoids it easily.
Elastinen misses with a takedown

and Brent counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Brent lands strikes from half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elastinen wants to improve his position but Brent is controlling well.
Brent is keen to just control but Elastinen is a slippery customer.
Elastinen gets back to full guard.
Elastinen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elastinen working a defensive guard but Brent passes into half guard.
Brent is trying to control the action in half guard but Elastinen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Elastinen is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at CEC Underdark, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Elastinen moves into full guard.
Elastinen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Elastinen trying to control the position.
Brent postures up in Elastinen's guard and throws a big left but Elastinen blocks it.
Elastinen looking to control.
Erkki Elastinen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Elastinen wants to sweep but no luck.
Elastinen keeping moving, preventing Brent from controlling successfully.
Brent distracts Elastinen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen is pulling down on Brent's head to control his posture.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Elastinen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Brent avoids it really well and circles away.
Brent is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.
Elastinen shoots in and drives through. Brent sprawls well.

Brent closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Elastinen quickly recovers to half guard.
Elastinen tries to roll over but Brent keeps him under control.
Elastinen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Brent with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Brent content to stall in guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Brent trying to control but Elastinen is working from the bottom.

Elastinen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Brent defends well.
Elastinen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Brent manages to get himself to full guard.

Elastinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Brent is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Elastinen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Elastinen wants to pass the guard but Brent is keeping the position.
Elastinen trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Brent manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Brent tries to free his leg and advance position but Elastinen is retaining full guard.
Elastinen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Elastinen is trying to control the position but Brent postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

David Brent showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Elastinen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Elastinen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Brent sprawls well. Brent wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Elastinen gets slowly back to his feet.
Brent cracks Elastinen with an open hand slap.

It looks like Erkki Elastinen has been cut.
Elastinen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Brent is fending him off so far but Elastinen persists. Nope, Brent circles away and we're back to standing.
Nice takedown defense from Brent. No joy for Elastinen on that attempt.
Brent with the counter takedown but Elastinen avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Erkki Elastinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Elastinen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Brent but Brent pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And Brent tries to counter it with a takedown but Elastinen pushes his down on his head and steps out.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elastinen fails with a takedown attempt.
And Brent tries to counter it with a takedown but Elastinen pushes his down on his head and steps out.

Elastinen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Brent is not content to let Elastinen control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elastinen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Brent knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Brent avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Elastinen.
Brent is looking for a sweep. Elastinen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Elastinen is trying to control the action in half guard but Brent is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Brent misses with a hook. Elastinen ducked under it nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Elastinen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Brent defends well and Elastinen ends up having to push Brent into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Brent scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Brent's coach down at Koru MMA was telling us pre-fight that they have been working on Brent's balance. Obviously they view that as a key factor in the outcome of this fight.

Brent tries to sprawl but Elastinen drives through with a takedown into half guard.

Elastinen is working for a kimura but Brent is defending it quite comfortably.
Brent preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Elastinen is looking to take a break and control but Brent is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen is really struggling to control Brent but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Elastinen passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Brent!
Elastinen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Brent is looking to escape.
Brent tries to reverse the position but Elastinen maintains control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Elastinen trying to control but Brent is having none of it.
Brent is looking to improve his position but Elastinen isn't that keen on the idea.
Elastinen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elastinen tries to control but Brent wriggling away.

And that's the end of the fight!
Erkki Elastinen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Elastinen 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erkki Elastinen!
A very excited looking Erkki Elastinen made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.