PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Joao Anabolino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Takke Downlinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Anabolino
vs
Downlinen

179 cm
20
175 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

179 cm
22
170 lbs
1 - 5 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

Good takedowns
Brawler
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joao Anabolino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Takke Downlinen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Downlinen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Downlinen looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Anabolino looking for a sweep. Not yet Anabolino, not yet.
Anabolino is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Downlinen chips away with some ground and pound.
Downlinen cracks Anabolino with a solid left hand.
Anabolino working a defensive guard here.
Downlinen wants to control from the top but Anabolino keeps moving.

Anabolino looking for a guillotine here but Downlinen defends easily.
Anabolino trying to control the position here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downlinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Anabolino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anabolino trying to control the position here.
Downlinen looking to pass the guard.
Downlinen wants to control from the top but Anabolino keeps moving.

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.
Anabolino is trying to keep Downlinen in close.
Downlinen wants to control from the top but Anabolino keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Anabolino misses with a takedown attempt

and Downlinen counters with a nice double leg into side control. Anabolino won't be happy with that.
Anabolino misses with an elbow from the bottom.
Anabolino tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Downlinen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Anabolino can't do much from the bottom here.
The strikes coming from Downlinen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downlinen fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Anabolino manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Anabolino is looking to control Downlinen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Anabolino avoid being mounted?

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Anabolino looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Downlinen!
Anabolino looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Downlinen can't escape the position.
Anabolino tries to control but Downlinen wriggling away.
Downlinen tries to improve his position but instead Anabolino has taken his back!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Downlinen trying to control the action but Anabolino just sinks the hooks in.
Downlinen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Anabolino kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Downlinen rolls, trying to escape but Anabolino keeps control of the position.
Downlinen trying to control the hands but Anabolino won't let him.
Downlinen tries to roll but Anabolino sticks to his back.
Downlinen just trying to survive but Anabolino is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

Anabolino is persistently looking for the submission but Downlinen is defending it well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Takke Downlinen dominated that round.
That's time! Anabolino's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Downlinen bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Downlinen wants to control for a moment but Anabolino uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.
Anabolino is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Downlinen won't allow Anabolino to pass to mount.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Downlinen can do anything to dispel that myth.
Downlinen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Anabolino is looking to take a break and control but Downlinen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Anabolino looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Downlinen wants to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downlinen is trying to control but can't.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Anabolino fakes the leg kick and cracks Downlinen in the body.

Anabolino fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Downlinen sprawls well initially but Anabolino persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Downlinen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Anabolino is working away from the top position though.
Downlinen is holding on to half guard well.
Downlinen has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Anabolino is working away from the top position though.
Downlinen wants to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Downlinen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Anabolino seems to be working for a kimura but Downlinen defends the submission attempt.
Downlinen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Downlinen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Anabolino's guard.
Downlinen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Anabolino is proving hard to escape from.
Downlinen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Downlinen controlling from the top position.
Anabolino is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Anabolino working for a triangle but Downlinen defends it easily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Downlinen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Downlinen throws a big right hand that misses.
Downlinen controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Downlinen thows a big elbow that misses.
Downlinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Anabolino is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Anabolino closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Anabolino manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.

Anabolino is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Downlinen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Takke Downlinen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Downlinen swats away the attempt to clinch by Anabolino.
Takke Downlinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Anabolino doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Downlinen counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Anabolino!
Downlinen connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Anabolino regains half guard.
Anabolino has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Downlinen is working away from the top position though.
Downlinen trying to control from half guard but Anabolino is working away.
Downlinen is thwarting Anabolino's attempts to control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Downlinen is tying to control. Anabolino wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Downlinen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Downlinen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Anabolino defending well though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Anabolino throws a quick inside leg kick.

Anabolino shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Downlinen gets back to full guard.
Takke Downlinen has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anabolino postures up.
Downlinen tries to strike from the bottom.
Anabolino postures up.
Downlinen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Downlinen controlling his opponent.
Downlinen is landing with some decent strikes but Anabolino is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anabolino is squirming around, avoiding Downlinen's attempts to control the action.
Downlinen raining down shots from the mount!
Anabolino avoids a series of strikes thrown by Downlinen.
Downlinen wants to control the pace but Anabolino is squirming around nicely.
Anabolino is desperately trying to improve his position but Downlinen has a good base and remains in mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Downlinen with shots to the head and body - Anabolino looks very uncomfortable down there.
Downlinen unloads with some shots from mount but Anabolino bucks and avoids them well.
Anabolino is in all sorts of trouble here.
Downlinen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Downlinen scoring with strikes but Anabolino is staying in there.
Downlinen fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Downlinen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Anabolino looks a forlorn figure.
Anabolino regains half guard.
Joao Anabolino has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Takke Downlinen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Anabolino looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Takke Downlinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Downlinen 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Takke Downlinen!