PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Asko Asinen (ranked 7147 p4p, 756 weight class) and Alexander Gustafson (ranked 5036 p4p, 626 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Asinen
vs
Gustafson

188 cm
20
213 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

190 cm
20
215 lbs
9 - 1 - 0

Decent wrestler
Brawler
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter fighter
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Asko Asinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Alexander Gustafson!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gustafson fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Asinen tries to counter by clinching up but Gustafson breaks away and moves out of range.
Gustafson misses with a head kick.
Gustafson throws the kick towards the body but Asinen avoids it.
Gustafson misses with a body punch

and Asinen counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Gustafson doesn't land with the attempted body shot.

Asinen is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Gustafson can't fight it off and eventually Asinen manages to take the fight to the floor. Gustafson looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Asinen has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Asinen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Asinen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Gustafson dives on top into guard.

We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asinen pulls Gustafson in close to prevent any damage.
Asinen definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Gustafson wants to control from the top but Asinen keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustafson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Asinen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Asinen wants to sweep but no luck.

Gustafson thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Asinen keeping full guard, as Gustafson tries to pass.
Gustafson wants to control from the top but Asinen keeps moving.
Asinen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Gustafson.

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.
Gustafson wants to control from the top but Asinen keeps moving.
Asinen is pulling down on Gustafson's head to control his posture.
Asinen is looking to stand up but Gustafson isn't so interested in that idea.
Gustafson passes Asinen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Asinen wants to control but Gustafson is keeping busy.
Gustafson is trying to control. Asinen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Asinen is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafson trying to pass the guard but Asinen defending well.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Gustafson lands a nice looking body shot.
Asinen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Gustafson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Asinen, pushing him back against the cage.

Asinen drags the fight down to the ground.
Asinen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Gustafson lands a couple of decent looking shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustafson trying to control the position from guard on top but Asinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Asinen can't keep his opponent in guard - Gustafson advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Asinen holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Asinen is not content to let Gustafson control the position.
Asinen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Gustafson trying to control the action but Asinen is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gustafson prevents Asinen from standing back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Gustafson dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Gustafson displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Asinen.
Asinen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Gustafson as he jumps to the side.
Asinen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Gustafson is fending him off so far but Asinen persists. Nope, Gustafson circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Asko Asinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Asinen shoots in looking for a takedown. Gustafson tries to sprawl out of it but Asinen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Gustafson manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Gustafson tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Asinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Gustafson.

Asinen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Gustafson sprawls well initially but Asinen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asinen is pressing down on Gustafson's thigh, looking to free his foot. Gustafson is holding on for now.
Gustafson is trying to control but can't.
Gustafson gets back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gustafson has control of Asinen's left arm, preventing Asinen from doing any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Gustafson is trying to keep Asinen in close.
Asinen throws a big right hand that misses.
Gustafson looking to control.
Asinen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Gustafson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Asinen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Our spies down at at Zen Balance Monastery inform us that Gustafson has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Asinen lands a couple of elbows.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Asinen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Asinen is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Gustafson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Gustafson has escaped and now he's on top!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gustafson controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Gustafson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Asinen's guard.
Asinen controlling the position for now.
Gustafson is looking to take a break and control but Asinen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gustafson wants to free his trapped foot but Asinen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Asinen trying to control but Gustafson postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Asinen is looking to improve his position.
Gustafson wants to free his trapped foot but Asinen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Gustafson moves into full mount! Asinen won't be happy about that!

Gustafson working for a submission but Asinen is keeping him at bay.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gustafson looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Asinen wants to control but Gustafson is having none of it.
Asinen tries to control the position but Gustafson now has his back.
Gustafson tries to get the hooks in deep but Asinen pushed the leg off.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Gustafson has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Asinen is in bad spot here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alexander Gustafson showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Asinen checks a leg kick.
Asinen looks for a takedown but Gustafson sprawls well.
Gustafson throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Asinen is looking to counter the offense by Gustafson and move into the clinch.
Gustafson stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Gustafson wants it to stay on the feet.
Gustafson wants to land a leg kick but Asinen is out of range.
Gustafson throws a head kick that misses.
Asinen seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Asinen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Asko Asinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Asinen moves out of range of the body kick from Gustafson.
Asko Asinen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Asinen has managed to clinch.
Gustafson tries a knee to the head but Asinen blocks it.

Asinen works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Asinen preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Asinen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Asinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Gustafson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Gustafson trying to keep a closed guard but Asinen is proving a slippery customer.

Gustafson is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Asinen is aware though and is defending well.
Asinen cracks Gustafson with a solid left hand.
Asinen distracts Gustafson with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Gustafson controls Asinen momentarily but Asinen frees himself.
Asinen works over Gustafson with some ground and pound from guard.
Alexander Gustafson is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Asinen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Asinen has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Gustafson managing to control the position.

Asinen drops back, looking for a kneebar! Gustafson looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Gustafson looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Gustafson!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here as Gustafson stalls from top position.
Gustafson tries to advance to mount but Asinen denies him.
Gustafson is looking to take a break and control but Asinen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Asinen is looking to regain half guard here but Gustafson keeps moving and retains side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Gustafson working away.
Gustafson trying to control the action but Asinen is working from the bottom.
Asko Asinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Asinen is looking to regain half guard here but Gustafson keeps moving and retains side control.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Alexander Gustafson.
I've got Gustafson 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alexander Gustafson!