PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Van (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simo Rantalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Van
vs
Rantalainen

199 cm
19
270 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

208 cm
23
263 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Enjoys gardening

Crashforce Voodoo Labs

Coffee Shop (SALE!: Q144 for 15$)

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 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexander Van !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Simo Rantalainen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rantalainen shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Van pinned against the cage. Van gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Van misses with a takedown attempt

and Rantalainen counters with a single leg into guard. Van didn't expect that.
Rantalainen connects with a couple of short punches.
Rantalainen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Rantalainen chips away with some ground and pound.
Van wants to sweep but no luck.

Rantalainen got a little sloppy there for a moment and Van has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Rantalainen has managed to get both his arms back between Van 's legs - danger averted.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rantalainen landing with the ground and pound.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Van escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Rantalainen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Rantalainen lands a couple of digs.

Rantalainen drops back looking for a leg! Van is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Van manages to kick Rantalainen off! Rantalainen jumps back into Van 's guard.

Van throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Van is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rantalainen slips nicely into half guard.

Rantalainen is looking for a kimura here.
Rantalainen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Van is staying active underneath Rantalainen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Van tries to roll over but Rantalainen keeps him under control.
Van taking some punishment here, with Rantalainen in his half guard.

Van looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

Van actively working from the bottom here.
Van is breathing heavily.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rantalainen winds up and cracks Van with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Rantalainen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Rantalainen winds up and cracks Van with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Van on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Rantalainen moves nicely into side control.
Rantalainen working the ground and pound.
Rantalainen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Van regains half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rantalainen is looking to take a break and control but Van is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Rantalainen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Van trying to hold on to Rantalainen's head to control him but Rantalainen postures up.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Rantalainen lands a nice short elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rantalainen trying to mount his opponent but Van defends it.
Rantalainen is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Rantalainen trying to mount his opponent but Van defends it.
Van is looking for a sweep. Rantalainen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Van is trying to stand up here but Rantalainen is controlling him well.
Van flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Rantalainen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Van doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Rantalainen.
Rantalainen lands strikes from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van manages to get to full guard.
Rantalainen works over Van with some ground and pound from guard.
Van keeping moving, preventing Rantalainen from controlling successfully.

Van working for a triangle but Rantalainen defends it easily.
Rantalainen postures up.
Rantalainen chips away with some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rantalainen chips away with some ground and pound.
Rantalainen postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Rantalainen works over Van with some ground and pound from guard.

Van is looking for a triangle but Rantalainen pushes his legs off easily.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simo Rantalainen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rantalainen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Van counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Rantalainen working for a triangle but Van defends it easily.
Van throwing strikes but missing.

Rantalainen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Rantalainen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Van is aware though and is defending well.

Van drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Van jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Van advances to half guard.
Simo Rantalainen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Rantalainen tries to get to full guard but Van has control of the leg.
Rantalainen is breathing heavily.

Rantalainen is defending against the submission attempts here by Van .

Van is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Rantalainen sees it coming and defends easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Van blocks the strikes from Rantalainen.

Rantalainen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Rantalainen flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Rantalainen tries to strike from the bottom but it doesn't land.

Van is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Rantalainen is just riding it out for now. Van eventually gives up the hold.

Rantalainen actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Van wants to free his trapped foot but Rantalainen is holding on for dear life with his legs.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Van shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Rantalainen but Rantalainen pushes him off and we're back to square one.

Rantalainen shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Rantalainen with a nice head shot there.
Rantalainen is working Van over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rantalainen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Van 's head.
Rantalainen is in close to Van 's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Rantalainen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Rantalainen with a nice head shot there.
Rantalainen stands up over Van , holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Van bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Rantalainen's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rantalainen swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Rantalainen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Van passes Rantalainen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Rantalainen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Van scores with a couple of nice shots.

Van seems to be looking for submissions.
Van blocks the strikes from Rantalainen.
Van wants to advance to full mount but Rantalainen doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.

Rantalainen is looking for a triangle but Van pushes his legs off easily.

Rantalainen has his foot on Van 's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Van works his way back into a safe position though.
Rantalainen scores with a nice shot.

Rantalainen is looking for a triangle but Van pushes his legs off easily.
Van postures up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rantalainen working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Van has passed into half guard!
Van blocks the strikes from Rantalainen.
Rantalainen misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Van prevents Rantalainen from improving his position.

Van is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, Rantalainen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Van blocks the strikes from Rantalainen.
Rantalainen wants to improve his position but Van is controlling well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van uses his free foot to push down on Rantalainen's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Rantalainen.
Rantalainen is bucking up trying to escape but Van cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Simo Rantalainen 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. This is the final round!

Rantalainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Van is defended easily by Rantalainen.

Rantalainen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Rantalainen showed some decent athleticism there.
Van gets back to full guard.

Rantalainen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Rantalainen scoring with punches to the head and body.

Rantalainen drops back looking for a leg! Van is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Van manages to kick Rantalainen off! Rantalainen jumps back into Van 's guard.
Rantalainen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Rantalainen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Van avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

Van is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Rantalainen is aware though and is defending well.

Van throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Rantalainen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rantalainen wants to control from the top but Van keeps moving.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rantalainen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Van keeping moving, preventing Rantalainen from controlling successfully.

Van is looking for a triangle but Rantalainen pushes his legs off easily.
Van wants to sweep here but Rantalainen controlling him for the moment.

Rantalainen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Van looking to control.
Rantalainen chips away with some ground and pound.
Rantalainen working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Rantalainen scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rantalainen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Van looking to hit a scissor sweep but Rantalainen is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Rantalainen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Van did well to prevent Rantalainen getting side control.

Van looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rantalainen working over Van with some ground and pound. Van looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Ground and pound from Rantalainen.
Rantalainen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Van moves into full guard.
Rantalainen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Rantalainen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Van looking for a guillotine here but Rantalainen defends easily.

Rantalainen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Alexander Van has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rantalainen chips away with some ground and pound.
Rantalainen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Van 's head.
Van wants to hit a switch here but Rantalainen passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Van there!
Van takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Van is trying desperately to improve position.
Simo Rantalainen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Rantalainen is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Van has managed to escape the submission attempt.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Simo Rantalainen.
Well Rantalainen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simo Rantalainen!