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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Morrison Erikksen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Kantola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys are coming into the fight with injuries so let's see if that has a bearing on the fight. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!
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| 190 cm
32
300 lbs
10 - 14 - 0 |
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185 cm
34
300 lbs
27 - 11 - 1 |
BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong |
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BJJ Brown Belt
Dangerous knees
Heavy handed |
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Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of
10 - 14 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Morrison Erikksen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
27 - 11 - 1, fighting out of Los Angeles, Ari Kantola!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, and Timothy Bukovac.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kantola scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
We've been hearing good reports from Erikksen's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Erikksen is breathing heavily.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
My spies in Total Combat Fighting inform me that Kantola has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Erikksen wants to control but Kantola postures up.
Erikksen stops Kantola from passing to mount.
A lull in the action here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kantola tries to advance to mount but can't.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kantola content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Erikksen tries to bench press Kantola off him but Kantola keeps the position.
Kantola taking a breather here.
Erikksen can't do much from the bottom here.
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
Erikksen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kantola just content to control the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Erikksen wants to control but Kantola postures up.
Erikksen is being controlled here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erikksen tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Kantola wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Kantola remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Kantola's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Erikksen is looking for a sweep.
Kantola controls the position.
Erikksen wants to control but Kantola postures up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kantola controls the position from side control.
Erikksen can't do much from the bottom here.
Kantola in side control, just content to control the action for now.
It looks like Kantola might be adopting somewhat of a lay and pray gameplan here, which I'm sure won't go down too well with the paying fans in attendance... Or the ring announcers come to think of it.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Erikksen sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Kantola controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Ari Kantola dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Morrison Erikksen's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.
Kantola gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Erikksen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Erikksen preventing the sweep.
Erikksen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kantola managing to control the position.
Ari Kantola has got the better of the ground game so far.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kantola keeping full guard, as Erikksen tries to pass.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Erikksen trying to control but Kantola is working from the bottom.
That's one minute gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kantola is on top in guard.
Erikksen keeping full guard, as Kantola tries to pass.
Kantola controls from within his opponent's guard.
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.
Kantola pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Erikksen is keeping the position for now.
Erikksen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Erikksen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kantola is one step ahead there.
Kantola looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Erikksen 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.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kantola slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Erikksen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Erikksen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Kantola isn't going anywhere.
Erikksen remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Kantola prevents Erikksen from improving position.
Kantola is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Erikksen off and has taken his back!
Kantola has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Erikksen's body.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kantola avoiding Erikksen 's attempts to control his hands.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Kantola is continuing to stall.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
More stalling from Kantola.
You can see the frustration on Erikksen's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
A close second round but Ari Kantola will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Morrison Erikksen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!
Erikksen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kantola looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Kantola struggling a bit here.
Kantola tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Erikksen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Erikksen has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Erikksen tries to control but Kantola wriggling away.
Kantola tries to hold on but Erikksen pushes him away.
Kantola prevents any damage by holding on tight.
Kantola tries to hold on but Erikksen postures up.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kantola tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kantola wants to control but Erikksen is having none of it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Erikksen controlling the position easily from mount.
Erikksen's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Kantola tries to hold on but Erikksen postures up.
Kantola tries to reverse the position but Erikksen maintains control.
Kantola wants to hold on but Erikksen pushes him away.
Kantola is looking to get to half guard.
Ari Kantola is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Erikksen content just to control the position here.
Kantola tries to hold on but Erikksen postures up.
Erikksen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Kantola tries to hold on but Erikksen postures up.
Kantola is trying to escape the mount.
Erikksen content just to control the position here.
Kantola wants to hold on but Erikksen pushes him away.
Kantola is in all sorts of trouble here.
Kantola is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erikksen controlling the position easily from mount.
Kantola is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Morrison Erikksen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kantola is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kantola is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Erikksen is staying active.
Erikksen content just to control the position here.
Kantola is in all sorts of trouble here.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erikksen controlling the pace for now.
Kantola regains half guard.
Kantola moves into full guard.
Erikksen wants to control from the top but Kantola keeps moving.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Erikksen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kantola is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kantola is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
And that's the end of the fight!
Morrison Erikksen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kantola has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Percy O'Donnell scores the fight 29:28
Judge Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by split decision... Ari Kantola!
In his post fight interview, Ari Kantola started talking himself up. Luckily his charisma kept the crowd on side and gave him a good reception.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
25% |
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