PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Alexei Erschov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaakko Savolainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Erschov
vs
Savolainen

170 cm
35
180 lbs
14 - 30 - 0

184 cm
36
182 lbs
26 - 23 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 14 - 30 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Alexei Erschov!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 23 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jaakko Savolainen!
The judges for this bout are Ren Mimura, Sosuke Kotani and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick from Erschov misses.
Erschov takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Erschov throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Savolainen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Erschov takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Erschov.
Erschov takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Savolainen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Erschov manages to get to full guard.
Savolainen advances position into side control!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Savolainen is staying tight to Erschov's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Savolainen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
A lull in the action here as Savolainen stalls from top position.
You can see the frustration on Erschov's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Savolainen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Savolainen lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Erschov down.
Savolainen is putting a hurting on Erschov here, landing some big shots from side control.
Erschov can't do much from the bottom here.
Savolainen controlling the position from side mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Savolainen lands an elbow.

Erschov wants to control the position but that's not easy when your opponent is in side control! Savolainen seems to be going for some sort of submission here. Hard to say what - oh, it's a Brabo choke! He's got it! Erschov is tapping! Wow, great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:57 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Brabo Choke). Jaakko Savolainen!
Jaakko Savolainen decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.