PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Hamid Zaferani (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erkki Elastinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Elastinen has chosen Cascada - Dangerous as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Zaferani
vs
Elastinen

170 cm
39
145 lbs
28 - 19 - 2

160 cm
42
148 lbs
33 - 31 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 28 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Hamid Zaferani!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 33 - 31 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Erkki Elastinen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Elastinen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Zaferani throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Zaferani gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Elastinen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Elastinen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Elastinen wants to pass the guard but Zaferani is keeping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elastinen trying to control but Zaferani is working from the bottom.
Elastinen looking to pass the guard.
Zaferani has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Elastinen has passed into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaferani keeps Elastinen under control for a moment.
Elastinen tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Elastinen controlling the position.
It looks like Elastinen might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Elastinen tries to advance to mount but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Elastinen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Elastinen controls the position.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Zaferani is looking for a sweep.
Elastinen tries to advance to mount but can't.
Elastinen looking to control but instead Zaferani has slipped a leg in, to regain half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Elastinen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Elastinen wants to free his trapped foot but Zaferani is holding on for dear life with his legs.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Elastinen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zaferani's waist but Zaferani gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Elastinen off to one side.
Zaferani is looking to counter punch.
Elastinen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Hamid Zaferani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erkki Elastinen.
Elastinen fails with a takedown attempt.

Elastinen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Zaferani is trying to defend but Elastinen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Elastinen tries to pass the half guard into mount. Zaferani knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaferani is trying to get back to full guard.
Elastinen is pressing down on Zaferani's thigh, looking to free his foot. Zaferani is holding on for now.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Zaferani is trying to maintain the position but Elastinen is very close to passing his half guard.
Elastinen takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elastinen wants to control but Zaferani is keeping him busy.

Elastinen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erkki Elastinen 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.

Zaferani scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Erkki Elastinen has been cut.
Zaferani misses with an uppercut. Elastinen saw that one coming.
Zaferani throws a shot from downtown. Elastinen moves away and avoids it.
Elastinen fails with a takedown attempt.
Elastinen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Zaferani counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Zaferani misses with a low kick.
Elastinen looks for a takedown but Zaferani sprawls well.
Hamid Zaferani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erkki Elastinen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elastinen shoots in for a double leg but Zaferani sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Elastinen shoots in for a takedown but Zaferani shows good takedown defense.
A quick step to the side and Zaferani tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Zaferani throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Elastinen's head.
Elastinen checks a low kick from Zaferani.
Zaferani throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Zaferani displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Elastinen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elastinen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Zaferani sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Elastinen fails with the takedown.
Zaferani misses with a body kick.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Elastinen checks a leg kick.
Elastinen blocks a head kick by Zaferani.
Elastinen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zaferani avoids it really well and circles away.
Elastinen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Zaferani but Zaferani pushes him off and we're back to square one.
A leg kick checked by Elastinen.
Elastinen drops down looking to force a counter takedown but Zaferani defends it well.
Zaferani fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Elastinen is out of range.
Hamid Zaferani is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Elastinen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Zaferani avoids it really well and circles away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Zaferani has Elastinen up against the cage in a clinch.
Zaferani misses with some punches.
Elastinen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Zaferani gets the underhooks and prevents it.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Zaferani creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Elastinen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Zaferani after a bit of a struggle.
Zaferani lands a body punch.
Zaferani lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Elastinen backwards.

Zaferani breaks the clinch.
Elastinen slips a jab and a cross from Zaferani.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Zaferani leaves Elastinen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Elastinen shoots in and drives through. Zaferani sprawls well.
Zaferani throwing a counter right hand but Elastinen manages to avoid it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Elastinen shoots in for a takedown but Zaferani shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Elastinen checks the leg kick.
Zaferani misses with a kick to the body.
Zaferani throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Elastinen.
Elastinen goes for a double leg but Zaferani avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zaferani continues to drive forward.
Elastinen shoots for a takedown but Zaferani saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Elastinen has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Zaferani.
Elastinen looks for a takedown but Zaferani sprawls well.
Zaferani misses with a body kick.
Horrible takedown attempt by Elastinen or perhaps it was just good defense by Zaferani, which made it look bad.
The fighters circling - Zaferani throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Elastinen on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Elastinen shoots in but no luck this time.
Zaferani is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Elastinen can do to turn this around?
Zaferani tried to score with a low kick but Elastinen checks it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Zaferani fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Zaferani scores with a nice body kick.
Elastinen is breathing heavily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zaferani lands a really nice looking cross but Elastinen seems unphased.
Elastinen dives in and grabs Zaferani's left leg, looking for a takedown. Zaferani pushes down on Elastinen's head and hops out.
Elastinen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Elastinen on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Elastinen fails to land the takedown.
Elastinen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Elastinen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zaferani is fending him off so far but Elastinen persists. Nope, Zaferani circles away and we're back to standing.
Elastinen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Elastinen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Zaferani is fending him off so far but Elastinen persists. Nope, Zaferani circles away and we're back to standing.
Zaferani throws a low kick, looking for Elastinen's leg but Elastinen calmly moves out of range.
Zaferani keeps Elastinen at a distance using the push kick.
Zaferani misses with a looping left.

Elastinen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hamid Zaferani dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Erkki Elastinen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Zaferani ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Elastinen moves away.
Elastinen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zaferani's waist but Zaferani gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Elastinen off to one side.
Zaferani is looking to counter punch.
Elastinen slips a jab from Zaferani.
Hamid Zaferani is winning the standup battle so far.
Nice shot lands for Zaferani.
Zaferani throws a hook but Elastinen blocks it.
A decent looking cross lands there for Zaferani.
No joy there for Zaferani, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Elastinen dives in for a single leg takedown but Zaferani sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Zaferani throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Zaferani connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Elastinen's hands.
Elastinen shoots in but no luck this time.
Hamid Zaferani has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erkki Elastinen.
Elastinen moves out of range of the body kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elastinen fails with a takedown attempt.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Elastinen is trying to control. Zaferani wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Elastinen trying to pass the guard but Zaferani defending well.
Elastinen prevents Zaferani from improving his position.
Elastinen moves into full mount! Zaferani won't be happy about that!
Zaferani working to try and regain half guard.

That's two 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.
Zaferani wants to control but Elastinen is having none of it.
Elastinen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Zaferani is looking to escape.
Elastinen content just to control the position here.
Zaferani is in all sorts of trouble here.
Erkki Elastinen has got the better of the ground game so far.

Elastinen has hold of Zaferani's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Zaferani manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen controlling from mount.
Elastinen wants to control the pace but Zaferani is squirming around nicely.
Elastinen controlling his opponent.
Elastinen prevents Zaferani from getting the reversal.

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.
Zaferani is squirming around, avoiding Elastinen's attempts to control the action.

Elastinen goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Zaferani turns into him and now he's in Elastinen's guard.
Elastinen wants to sweep here but Zaferani controlling him for the moment.
Zaferani is pushing down on Elastinen's leg trying to pass to half guard. Elastinen is fighting to maintain full guard but Zaferani has managed to sneak the leg through.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Elastinen wants to get back to full guard.
Elastinen keeps trying to improve his position.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Hamid Zaferani.
I think Zaferani 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hamid Zaferani!
Hamid Zaferani really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that DJs Locker logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.