PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Erik Gordon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Dario Brkic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Brkic has chosen Dubioza kolektiv - Kažu as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Gordon
vs
Brkic

170 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

183 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Counter fighter
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erik Gordon!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Dario Brkic!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gordon circles away from the clinch attempt.
Gordon swats away the attempt to clinch by Brkic.
Gordon leaves Brkic with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Brkic fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gordon.
Brkic tries to clinch there but Gordon circles away.
Gordon on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Brkic looks to land a right hand but Gordon moved out of range.

Brkic forces Gordon back against the cage and clinches.

Gordon breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Brkic shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Gordon but Gordon pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Gordon is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.

It looks like Erik Gordon has been cut.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Brkic tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Gordon counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Brkic.
Erik Gordon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dario Brkic.
Brkic throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Gordon could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Brkic wants to clinch but Gordon slips to the side
and Gordon counters with a nice low kick that buckles Brkic's knee momentarily.
Brkic closes this distance looking for a takedown but Gordon circles away.
Brkic shoots in and drives through. Gordon sprawls well.
Brkic looks winded!
Brkic shoots for a takedown but Gordon saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Brkic has a takedown stuffed.
Brkic with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Gordon to score with a decent uppercut.
Gordon uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Brkic.
Brkic fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Gordon avoids it really well and circles away.
Brkic fails with the takedown

and Gordon counters with a takedown into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Gordon trying to control the action but Brkic is working from the bottom.
Brkic wants to get back to his feet but Gordon drags him back down.
Gordon is staying tight to Brkic's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Brkic tries to buck Gordon off but Gordon is having none of it.
Brkic is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

Brkic actively working from the bottom here.
Brkic is not content to let Gordon control the position.
Gordon knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Brkic on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Brkic is looking to escape.
Brkic wants to get back to full guard.

Brkic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gordon pulls his head out easily.

Brkic is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Gordon pulls his head out easily.
Brkic is looking to improve his position.
Brkic is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Brkic actively working from the bottom here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gordon is stalling here. Brkic is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Gordon seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Brkic has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.

Brkic stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Brkic looks to clinch
and Gordon counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Brkic looks for a takedown but Gordon sprawls well.
Brkic tries for a takedown but Gordon circles away easily
and Gordon counters with a slapping leg kick.
Gordon wants to clinch up but Brkic keeps it at a distance.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Brkic moves into the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Brkic wants a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Dario Brkic dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Erik Gordon's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Brkic tries to clinch up but Gordon circles away and keeps his distance.
Gordon avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Brkic feints and then cracks Gordon's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Gordon down.
Brkic has his takedown stuffed
and Gordon counters with a stiff right hand.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Brkic is defended easily by Gordon.
Brkic gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Gordon makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Erik Gordon has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Dario Brkic.
Brkic tries for a takedown but Gordon sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Gordon ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

Gordon shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Brkic's guard.

Brkic working for a triangle but Gordon defends it easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Gordon avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Brkic has his foot on Gordon's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gordon works his way back into a safe position though.

Brkic is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Gordon defends well.
Dario Brkic has got the better of the ground game so far.

Brkic is looking for a triangle here but Gordon uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Brkic tries to buck Gordon off but Gordon is having none of it.
Brkic is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Gordon is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Gordon lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Brkic hang on?
Brkic can't escape the position.
Brkic gets back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Gordon is trying to control. Brkic wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Brkic has hold of Gordon's hands but Gordon slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Brkic is trying to stand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Brkic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Brkic misses with some strikes from the bottom.

Brkic looking for submissions off his back.
Brkic tries to roll over but Gordon keeps him under control.
Brkic is trying to stand.

Brkic looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Brkic moves into full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Gordon is trying to tuck his arms in to keep them safe but Brkic has managed to isolate one of them and has got a loose triangle. Gordon is looking to defend but Brkic has done well to lock his legs together - this could be big trouble for Gordon! Brkic pulls down on the head and a little smile comes across his face - he knows he's got it. Yep, Gordon taps out and this one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Dario Brkic!