PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Juan Santiago Sorias (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erkki Elastinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sorias's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Fight - Future World Music . Elastinen has chosen Cascada - Dangerous as his entrance music. This should be fireworks!

Santiago Sorias
vs
Elastinen

169 cm
28
146 lbs
5 - 1 - 0

160 cm
46
148 lbs
37 - 36 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Powerful

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 5 - 1 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Juan Santiago Sorias!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 37 - 36 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Erkki Elastinen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sorias pushes Elastinen up against the cage in a clinch.

Elastinen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
We've been told by Sorias's head coaches at Gladiator Training Center that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

Elastinen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Elastinen wants to control but Sorias is keeping him busy.

Elastinen is trying to get an arm triangle but Sorias is defending well.
Elastinen happy to just control the position for now.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elastinen tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Elastinen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Sorias is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Elastinen trying to control the action but Sorias is working from the bottom.

Elastinen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sorias has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Elastinen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sorias keeps working.
Sorias tries to escape but Elastinen is in control.
Elastinen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sorias keeps working.
You can see the frustration on Sorias's face as Elastinen controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen trying to control the action but Sorias is working from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Elastinen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Sorias tries to avoid it but Elastinen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Sorias to the ground. Sorias escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Juan Santiago Sorias is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Elastinen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Elastinen with the counter takedown but Sorias avoids it easily.
A slow jab from Sorias misses its intended target.
Sorias sets himself, and Elastinen steps forward looking for the clinch! Sorias avoids it this time.
Sorias is looking to clinch.
Elastinen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sorias circles away.
Elastinen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Sorias is fending him off so far but Elastinen persists. Nope, Sorias circles away and we're back to standing.
Juan Santiago Sorias has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erkki Elastinen.
Sorias tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Elastinen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Elastinen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Elastinen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sorias as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sorias tries to clinch up.
Sorias doesn't manage to clinch there - Elastinen circles away.
Sorias tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Elastinen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

Elastinen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Sorias sees it coming and defends easily.
Elastinen trying to control the action but Sorias is working from the bottom.

Elastinen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Sorias is just riding it out for now. Elastinen eventually gives up the hold.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sorias is trying to stand up here but Elastinen is controlling him well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erkki Elastinen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Sorias wants to clinch.
Elastinen feints the counter takedown.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Elastinen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sorias avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Elastinen as Sorias tries to tie him up.
Sorias lands a left hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sorias swings wildly with an uppercut but Elastinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Sorias is pressed up against the cage. Elastinen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Sorias down to the mat. Sorias avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

Elastinen shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Sorias manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
My spies in Holding Cell inform me that Elastinen has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sorias is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Elastinen wants to pass the guard but Sorias is keeping the position.
Elastinen looking to sit in guard and control but Sorias gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Sorias preventing the sweep.

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.

Elastinen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Sorias defends it easily.
Sorias would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Elastinen wants to sweep but no luck.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Elastinen is on top in guard.

Sorias has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Elastinen off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Sorias's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Sorias duly obliges.
Sorias stuffs the takedown attempt from Elastinen. Elastinen gets slowly back to his feet.
Juan Santiago Sorias has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erkki Elastinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sorias scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

It looks like Erkki Elastinen has been cut.
Sorias tries to clinch but Elastinen is having none of it.
Juan Santiago Sorias seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Elastinen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sorias's waist but Sorias gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Elastinen off to one side.
Sorias pivots, looking for a leg kick but Elastinen is out of range and Sorias settles back down.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Elastinen.
Elastinen has a takedown stuffed.
Sorias wants to clinch up but Elastinen keeps it at a distance.
Sorias misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Juan Santiago Sorias is winning the standup battle so far.
Sorias looks to clinch

and Elastinen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen tries to free his leg and advance position but Sorias is retaining full guard.
Sorias keeping moving, preventing Elastinen from controlling successfully.
Sorias wants to stand but Elastinen is controlling the position.

Sorias has his feet on Elastinen's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Elastinen keeps the fight on the outside.
Sorias is looking to clinch.
Sorias tries to clinch but Elastinen moves out of range.
Sorias darts in trying to clinch

and Elastinen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juan Santiago Sorias dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Erkki Elastinen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Elastinen shoots in and drives through. Sorias sprawls well.
Sorias swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Sorias tries to close the distance and clinch up but Elastinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Elastinen tries to counter with a clinch but Sorias shakes him off and moves away.
Sorias moves in looking to clinch but Elastinen pushes him off.
Elastinen swats away the attempt to clinch by Sorias.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Sorias throws a punch but it's blocked by Elastinen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Elastinen has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sorias is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sorias misses with the head strike.
Elastinen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Sorias prevents it.
Juan Santiago Sorias has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Erkki Elastinen.
Elastinen can't get the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body punch from Sorias - that landed with a thud.
Sorias lands a body punch.
Elastinen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Elastinen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Elastinen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Sorias misses with a punch on the inside.
Elastinen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Elastinen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sorias pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sorias doesn't manage to clinch there - Elastinen circles away.
Elastinen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Sorias doesn't manage to clinch there - Elastinen circles away.
Elastinen swats away the attempt to clinch by Sorias.
Elastinen feints the counter takedown.
Sorias fails with an attempt to clinch.
Elastinen tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen ducks under a wild hook from Sorias.
Juan Santiago Sorias is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sorias throws a looping overhand right but Elastinen ducks down to avoid it.
Sorias tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Sorias works the jab nicely.
Sorias tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Elastinen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sorias closes the distance looking to clinch

and Elastinen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Elastinen.
Elastinen wants to pass the guard but Sorias is keeping the 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!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elastinen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Elastinen wants to control from the top but Sorias keeps moving.
Sorias wants to stand and escape but Elastinen is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Sorias looks to clinch

and Elastinen counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Sorias!

Elastinen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sorias has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Elastinen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sorias, who protects the arm well.
Sorias is trying to buck Elastinen off.
Erkki Elastinen has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Elastinen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Elastinen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sorias keeps working.

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 Juan Santiago Sorias.
I think Sorias 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Juan Santiago Sorias!
A victorious Juan Santiago Sorias thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.