PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Keijo Kerjalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Lester Green (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.

Kerjalainen
vs
Green

179 cm
38
131 lbs
38 - 21 - 0

171 cm
39
150 lbs
27 - 19 - 2

Good wrestling
World class MT
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Lethal high kicks
Fast

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 38 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Keijo Kerjalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 27 - 19 - 2, fighting out of Las Vegas, Lester Green!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kerjalainen tests Green's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Green dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kerjalainen. That did some damage!
Kerjalainen moves out of range of the body kick from Green.
Kerjalainen swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Green tries to score with a low kick but Kerjalainen moves his leg out of the way.
Kerjalainen is looking to counter punch.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Kerjalainen, as that shot connected.
Green staying out of range there.
Kerjalainen misses with a straight right.
Kerjalainen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Kerjalainen misses with an uppercut

and Green counters with a takedown into side control! That could mean trouble for Kerjalainen!
Green throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Green takes a little break here. Kerjalainen wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Kerjalainen is looking for a sweep.

Green wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Kerjalainen, who protects the arm well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerjalainen parries the strikes from Green easily there. Green is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kerjalainen to escape.
Kerjalainen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Green wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kerjalainen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kerjalainen trying to control here.
Kerjalainen preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Kerjalainen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Green.

Green is working for a kimura but Kerjalainen is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Green is trying to control. Kerjalainen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.

Kerjalainen dives in and scores a takedown into Green's guard.
Kerjalainen controlling from the top position.
Green looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kerjalainen is one step ahead there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Green working a defensive guard here.
Kerjalainen controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Green controlling the position.
Kerjalainen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Green escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kerjalainen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Green tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's four 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.
Kerjalainen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Green manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Kerjalainen on his heels. He'll look to pass Kerjalainen's guard now, I'm sure.
Kerjalainen trying to keep a closed guard but Green is proving a slippery customer.
Green works over Kerjalainen with some ground and pound from guard.
Green trying to control but Kerjalainen is working from the bottom.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Green postures up in Kerjalainen's guard and throws a big left but Kerjalainen blocks it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Lester Green dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Keijo Kerjalainen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kerjalainen misses with a kick to the body.
Kerjalainen throws a leg kick but Green sees it coming and checks it nicely.
Kerjalainen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

Kerjalainen scores with a takedown into Green's guard.

Green is looking for a triangle but Kerjalainen pushes his legs off easily.
Green looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kerjalainen is one step ahead there.
Green lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Green is looking to work some ground and pound but Kerjalainen has wrist control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Green slips nicely into half guard.
Kerjalainen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Green missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kerjalainen keeping moving, preventing Green from controlling successfully.
Kerjalainen controls Green momentarily but Green frees himself.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Green misses with a head kick.
Green blocks a jab.
A head kick misses from Green.
Kerjalainen tries to clinch up but Green circles away and keeps his distance.
Green blocks a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Kerjalainen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Green buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Green lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Green misses with an attempted mid kick.

Green drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Kerjalainen is trying to control Green's posture but Green avoids it.
Green controls the position from side control.

Green is trying to get an arm triangle but Kerjalainen is defending well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Green creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Kerjalainen sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.

Green goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Kerjalainen has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Green but great work by Kerjalainen.
Green has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kerjalainen is looking to take a break and control but Green is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Green is trying to get back to half guard.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Kerjalainen wants to control but Green is keeping him busy.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Kerjalainen throws a head kick that misses.
Kerjalainen lands an overhand right.

That's four 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.
Green scores with a sloppy right hand. Kerjalainen should have avoided that one.
Green tries to move into range but Kerjalainen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Green throws the kick towards the body but Kerjalainen avoids it.
Kerjalainen blocks the body kick.
Nice straight punches there by Kerjalainen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kerjalainen.
Green misses with a kick to the body
and Kerjalainen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Green is looking to score with low kicks.
Kerjalainen with a jab.

Kerjalainen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kerjalainen showed some decent athleticism there.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Green is concentrating on defense, preventing Kerjalainen from advancing position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keijo Kerjalainen dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Keijo Kerjalainen's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Kerjalainen throws out a powerful jab.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Green.
Green throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Green shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.

Kerjalainen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Green is trying to defend but Kerjalainen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kerjalainen perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Lester Green has got the better of the ground game so far.
Green is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kerjalainen working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Green's thigh. Green counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Kerjalainen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerjalainen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Green is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Green is trying to keep Kerjalainen in close.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

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.

Green looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Kerjalainen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Green is keeping the position for now.
Green looking to control.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Green ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Green scores with a jab to the head.
Green uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kerjalainen.
Kerjalainen is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.

Kerjalainen closes the distance and clinches.
Green throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Green misses with a punch on the inside.
Green jumps guard but Kerjalainen stands there with Green around his waist. Green gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
A short right from Kerjalainen.
Kerjalainen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.

Green manages to break the clinch.

Kerjalainen drives through with a takedown into Green's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Green wants to sweep here but Kerjalainen controlling him for the moment.

Green is looking for a triangle here but Kerjalainen uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Green is trying to improve his position.
Green manages to work his way to half guard, despite Kerjalainen's best efforts.
Green tries to regain full guard. Instead though, Kerjalainen has advanced to mount. Uh oh.
Kerjalainen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

And that's the end of the fight!
Keijo Kerjalainen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kerjalainen 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Keijo Kerjalainen!
In his post fight interview, Keijo Kerjalainen started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.