PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Charles Kota (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vesa Asikainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Chooooooooon! I think Kota might be my favorite fighter, now he's come out to Airplanes - B.o.B ft Hayley Williams. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kota
vs
Asikainen

183 cm
32
214 lbs
8 - 10 - 0

189 cm
29
225 lbs
2 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter fighter
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 8 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Charles Kota!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Vesa Asikainen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kota drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kota prevents Asikainen from escaping the position.

Kota is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Asikainen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Asikainen wants to control but Kota postures up.
Asikainen tries to buck Kota off but Kota is having none of it.
Kota is looking to take a break and control but Asikainen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asikainen is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Asikainen regains half guard, as Kota was trying to land strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asikainen is trying to stand back up but Kota is controlling him
Kota throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kota with the ground and pound but Asikainen uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Asikainen told us pre-fight that he has been working on his escapes in training. Let's see if he can call on some of his new skills to get back to his feet.
Asikainen 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.
Kota postures up in Asikainen's guard and throws a big left but Asikainen blocks it.
Kota distracts Asikainen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kota throwing strikes from guard but Asikainen blocks nicely.
Kota makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asikainen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kota is controlling him.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Asikainen is on top in guard.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Asikainen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Asikainen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Asikainen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kota has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Asikainen has managed to get both his arms back between Kota's legs - danger averted.
Kota on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kota tries to get out of the position.

Kota has his foot on Asikainen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Asikainen works his way back into a safe position though.

Kota looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Asikainen scoring with some ground and pound.
Asikainen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kota is keeping the position for now.

Kota has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Asikainen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Asikainen advances to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Asikainen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kota regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kota throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.

Kota working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Asikainen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Asikainen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Kota looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Kota keeping full guard, as Asikainen tries to pass.
Asikainen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kota's head.
Asikainen connects with a couple of short punches.
Asikainen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Kota working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Asikainen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Asikainen slips nicely into half guard.
Asikainen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kota does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Asikainen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Asikainen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Kota is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Asikainen pulls his head out easily.

Kota looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Asikainen is pressing down on Kota's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kota is holding on for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Asikainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kota keeps working.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Vesa Asikainen will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Kota slaps away a takedown attempt from Asikainen, before circling back to the center of the mat.

Kota darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Asikainen pushes Kota off and gets back to his feet.

Kota scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Kota is trying to get an arm triangle but Asikainen is defending well.
Kota fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Asikainen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Asikainen is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kota in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

Kota thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Asikainen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Kota sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Asikainen defending well though.
Asikainen is looking to control Kota's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Asikainen avoid being mounted?
Kota looks to land a strike but Asikainen avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Kota won't allow Asikainen to get back to his feet.

That's two 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.
Kota stands up over Asikainen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Kota accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Kota advances to half guard.

Kota is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Asikainen doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Kota.

Asikainen makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Asikainen shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kota but Kota pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Asikainen shoots in for a takedown but Kota shows good takedown defense.
Kota tries to counter by moving into the clinch but Asikainen manages to circle out of the way.
Charles Kota has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vesa Asikainen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kota drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Vesa Asikainen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Kota missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kota working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kota stops Asikainen from standing up.
Kota chips away with some ground and pound.
Kota prevents Asikainen from getting back to his feet.
Kota wants to pass the guard but Asikainen is keeping the position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kota displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Asikainen.
Kota seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Asikainen is breathing heavily.
Asikainen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Asikainen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Kota as he jumps to the side.

Kota shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Asikainen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Kota throws a big elbow that misses.
Kota postures up in Asikainen's guard and throws a big left but Asikainen blocks it.
Kota stands up over Asikainen, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Charles Kota dominated that second round.
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. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Asikainen tries for a takedown but Kota circles away easily

and Kota counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Asikainen looking for a takedown.

Kota gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Asikainen keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Kota thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Asikainen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kota.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kota 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.

Kota is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Asikainen defends it well.
Asikainen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kota misses with a head shot. Asikainen uses the momentum to regain guard.
Kota preventing the sweep.
Kota looking to pass the guard.
Kota is standing up over Asikainen. Asikainen looks to escape but Kota dives into side control.
Kota scoring with punches from side control.
Kota scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Asikainen to see if he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kota fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kota lands a decent elbow from side control.
Asikainen is trying to get back to half guard.

Kota looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Asikainen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Kota thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kota prevents Asikainen from escaping the position.
Kota working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Kota throws a strike aimed at the side of Asikainen's head but Asikainen avoids it well.
Kota tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Kota lands some shots froms side control.
Asikainen is looking for a sweep.
Kota works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kota fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Kota cracks Asikainen with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kota tries to score with some ground and pound. Asikainen controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
You can see the frustration on Asikainen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kota landing a few strikes.
Asikainen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kota is putting a hurting on Asikainen here, landing some big shots from side control.

Asikainen throws Kota to one side and escapes!
Kota blocks the body kick.
An attempted straight right counter from Kota misses the target.

Kota feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
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!
Kota content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Kota lands a couple of digs.
Kota lands a couple of elbows.

And that's the end of the fight!
Charles Kota showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kota has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Charles Kota!
Our winner, Charles Kota, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.