PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Simo Silakka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gunnar Nelson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Silakka
vs
Nelson

188 cm
31
235 lbs
21 - 14 - 0

193 cm
31
240 lbs
26 - 13 - 2

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
Hellbent

HGH Nutrients Q160-Q158
Reaper Combatwear

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 21 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Simo Silakka!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 13 - 2, fighting out of Amsterdam, Gunnar Nelson!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nelson fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Silakka on the side of the head.
Nelson has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Silakka is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Silakka tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Nelson checks a leg kick.
Nelson will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Nelson catches Silakka with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Silakka throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

It looks like Gunnar Nelson has been cut.
Nelson lands with a straight right. Silakka didn't see that one coming.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nelson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Silakka misses with a hook.
Nelson misses with a wild body shot.
Nelson avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Nelson wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Silakka thows a leg kick but Nelson checks it

and Nelson counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Silakka looking to control.
Silakka is really struggling to control Nelson but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Nelson stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Silakka swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Nelson won't allow Silakka to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nelson throwing strikes from guard but Silakka blocks nicely.
Silakka wants to sweep here but Nelson controlling him for the moment.
Nelson in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Silakka keeping moving, preventing Nelson from controlling successfully.
Nelson with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Nelson preventing the sweep.
Silakka looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Silakka controls Nelson momentarily but Nelson frees himself.
Silakka is looking to stand up but Nelson isn't so interested in that idea.
Silakka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Nelson postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Silakka is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Nelson, into his guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Nelson 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.

Nelson has his foot on Silakka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Silakka works his way back into a safe position though.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Silakka from controlling successfully.
Nelson has a closed guard, preventing Silakka from standing up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Nelson wants to sweep here but Silakka controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silakka advances to half guard.
Silakka tries to pass to full mount but Nelson defends it.
Nelson is looking to control Silakka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nelson avoid being mounted?
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Nelson might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Silakka haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Nelson is staying active underneath Silakka, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silakka throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Nice shot by Silakka.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Nelson is looking to clinch but Silakka is avoiding it.
Silakka ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
A punch combination from Nelson misses.
Nelson ducks under a wild hook from Silakka.
Silakka misses the jab.
Nelson lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Silakka throws a leg kick that is checked

and Nelson counters with a single leg into guard. Silakka didn't expect that.
Silakka has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Silakka has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
Silakka lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Nelson!
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Silakka takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Gunnar Nelson will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Gunnar Nelson's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Silakka connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Nelson takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Silakka scoring well with a low kick there.
Silakka turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Nelson moves in looking to clinch but Silakka pushes him off.
Silakka lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Nelson misses with a hook.
Silakka chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Nelson checks the leg kick nicely there.
Silakka getting the better of the striking in that exchange.

That has opened up Gunnar Nelson's cut even more.
Silakka throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Nelson sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Nelson takes one to the chin there.
A low kick from Silakka misses

and Nelson counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Silakka looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Silakka keeping moving, preventing Nelson from controlling successfully.
Gunnar Nelson has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Silakka is adopting a defensive guard.
Silakka wants to sweep here but Nelson controlling him for the moment.
Nelson postures up.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Nelson sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Silakka's guard.
Nelson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Silakka is looking to escape.
Silakka wants to improve his position but Nelson is controlling well.
Silakka wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silakka is refusing to be controlled, as Nelson sits in half guard.
Silakka wants to improve his position but Nelson is controlling well.
Silakka is looking to control Nelson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Silakka avoid being mounted?
Nice strikes from Nelson there.
Silakka trying to control from the bottom.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nelson wants to free his trapped foot but Silakka is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nelson not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nelson is looking to take a break and control but Silakka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Silakka walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nelson checks the leg kick.
Silakka takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Nelson throws a body punch but Silakka moves out of range.
Nelson wants to clinch.
Silakka throws a leg kick but Nelson sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Silakka lands a jab to the head.
A chopping leg kick lands by Nelson.
Silakka connects with a solid leg kick.

Nelson closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Silakka trying to control but Nelson postures up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Silakka wants to get back to his feet.
Nelson trying to control the action but Silakka is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silakka on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Silakka wants to control but Nelson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Silakka is pressing down on Nelson's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Nelson is looking to pass into half guard but Silakka pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Silakka is in guard.
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Silakka from controlling successfully.
Silakka wants to pass the guard but Nelson is keeping the position.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Nelson keeping moving, preventing Silakka from controlling successfully.
Silakka wanted to stand there but Nelson had control of the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simo Silakka dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Gunnar Nelson's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Silakka lands with an uppercut that bounces Nelson off the cage and back into range.
Nelson takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Silakka is looking to chop away at Nelson's legs.
Silakka throws a solid leg kick but Nelson takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Silakka.

Nelson clinches.
Nelson throws a head punch that misses.
Silakka has a couple of punches blocked by Nelson.
Nelson swings wildly with an uppercut but Silakka uses good head movement to avoid it.
A short body shot lands from Silakka as the two fighters clinch.
I was talking to Silakka's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Nelson swings away with an uppercut that misses.

Silakka pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
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!
Nice body kick from Silakka.
Silakka does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Nelson uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Silakka.
That kick from Silakka tenderised Nelson's leg. Nelson is trying to keep his angry face on.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A low kick from Silakka is predictable there

and Nelson counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Silakka!
Nelson takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Silakka struggling a bit here.
Silakka wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Silakka tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Silakka wants to control but Nelson postures up.
Silakka is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Nelson asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Silakka managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Nelson.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Silakka pushes Nelson away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Nelson gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Check out the look on Nelson's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nelson tries to score with some ground and pound. Silakka controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Nelson trying to control the action but Silakka is working from the bottom.
Silakka can't do much from the bottom here.
Silakka is looking for a sweep.
Silakka is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Nelson trying to control the position but Silakka is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Silakka wants to control but Nelson postures up.
Silakka is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Nelson scoring with punches from side control.
Nelson working away.
Silakka avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Nelson.
Silakka is trying to improve his position.
Nelson cracks Silakka with a big elbow.
Nelson throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Nelson working the ground and pound.
Nelson sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Silakka is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Silakka manages to get back to half guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Nelson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Silakka gets back to full guard.
Silakka bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Nelson's guard.
Nelson has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Nelson lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Silakka!
Nelson loads up on a couple of big shots to the head that have Silakka scrambling to escape. He can't get free though and several more unanswered shots from Nelson land to the head. The referee has no choice but to stop the fight. Nelson stands and salutes the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:46 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Gunnar Nelson!
A very excited looking Gunnar Nelson made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.