PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ari Kantola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keith Young (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kantola
vs
Young

185 cm
30
259 lbs
21 - 6 - 1

200 cm
34
262 lbs
13 - 13 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Great elbows
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

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 21 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ari Kantola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Keith Young!
The judges for this bout are , Jack Bonds and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Young lands with a good body shot.
Kantola misses with a head kick.
Kantola tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

Kantola decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kantola slips a nice elbow through Young's hands, connecting with Young's forehead.
Kantola throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kantola throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Young tries to roll over but Kantola keeps him under control.
Kantola is trying to advance to mount but he's lost his balance and Young reverses the position - he's now on top in Kantola's guard.
Young wants to control from the top but Kantola keeps moving.
Kantola can't keep his opponent in guard - Young advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Young missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
I've been told that Young has been drilling his wrestling of late, which has already helped him take this fight to the mat. Let's see how much of an impact it has on the outcome of the ground game.
Kantola manages to get to full guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kantola looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Young passes into half guard.
Young moves nicely into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola is trying to get back to half guard.
Kantola is working hard here to advance position.
Young in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kantola managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Young.
Young is looking to take a break and control but Kantola is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Young fails to land a wild elbow strike.
We've been hearing good reports from Kantola's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Kantola tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Young tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Young has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Young tries to advance to mount but Kantola denies him.
Kantola might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Young sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kantola is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Kantola is not content to let Young control the position.
Young has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Young cracks Kantola with a big elbow.
Kantola is looking for a sweep.
Kantola manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Kantola keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Nice strikes from Young there.
Kantola manages to get to full guard.
Young slips nicely into half guard.

Kantola looking for submissions off his back.
Young is trying to control. Kantola wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Young working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Kantola tries to roll over but Young keeps him under control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kantola looking for submissions off his back.
Young is looking to advance position but Kantola won't allow it.

Kantola looking for submissions off his back.
Young throwing shots but Kantola is blocking nicely.
Young not doing much here.
Young wants to free his trapped foot but Kantola is holding on for dear life with his legs.

Kantola looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kantola won't allow Young to pass to mount.
Young working Kantola over with strikes.
Kantola won't allow Young to pass to mount.
Young sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kantola defending well though.
Young wants to control but Kantola is keeping him busy.
Young thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Young sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Kantola defending well though.
Young tries to pass to full mount but Kantola defends it.

Kantola looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kantola looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Young frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keith Young dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Young misses with a wild body shot.
Kantola throws a head kick but Young moves out of range.
Young throws a hook but Kantola blocks it.
Both fighters circling a little - Kantola finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Young takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Kantola tries a head kick but it misses.
Young looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kantola slips a jab from Young.
Young misses with a low kick.
Young throws a looping overhand right but Kantola ducks down to avoid it.
Ari Kantola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Nice defenses there by Kantola.
Young attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kantola has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Young drives through with a takedown into Kantola's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Young wants to pass the guard but Kantola is keeping the position.
Young has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kantola utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Young landing some decent shots from guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kantola working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Young has passed into half guard!

Kantola looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Young wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kantola keeps working.
Kantola slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Young keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kantola's head.
Young tries to free his leg and advance position but Kantola is retaining full guard.
Young stands and throws Kantola's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Keith Young has got the better of the ground game so far.
Sloppy strikes there by Young.
Young working the ground and pound but Kantola is defending the strikes.
Kantola is trying to escape the position but Young is controlling the position.
Kantola tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola regains half guard.

Kantola looking for submissions off his back.
Young works his foot free and advances to mount.
Young lands a big shot there that rocks Kantola but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Young trying to control but Kantola is having none of it.
Young lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

It looks like Ari Kantola has been cut.
Whack. That's a big, big shot from Young! Kantola is out cold! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). Keith Young!
During a confident post fight interview, Keith Young thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.