PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ove Sundberg (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timo Vesala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vesala has chosen Bomfunk MC's - Freestyler as his entrance music. Timo Vesala told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Sundberg
vs
Vesala

158 cm
26
138 lbs
17 - 2 - 1

160 cm
35
140 lbs
12 - 10 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 17 - 2 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ove Sundberg!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Timo Vesala!
The judges for this bout are Shigeki Sano, Shigeki Fujiwara and Sosuke Kotani.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Vesala is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Vesala moves into the clinch.
Vesala can't get the takedown.
Vesala has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sundberg is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Vesala lands a takedown into guard.
Vesala trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vesala is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Vesala advances position into side control!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Vesala is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Sundberg prevents Vesala from improving position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vesala is still trying to improve position.
Vesala trying to control the action but Sundberg is working from the bottom.
Sundberg knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Vesala on the ground.

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.
Vesala is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.
Vesala wants to control but Sundberg is keeping him busy.
Vesala taking a breather here.
Vesala has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesala is looking to work his way around to Sundberg's back. He needs to be careful though, as he's in danger of losing this dominant position.
Vesala controlling from mount.
Vesala wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Vesala keeps trying to improve his position.
Vesala content just to control the position here.
Vesala trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Vesala is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Sundberg has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Sundberg!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sundberg not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Vesala seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Vesala tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vesala wants to improve his position but instead Sundberg has moved into half guard.
Vesala is pressing down on Sundberg's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Vesala not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Vesala might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Sundberg haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Sundberg with a hook.
Vesala uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Sundberg.
Vesala tries a counter takedown but it's more of a dummy move, and he uses it to push himself away.
Sundberg leaves Vesala with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Sundberg throws the left hand but Vesala avoids the punch easily.
Vesala doesn't manage to clinch there - Sundberg circles away.
Vesala closes this distance looking for a takedown but Sundberg circles away.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Vesala.
Sundberg was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ove Sundberg has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Timo Vesala.
Vesala has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Sundberg finds it's way round the side to connect with Vesala's head.
Sundberg throws a big shot that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sundberg bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Vesala's head backwards.

Vesala scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vesala passes to side control.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Vesala tries to move into full mount but can't pass Sundberg's legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sundberg is being controlled here.
Sundberg can't do much from the bottom here.
Sundberg being controlled for a moment.
Vesala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Sundberg keeps working.
Vesala is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Sundberg prevents Vesala from improving position.
Vesala has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Sundberg is trying to escape the mount but Vesala keeps good control and instead manages to take Sundberg's back.
Well, with Vesala on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Sundberg is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Will Vesala go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vesala slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
I really don't envy Sundberg right now.

Vesala is looking for the choke from the back position but Sundberg is controlling his hands well.

Vesala is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Sundberg defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
Vesala biding his time, controlling Sundberg.
You can see the frustration on Sundberg's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vesala is looking to control Sundberg but Sundberg is wriggling around and keeping busy.

Vesala is looking for a choke. Sundberg gets to his feet with his opponent on his back and slams him to the mat. Sundberg manages to squirm out of the attempted choke and turns into his opponent's guard.
Vesala looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sundberg is one step ahead there.
Vesala keeping full guard, as Sundberg tries to pass.
Timo Vesala has got the better of the ground game so far.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sundberg stopping the sweep attempt from Vesala.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Vesala showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Sundberg's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Sundberg paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Vesala has Sundberg up against the cage in a clinch.
Sundberg stops a takedown attempt from Vesala.

Vesala turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Vesala manages to end up in side control.

Vesala working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Sundberg wants to control but Vesala postures up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Sundberg tries to get back to half guard but can't.
You can see the frustration on Sundberg's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Vesala swings around for an armbar but Sundberg sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Vesala's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sundberg tries to free his leg and advance position but Vesala is retaining full guard.
Sundberg preventing the sweep.
Vesala has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Let's hope that Vesala has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vesala is on top in guard.

Vesala wants to pass the guard but Sundberg is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vesala wants to control from the top but Sundberg keeps moving.
Vesala passes into half guard.
Sundberg is looking to control Vesala's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Sundberg avoid being mounted?
Vesala is controlling the pace.
Vesala is trying to control. Sundberg wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Vesala looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Vesala wants to take a breather but Sundberg is having none of it.

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.
Sundberg wants to get back to full guard.
Vesala wants to pass to mount but Sundberg is defending the position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Timo Vesala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sundberg throws the left hand but Vesala avoids the punch easily.
Vesala fails in his attempt to clinch.
Timo Vesala is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

Vesala looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Sundberg is trying to control but can't.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Sundberg is staying active underneath Vesala, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Vesala trying to mount his opponent but Sundberg defends it.
Ove Sundberg has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vesala works his foot free and advances to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
Timo Vesala comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Vesala 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 Shigeki Sano scores the fight 27:30
Judge Shigeki Fujiwara scores the fight 27:30
Judge Sosuke Kotani scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timo Vesala!
A relieved looking Timo Vesala thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.