PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Keijo Kerjalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Zak Drezner (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Drezner has chosen Champions as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. 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.

Kerjalainen
vs
Drezner

179 cm
38
131 lbs
37 - 20 - 0

175 cm
41
158 lbs
39 - 22 - 4

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Heavy handed

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Spartan Nutrition

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 37 - 20 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Keijo Kerjalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 39 - 22 - 4, fighting out of London, Zak Drezner!
The judges for this bout are Richard Clark, Chris Edwards and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kerjalainen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Drezner was well out of range. Poor timing from Kerjalainen.

Drezner takes the fight into the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Drezner.
Drezner working aggressively here.
A head punch on the inside from Kerjalainen fails to land.
Kerjalainen tries a body shot but Drezner blocks it.
Kerjalainen lands with a short shot to the head.
Drezner tries to break free but Kerjalainen pushes him back against the cage.
Kerjalainen misses with a punch to the body.

Drezner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kerjalainen connects with a high kick.
Kerjalainen misses with a low kick.
Drezner blocks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drezner throws a head kick but Kerjalainen moves out of range.

Drezner has managed to clinch.
Kerjalainen prevents Drezner from breaking the clinch.
Kerjalainen struggles to land a body shot inside as Drezner controls his hands.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kerjalainen.
Kerjalainen lands a nice shot to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drezner blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Drezner blocks an uppercut.

Drezner breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Drezner misses with a body shot.
A head kick misses from Kerjalainen.
Drezner chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Drezner slaps away a takedown attempt from Kerjalainen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kerjalainen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kerjalainen tries to clinch there but Drezner circles away.
Kerjalainen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Drezner sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Drezner looks to throw the jab but Kerjalainen is out of range.
Kerjalainen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Drezner sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kerjalainen somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keijo Kerjalainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerjalainen throws a hook but Drezner blocks it.

Kerjalainen gets tackled into the cage by Drezner. Drezner maintains the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for Kerjalainen.

Drezner breaks the clinch.
Kerjalainen misses with an uppercut.
Kerjalainen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Drezner pinned against the cage. Drezner gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Drezner misses with a straight left.
Kerjalainen is looking to counter punch.
Drezner blocks a head kick by Kerjalainen.
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!
Drezner moves away from the strike by Kerjalainen.
Drezner uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Drezner tries a head kick but it misses.
Kerjalainen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Drezner was well out of range. Poor timing from Kerjalainen.
A jab from Drezner does it's job there.
Kerjalainen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Drezner misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerjalainen misses with a takedown attempt - Drezner sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Drezner looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Kerjalainen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Drezner keeps the fight on the outside.
Kerjalainen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Kerjalainen tries for a takedown but Drezner sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Drezner throws out a counter right but Kerjalainen avoids it with no problem.
Zak Drezner seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Drezner throws a jab but it's blocked by Kerjalainen.
Kerjalainen wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Drezner tries to clinch there but Kerjalainen circles away.
Kerjalainen takes a kick to the side of the head.

Drezner drives through and clinches with Kerjalainen against the cage.
Kerjalainen struggles to land a body shot inside as Drezner controls his hands.
Kerjalainen lands with a left to the head.
Kerjalainen swings wildly with an uppercut but Drezner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Drezner tries to work over Kerjalainen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Drezner breaks the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Drezner takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kerjalainen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Drezner momentarily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kerjalainen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
A low kick from Kerjalainen is predictable there
and Drezner cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kerjalainen tries to clinch but Drezner is having none of it.
Drezner takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Drezner keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Kerjalainen.
Kerjalainen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Drezner is fending him off so far but Kerjalainen persists. Nope, Drezner circles away and we're back to standing.
Kerjalainen throws out a loose jab but Drezner uses good head movement to avoid it.
Drezner closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Kerjalainen lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Drezner throws a head kick that misses.
Kerjalainen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kerjalainen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Zak Drezner will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Drezner tries to move into range but Kerjalainen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
A big right from Kerjalainen misses.
Kerjalainen ducks under a wild hook from Drezner.
Kerjalainen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Drezner paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Zak Drezner seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kerjalainen throws out a powerful jab.
We are yet to see a takedown attempt from Drezner in the fight. On paper you would think he is the more dominant ground fighter so let's see if these unusual tactics pay off.
Kerjalainen blocks a jab.
Drezner's corner calls for a 1-2. Drezner obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Kerjalainen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kerjalainen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Kerjalainen has a takedown stuffed.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Drezner throws out a loose jab but Kerjalainen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Drezner feints a jab promting Kerjalainen to slip. Drezner then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Kerjalainen slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kerjalainen avoids the head kick by Drezner.
Drezner tests Kerjalainen's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Drezner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerjalainen takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Kerjalainen is rocked!
Drezner misses with an uppercut.
Oh Kerjalainen is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Kerjalainen lands with a good body shot.
Kerjalainen seems to have got his legs back now.
Drezner ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kerjalainen moves away.
Kerjalainen tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Drezner manages to circle out of the way.
Drezner throws a right and a left that Kerjalainen avoids nicely.
Kerjalainen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kerjalainen moves away from the strike by Drezner.
Kerjalainen digs a good body shot into Drezner's ribs.
Drezner throws a jab but it's blocked by Kerjalainen.
Kerjalainen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Drezner tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kerjalainen is looking to counter the offense by Drezner and move into the clinch.
A head kick from Drezner lands but Kerjalainen takes it in his stride.
Zak Drezner is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Drezner misses with a kick to the body.
Kerjalainen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kerjalainen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerjalainen throws a poor cross that misses
and Drezner counters with a nice uppercut.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Drezner blocks a jab.
Drezner's corner calls for a 1-2. Drezner obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Drezner lands with a good body shot.
Drezner keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A little jabbing left from Drezner on the counter but it doesn't find it's target.
Kerjalainen misses with an uppercut.
Drezner is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Drezner pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Drezner does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
A nice inside leg kick there by Drezner. That's going to slow Kerjalainen down.
Kerjalainen tries a head kick but it misses.
Kerjalainen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Drezner.
It looked like Kerjalainen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Drezner fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kerjalainen checks it well.
Kerjalainen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Kerjalainen.
A good leg kick by Kerjalainen.
Drezner swinging wildly here.
Drezner swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kerjalainen blocks a head kick by Drezner.
A nice inside leg kick there by Kerjalainen. That's going to slow Drezner down.
Drezner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kerjalainen manages to avoid it.
Kerjalainen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Drezner.
Kerjalainen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Drezner. Drezner circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Drezner goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Drezner misses with a wild body shot.
A punch lands to the side of Drezner 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Drezner misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Kerjalainen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Drezner's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kerjalainen lands with a right hand.
Kerjalainen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kerjalainen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Drezner.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kerjalainen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Drezner looks like he wanted to counter with a high kick but didn't throw it.
Kerjalainen tries a head kick but it misses.
Kerjalainen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Drezner's waist but Drezner gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kerjalainen off to one side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keijo Kerjalainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Drezner lunges at Kerjalainen with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kerjalainen's hand.
Kerjalainen moves out of range as Drezner strikes.
It looked like Kerjalainen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Drezner scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Kerjalainen throws a poor cross that misses
and Drezner cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Drezner lands with a slapping head kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Drezner misses with an uppercut. Kerjalainen saw that one coming.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zak Drezner showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Kerjalainen throws a body shot but no joy.
A good leg kick by Drezner.
Drezner connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Drezner misses with a low kick as Kerjalainen jumps back.
Drezner is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Kerjalainen.
Kerjalainen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Drezner throws a hook to the side of Kerjalainen's head but Kerjalainen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Drezner moves away from the strike by Kerjalainen.
Kerjalainen gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Drezner counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Kerjalainen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Drezner throws out the jab.
Drezner misses with a head kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kerjalainen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Drezner as he jumps to the side.
Kerjalainen misses with a straight right.
Drezner throws out a loose jab but Kerjalainen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Drezner lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Kerjalainen at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Drezner fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
It looked like Kerjalainen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Drezner tries to clinch but Kerjalainen moves out of range.
Drezner lands with a nice body punch.
Kerjalainen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Drezner lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Drezner bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kerjalainen's head.
Kerjalainen takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Drezner scores with a nice strike.
Drezner misses with a body shot
and Kerjalainen counters with a nice leg kick.
Kerjalainen fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Drezner.
Kerjalainen takes one to the side of the head.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kerjalainen throws a right hand that Drezner ducks under and follows up with a left that Drezner also avoids with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Drezner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Drezner misses with an uppercut
and Kerjalainen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
A left lands for Drezner.
Drezner is looking to clinch.
Drezner throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kerjalainen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kerjalainen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kerjalainen looks to throw the jab but Drezner is out of range.
Drezner staying out of range there.
Drezner is clearly looking to counter with head kicks.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Drezner checks a leg kick.
Drezner lands a head shot.
Drezner misses with a hook.
Kerjalainen throwing a counter right hand but Drezner manages to avoid it.
Kerjalainen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Kerjalainen connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Drezner's hands.
Kerjalainen lands a head shot.
Keijo Kerjalainen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerjalainen misses with a looping left.
Kerjalainen moves away from the strike by Drezner.
Drezner connects with a jab.
Drezner misses with a series of wild punches.
Kerjalainen looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kerjalainen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Drezner. That did some damage!
Nice uppercut there from Kerjalainen.
Kerjalainen tries to bum rush Drezner with a series of wild strikes but Drezner uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Drezner connects with a single shot there.
Drezner is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Drezner works Kerjalainen's body with a nice hook.
Horrible takedown attempt by Kerjalainen or perhaps it was just good defense by Drezner, which made it look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keijo Kerjalainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A combination from Drezner does no damage.
Kerjalainen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kerjalainen throws a body shot but no joy.
Kerjalainen is looking to clinch.
Drezner keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Kerjalainen.
Drezner fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kerjalainen manages to avoid it.
Nice defenses there by Drezner.
Nice sprawl there from Drezner as Kerjalainen shoots in.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Drezner throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Drezner slips under a jab from Kerjalainen.

Drezner moves into the clinch successfully.

Drezner pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kerjalainen takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.

And that's the end of the fight!
Zak Drezner comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Drezner winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge Chris Edwards scores the fight 28:30
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Zak Drezner!
A determined Zak Drezner didn't want to dwell on this fight in his post fight interview. Instead he was more keen to state he wants a title shot. Let's see if he gets it!
Keijo Kerjalainen spoke after the fight, saying 'As always I can do everything through Christ my lord and savior who strengthens me. Without him I wouldn't be here tonight. Don't worry I'll be back.'.