PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ari Katajamaki (ranked 5836 p4p, 4131 weight class) and Aniruddha Anand (ranked 296 p4p, 245 weight class). Anand is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Swag Se Segat by Salman Khan & Katrina Kaif. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Katajamaki
vs
Anand

162 cm
25
135
6 - 12 - 2

160 cm
23
144
3 - 5 - 2

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Hoarse Pills
Bondi MMA ðŸï¸

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 12 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Ari Katajamaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 5 - 2, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Aniruddha Anand!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Katajamaki closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Katajamaki lands in his opponent's guard.
Katajamaki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Katajamaki has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Katajamaki makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Katajamaki with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Katajamaki is working Anand over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Katajamaki throwing strikes from guard but Anand blocks nicely.
Katajamaki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Katajamaki chips away with some ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Katajamaki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Katajamaki throws a strike but Anand rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anand stopping the sweep attempt from Katajamaki.
Anand throws a big elbow that misses.
Anand throws an elbow that misses. Katajamaki uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Anand's guard. Nice move by Katajamaki!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katajamaki preventing the sweep.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Katajamaki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Katajamaki with a flurry of punches that miss.
Anand preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Anand has his hands on Katajamaki's head, controlling the position.
Anand is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Katajamaki is controlling him.
Katajamaki throwing strikes from guard but Anand blocks nicely.
Anand controls Katajamaki momentarily but Katajamaki frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Katajamaki throws an elbow that misses. Anand uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Katajamaki's guard. Nice move by Anand!

Katajamaki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Katajamaki wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Anand lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Katajamaki looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Anand with a flurry of punches that miss.

Anand is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Katajamaki is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Katajamaki has escaped and now he's on top!

Katajamaki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Anand swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Anand is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Katajamaki throws an elbow that misses. Anand uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Katajamaki's guard. Nice move by Anand!

Anand trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Anand loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Anand throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Katajamaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Anand in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Anand in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Anand stands up over Katajamaki, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Katajamaki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Anand trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Anand trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Anand throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki looking to control.
Anand content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Anand throwing strikes but missing.
Anand working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Anand drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Katajamaki dives on top into guard.

Katajamaki won't allow Anand to sweep him here.
Katajamaki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Anand works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Katajamaki lands a couple of elbows.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Katajamaki stopping the sweep attempt from Anand.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Katajamaki scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Anand controls Katajamaki momentarily but Katajamaki frees himself.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Katajamaki dominated that round.
That's time! Katajamaki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Katajamaki shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Anand's guard.
Anand pulls Katajamaki in close to his closed guard and prevents Katajamaki from doing any damage or advancing position.
Let's hope that Anand has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.
Katajamaki throws a big right hand that misses.
Anand lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Anand postures up in Katajamaki's guard and throws a big left but Katajamaki blocks it.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Anand has gone for a leg lock! Katajamaki slips out almost immediately though and dives into Anand's guard.

Katajamaki with a flurry of punches that miss.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katajamaki throws a strike but Anand rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Anand postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Katajamaki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Katajamaki is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Anand can do to turn this around?
Katajamaki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ari Katajamaki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Anand loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Anand throws a big right hand that misses.
Anand missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Anand throws a big elbow that misses.
Katajamaki has control of Anand's left arm, preventing Anand from doing any damage.
Anand throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Katajamaki works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Anand throws a big elbow that misses.
Anand throws a strike but Katajamaki rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Anand preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki won't allow Anand to sweep him here.
Katajamaki throws a strike but Anand rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Anand loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Anand accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Anand wants to pass the guard but Katajamaki is keeping the position.
Anand with a flurry of punches that miss.
Anand has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Anand throws a big right hand that misses.
Katajamaki utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Anand throws an elbow that misses. Katajamaki uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Anand's guard. Nice move by Katajamaki!

Anand bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Katajamaki's guard.

This has been an exciting period of action!
Anand is looking to work some ground and pound but Katajamaki has wrist control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anand drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Katajamaki manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Anand has Katajamaki in his guard.

Katajamaki is looking to work some ground and pound but Anand has wrist control.
Katajamaki scoring with some ground and pound.
Katajamaki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Katajamaki throwing strikes but missing.
Katajamaki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Anand wants to sweep here but Katajamaki controlling him for the moment.
Katajamaki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Anand controlling the position.
Anand keeping full guard, as Katajamaki tries to pass.
Katajamaki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Anand is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Anand is trying to control the position but Katajamaki postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Katajamaki preventing the sweep.
Katajamaki wants to control from the top but Anand keeps moving.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Katajamaki dominated that second round.
That's time! 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.

Anand throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Katajamaki counters with a shoot takedown. Anand fights it but they end up in guard.
Anand avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Anand preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Katajamaki postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Katajamaki working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Anand's head.
Anand bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Katajamaki's guard.

Anand postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Katajamaki is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Anand, into his guard.

Katajamaki throws an elbow that misses. Anand uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Katajamaki's guard. Nice move by Anand!

Anand drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Katajamaki dives on top into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Katajamaki preventing the sweep.
Anand controlling Katajamaki's posture.
Anand preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Katajamaki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Anand working a defensive guard here.
Katajamaki throwing strikes but missing.
Anand not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Aniruddha Anand has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Katajamaki keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Anand's head.
Katajamaki trying to control but Anand is working from the bottom.
Katajamaki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Anand controlling Katajamaki's posture.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Katajamaki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Katajamaki landing some decent shots from guard.
Anand is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Anand is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki regains full guard. Nicely done.
Katajamaki controlling Anand's posture.
Anand in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Anand in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ari Katajamaki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

Anand drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Katajamaki dives on top into guard.

Anand is trying to control the position but Katajamaki postures up.
Katajamaki sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Anand keeping moving, preventing Katajamaki from controlling successfully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki is really struggling to control Anand but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Anand looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Katajamaki puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Katajamaki prevents Anand from improving his position.
Anand is not content to let Katajamaki control the position.
Katajamaki looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Katajamaki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Katajamaki has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Katajamaki!
A very excited looking Ari Katajamaki made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.