PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Johan August Sandels (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Avers (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Sandels's entrance music is Petri Nygård - Mitävittuuvaan. A fine choice. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

August Sandels
vs
Avers

185 cm
19
198 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

191 cm
23
203 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Prefers ground

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Johan August Sandels!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Avers!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Avers decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Sandels keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Avers missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Avers throwing shots but Sandels is blocking nicely.
Avers is looking to take a break and control but Sandels is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sandels blocking the ground and pound attempt from Avers.

Avers seems to be looking for submissions.

Sandels is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Avers pulls his head out easily.
Avers throwing shots but Sandels is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Avers looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sandels trying to control the position from guard on top but Avers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Avers being controlled here, momentarily.
Avers tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Sandels slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Sandels trying to control the position from guard on top but Avers is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Avers wants to sweep here but Sandels controlling him for the moment.
Avers is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sandels wants to control but Avers is keeping busy.
Avers not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Sandels tries to roll over but Avers keeps him under control.
Sandels has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Avers is working away from the top position though.
Avers keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sandels wants to control but Avers is keeping busy.
Sandels avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Avers.
Avers is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Avers throwing shots but Sandels is blocking nicely.
Sandels avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Avers.

Avers is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
Avers wants to pass the guard but Sandels is defending well.
Sandels trying to control here.
Avers thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Avers has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Sandels has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Avers is working away from the top position though.
Sandels is breathing heavily.
Avers thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Sandels's head.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Sandels with a lazy takedown attempt
and Avers counters with a series of strikes. Sandels will be more careful next time no doubt.
Avers with a jab.

Sandels clinches with his opponent.
Avers is trying to break the clinch but Sandels has him pressed against the cage.
Avers wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sandels tries to pull guard but Avers won't allow it.
Sandels is trying to stall.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sandels fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johan August Sandels. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sandels fails to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

John Avers dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Avers fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Sandels on the side of the head.
Avers is looking to clinch.
Avers is looking to clinch but Sandels is avoiding it.

Sandels clinches up with Avers and pushes him back against the cage.
Sandels fails to pull guard.
Sandels has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Avers is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Sandels fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Johan August Sandels. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sandels escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Sandels moves out of range as Avers throws a body kick.
Sandels fails with the takedown
and Avers counters with a one-two to the body.
Avers cracks Sandels with a right hand to the side of the head.

Avers looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Sandels!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Avers thowing shots but they're missing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Avers dominating with strikes here.
Avers landing strikes from the mount and Sandels is in trouble!
Avers in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.

Sandels is rocked!
Avers lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sandels hang on?
Oh Sandels is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Avers lands a big elbow - Sandels is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Sandels is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). John Avers!