PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kaleva Vettenranta (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antonio Silva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Vettenranta
vs
Silva

181 cm
28
210 lbs
15 - 5 - 0

181 cm
28
218 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Granite chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
King of Fists

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Kaleva Vettenranta!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Antonio Silva!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Frank Antenori and Timothy Bukovac.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vettenranta shoots in but no luck this time.
Vettenranta looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Silva throws a nice inside leg kick.
Vettenranta shoots for a double leg takedown but Silva sprawls well. He's pushed Vettenranta's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Silva throws a fast counter high kick but Vettenranta manages to duck under it in time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaleva Vettenranta. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Nice sprawl there from Silva as Vettenranta shoots in.
Vettenranta backing away here, and Silva unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Vettenranta dives in for a single leg takedown but Silva sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Vettenranta tries for a takedown but Silva sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
It seemed like Silva was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Vettenranta missing with a left hand there. Silva was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Silva chopping away at his opponent's legs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vettenranta goes for a double leg but Silva avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Silva continues to drive forward.
Vettenranta backing away here, and Silva unleashes a leg kick that just misses.
Vettenranta looks for a takedown but Silva sprawls well.
Silva avoids the body shot from Vettenranta.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Silva enables Vettenranta to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Silva manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva managing to control the position.
Vettenranta scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Silva really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Vettenranta. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Vettenranta working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Vettenranta throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Silva works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Vettenranta from controlling successfully.
Silva looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Silva's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Vettenranta postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Vettenranta pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Silva is keeping the position for now.

Vettenranta drops back looking for a leg! Silva is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Silva manages to kick Vettenranta off! Vettenranta jumps back into Silva's guard.
Vettenranta throwing strikes but missing.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Silva preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vettenranta trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vettenranta looking to pass the guard.
Vettenranta trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Vettenranta scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Vettenranta not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Vettenranta is working for a kimura but Silva is defending it quite comfortably.
We've been hearing that Vettenranta has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.
Silva wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silva is trying to get back to full guard.
Vettenranta is nestled in close to Silva, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Vettenranta content to control rather than advance.
Vettenranta seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Vettenranta thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Silva is not content to let Vettenranta control the position.
Well, if Vettenranta is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaleva Vettenranta dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Silva throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
A head kick misses from Silva.

Vettenranta shoots in and bounces Silva off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.

Vettenranta drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Vettenranta jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Vettenranta landing some decent shots from guard.
Vettenranta trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Silva utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Vettenranta has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silva is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Vettenranta trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kaleva Vettenranta overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vettenranta working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Silva seems keen to control Vettenranta's posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Vettenranta trying to control the action but Silva is working from the bottom.
Vettenranta landing strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vettenranta is trying to get an arm triangle but Silva is defending well.
Silva dodges the ground and pound from Vettenranta.
Silva avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Vettenranta.
Vettenranta working the head and body with strikes.
Vettenranta misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.
Vettenranta working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Vettenranta is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Silva can do to turn this around?
Vettenranta fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Vettenranta wants to lay and pray for a moment but Silva keeps working.
Vettenranta tries to score with some ground and pound. Silva controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vettenranta moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.
Vettenranta creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Silva stops Vettenranta from passing to mount.
Vettenranta grinds an elbow into Silva's temple.

Vettenranta looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Vettenranta tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Vettenranta has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaleva Vettenranta dominated that second round.
That's time! Vettenranta's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Silva misses with a low kick.
Silva throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Vettenranta counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Vettenranta.
Vettenranta controls from within his opponent's guard.
Vettenranta trying to control but Silva is working from the bottom.
Vettenranta working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Silva's head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vettenranta throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Vettenranta throwing strikes but missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vettenranta scoring with punches to the head and body.
Silva is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Vettenranta postures up and lands a big shot to Silva's brow.
Vettenranta trying to control the position from guard on top but Silva is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Silva is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Vettenranta wants to pass the guard but Silva is keeping the position.
Vettenranta is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Antonio Silva has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Vettenranta throwing strikes but missing.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Silva can do anything to dispel that myth.
Silva trying to control the position.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Vettenranta shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Silva sprawls well. Silva wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Vettenranta gets slowly back to his feet.
Antonio Silva is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Silva moves out of range of the strikes.
A nice inside leg kick there by Silva. That's going to slow Vettenranta down.
Vettenranta tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.
Vettenranta misses with a takedown attempt - Silva sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kaleva Vettenranta. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silva defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Vettenranta.
Vettenranta shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Silva but Silva pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Silva swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Vettenranta drops down looking for a counter takedown but Silva sprawls and moves away.
Vettenranta shoots in looking for a takedown but Silva manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Vettenranta's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Silva wants to slow Vettenranta down by chopping away at his legs.
Vettenranta tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Silva swivels and escapes.

Vettenranta feints and as Silva raises his hands in defense, Vettenranta changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Vettenranta working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Silva keeping moving, preventing Vettenranta from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vettenranta postures up.
Vettenranta throwing strikes from guard but Silva blocks nicely.
Vettenranta loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Vettenranta throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Vettenranta stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Kaleva Vettenranta is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vettenranta throws a big right hand that misses.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vettenranta throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Vettenranta is working Silva over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaleva Vettenranta showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Vettenranta, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 30:27
Judge Frank Antenori scores the fight 30:27
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaleva Vettenranta!
Kaleva Vettenranta retains his light heavyweight title!
Kaleva Vettenranta seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.