The Island Season 12, 265 lbs, Round 4 PBP Commentary

Co-main event

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rashid Elkhan (ranked 423 p4p, 517 weight class) and Marko Kerr (ranked 64 p4p, 78 weight class). I don't know about you partner, but I'm pumped for this one!

Elkhan
vs
Kerr

193 cm
27
267
10 - 1 - 0

190 cm
27
280
9 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Rashid Elkhan!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 4 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Marko Kerr!
The judges for this bout are Santiago Holmes, David Hoff and Winston Alpacca.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kerr on the wrong end of a nice hook.

Elkhan gets caught flat footed, as Kerr shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Kerr pushes down on Elkhan's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Elkhan taking some punishment here, with Kerr in his half guard.
Kerr wants to free his trapped foot but Elkhan is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Elkhan tries to get to full guard but Kerr has control of the leg.
Kerr looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kerr takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Kerr not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Elkhan blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kerr.
Kerr working the head and body with strikes.
Kerr sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Elkhan defending well though.
Kerr is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Kerr lands with a punch from half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerr winds up and cracks Elkhan with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kerr looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kerr wants to control but Elkhan is keeping him busy.
Elkhan is looking to improve his position.
Elkhan knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kerr on the ground.
Kerr working Elkhan over with strikes.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Elkhan is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Kerr scores with a couple of nice shots.
Elkhan definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Kerr seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Elkhan does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Kerr 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.
Kerr lands with a punch from half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerr scores with a big shot! Elkhan's head bounced off the canvas with a huge thud! More strikes land and the referee has jumped in to save Elkhan! He was hurt real bad - good stoppage!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:27 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Marko Kerr!

C
A

C
B

energy
A | B

hype
A | B

pop
A | B

mgr
A | B

FIGHT
RATING
44%

Main event

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Balin Trollslayer (ranked 320 p4p, 627 weight class) and Jani Honkanen (ranked 48 p4p, 0 weight class). Balin Trollslayer has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Trollslayer
vs
Honkanen

150 cm
27
265
12 - 1 - 0

190 cm
27
280
8 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Counter fighter
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Balin Trollslayer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Jani Honkanen!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Winston Alpacca and Daniel Franklin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Trollslayer clinches up with Honkanen and pushes him back against the cage.

Trollslayer is trying to trip Honkanen. He has hold of a leg but Honkanen is hopping around, keeping his balance for the moment. Trollslayer persists though and gets the takedown into guard.
Trollslayer trying to control but Honkanen is working from the bottom.

Trollslayer avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Honkanen working a defensive guard here.
Trollslayer is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Honkanen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Trollslayer passes into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Honkanen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!

Honkanen looking for a submission but Trollslayer manages to get full guard, putting an end to that submission attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Honkanen trying to control but Trollslayer is working from the bottom.
Trollslayer seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Honkanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Trollslayer swivels though and keeps the full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Trollslayer wants to sweep here but Honkanen controlling him for the moment.
Honkanen looking to sit in guard and control but Trollslayer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Honkanen controls Trollslayer momentarily but Trollslayer frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Honkanen looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Honkanen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Trollslayer doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Trollslayer manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Honkanen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Trollslayer cracks Honkanen with a solid left hand.
Trollslayer lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Honkanen looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Trollslayer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Honkanen looking to control.

Honkanen looking for a guillotine here but Trollslayer defends easily.
Honkanen looking for a sweep. Not yet Honkanen, not yet.
Trollslayer might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Honkanen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Trollslayer passes into side control.
Trollslayer wants to take a breather but Honkanen manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Trollslayer.
Trollslayer lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Honkanen can't keep his opponent in guard - Trollslayer advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

Honkanen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Honkanen tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Trollslayer has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Trollslayer trying to control but Honkanen is having none of it.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Honkanen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

No luck for Trollslayer with that takedown attempt.

Trollslayer manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Honkanen on his heels. He'll look to pass Honkanen's guard now, I'm sure.
Trollslayer wants to control from the top but Honkanen keeps moving.

Honkanen looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Trollslayer passes into side control.
Honkanen is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Trollslayer off and has taken his back!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Honkanen tightening his grip on Trollslayer, looking for the choke.
Honkanen has the hooks in. Trollslayer is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Trollslayer is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Trollslayer tries to escape the position.
Honkanen not allowing Trollslayer to control his hands.

Honkanen looking for the choke from the back.

Honkanen is looking for the choke from the back position but Trollslayer is controlling his hands well.

Trollslayer showing good submission defense here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trollslayer tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Balin Trollslayer overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Trollslayer is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Honkanen tries to control but Trollslayer wriggling away.
Trollslayer wants to hold on but Honkanen pushes him away.

Honkanen goes for an armbar but Trollslayer turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Trollslayer.
Honkanen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Honkanen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Honkanen postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Trollslayer is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Honkanen, into his guard.

Trollslayer is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Trollslayer trying to control but Honkanen is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trollslayer keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Honkanen's head.
Trollslayer throws an elbow that misses. Honkanen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Trollslayer's guard. Nice move by Honkanen!

Honkanen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Honkanen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Trollslayer trying to keep a closed guard but Honkanen is proving a slippery customer.
Honkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Trollslayer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Trollslayer is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Honkanen wants to control from the top but Trollslayer keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Jani Honkanen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Trollslayer looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Honkanen wants to sweep here but Trollslayer controlling him for the moment.
Honkanen working a defensive guard here.
Honkanen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Trollslayer puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Trollslayer is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Honkanen can do to turn this around?
Honkanen is looking for a sweep. Trollslayer is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Honkanen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Trollslayer connects with a nice short shot to Honkanen's temple.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Trollslayer takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Trollslayer controlling the pace.
Trollslayer working over Honkanen with some ground and pound. Honkanen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Trollslayer with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Trollslayer wants to control but Honkanen is keeping him busy.
Honkanen trying to hold on to Trollslayer's head to control him but Trollslayer postures up.

Honkanen actively working from the bottom here.
Trollslayer wants to lay and pray for a moment but Honkanen keeps working.
Balin Trollslayer is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two 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.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Honkanen looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Trollslayer is thwarting Honkanen's attempts to control the position.
Trollslayer working over Honkanen with some ground and pound. Honkanen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Honkanen wants to control the action here but instead Trollslayer manages to pass to full mount!
Trollslayer looking to control and managing it successfully.
Honkanen is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Trollslayer with the ground and pound from mount.
Trollslayer postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Honkanen looks a forlorn figure.
Trollslayer trying to control but Honkanen is having none of it.
Trollslayer controlling the pace for now.
Trollslayer raining down shots from the mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Trollslayer postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Honkanen looks a forlorn figure.
Honkanen is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Honkanen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Trollslayer trying to control but Honkanen is having none of it.
Trollslayer lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Honkanen hang on?
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Trollslayer dominating with strikes here.
Jani Honkanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Honkanen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Balin Trollslayer showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Trollslayer 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 David Hoff scores the fight for Balin Trollslayer!
Judge Winston Alpacca scores the fight for Balin Trollslayer!
Judge Daniel Franklin scores the fight for Balin Trollslayer!

Balin Trollslayer wins by unanimous decision!
After winning the bout, Balin Trollslayer thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.