PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Reza Karimi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antti Silava (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Karimi
vs
Silava

176 cm
25
190 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

188 cm
34
184 lbs
10 - 15 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

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 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reza Karimi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Silava!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Silava fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Karimi throws a lazy right hand but Silava sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
A slapping body kick lands there for Silava.
Silava thuds a left hand into Karimi's body.
Karimi misses with a right hand
and Silava counters with an inside leg kick.
Karimi throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Silava fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Karimi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Silava was covering up waiting for the punch and Karimi finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Karimi is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Karimi drops back looking for a leg! Silava is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Silava manages to kick Karimi off! Karimi jumps back into Silava's guard.
Karimi might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Karimi trying to control the position from guard on top but Silava is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Karimi decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Silava clinches up with Karimi and pushes him back against the cage.

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.
Silava using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Karimi has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Karimi is trying to pull guard but Silava has him pressed against the cage.
Silava tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Karimi avoids it.
Silava pushes off an throws an elbow but Karimi leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
We've been informed that Silava has been sparring a lot of Muay Thai in the buildup to this fight so let's see if that has an impact on the result.

Karimi jumps guard.

Karimi is looking for a triangle but Silava pushes his legs off easily.

Karimi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Silava wants to control from the top but Karimi keeps moving.

Karimi is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Silava frees his head nicely. Oh but Karimi has switched to an armbar! Silava is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Reza Karimi!
After the fight, Reza Karimi was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.