PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Michael Sanders (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erkki Jakola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Michael Sanders could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Erkki Jakola's chin.

Sanders
vs
Jakola

185 cm
22
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
19
160 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Tends to cut

Alpha Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Sanders !
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erkki Jakola!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Jakola throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Sanders avoids a punch combination nicely.

Sanders forces Jakola back against the cage and clinches.
Jakola wants to break free but Sanders has control.
Sanders is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Jakola pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Jakola manages to break the clinch.

Sanders shoots in and bounces Jakola off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Sanders trying to control the position from guard on top but Jakola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jakola wants to get back to his feet but Sanders is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Sanders controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Sanders passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Jakola is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders 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.
Jakola wants to get back to his feet but Sanders drags him back down.
Jakola looks gassed!

Sanders wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Jakola, who protects the arm well.
Jakola tries to escape but Sanders is in control.
Sanders scoring with punches from side control.
Jakola pushes Sanders away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Sanders gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.

Jakola throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jakola fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Jakola throws a head kick but Sanders moves out of range.
Erkki Jakola is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Jakola stuffs the takedown.
Sanders tries to score a power double leg takedown but Jakola sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Sanders somewhat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Sanders . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jakola circles away from the clinch attempt.
Jakola throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jakola misses with a body kick.
Jakola swings for the body but Sanders moves out of range.

Sanders closes the distance and clinches.
Jakola tries to break the clinch but Sanders is controlling the position.
Sanders tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jakola smiles and moves away.
Sanders looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jakola gets a clinch.

Jakola breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sanders fails with an attempt to clinch.
Jakola tries to close the distance and clinch up but Sanders swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A good leg kick by Jakola.
Jakola throws a nice head kick!
Sanders circles away from the clinch attempt
and Sanders counters with a low kick, right behind Jakola 's knee.
Jakola fails in his attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Jakola gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Jakola has had enough of the clinch but Sanders keeps him there for the moment.
Jakola looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Jakola tries to circle away but Sanders has him pinned against the cage.
Jakola wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sanders has him pressed against the cage.
Jakola wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Sanders has him pressed against the cage.
Sanders tries to work over Jakola's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Jakola tries to break free but Sanders pushes him back against the cage.
Jakola keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Sanders 's efforts to push away.
Sanders tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Jakola just stands there and leans against the cage.

Sanders jumps guard and drags Jakola to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.

Jakola stands up and waves to Sanders to follow him.
Sanders defending well as Jakola loads up on a big left hand.
Jakola throws a head kick but Sanders moves out of range.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Erkki Jakola will probably get the nod.
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.

Sanders has closed the distance and engaged Jakola in a clinch.
Jakola has had enough of the clinch but Sanders keeps him there for the moment.
Jakola avoiding damage as Sanders throws knees to the body.

Jakola breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Sanders shoots in and drives through. Jakola sprawls well.
Jakola throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Sanders darts in and clinches Jakola up against the cage.

Jakola breaks from the clinch.

Sanders tries to keep at a distance but Jakola has taken the fight into the clinch.

Jakola manages to break the clinch.
Jakola throws a right hand that Sanders ducks under and follows up with a left that Sanders also avoids with ease.
Erkki Jakola seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jakola pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sanders shoots in for a takedown but Jakola shows good takedown defense.
Sanders avoids a kick to the body.
Jakola gets off balance looking for a body kick

so Sanders counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sanders controlling from the top position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jakola has a closed guard, preventing Sanders from standing up.
Jakola wants to get back to his feet but Sanders is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Jakola really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Sanders . If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Sanders stands and steps away. Jakola gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Jakola slaps away a takedown attempt from Sanders , before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Sanders . That's going to take a lot out of him.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Jakola breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sanders is looking to clinch but Jakola is avoiding it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jakola ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Sanders swats away the attempt to clinch by Jakola.
A nice inside leg kick there by Jakola. That's going to slow Sanders down.
Jakola misses with a few strikes there.
Jakola throws a head kick that misses.
Sanders fails with a takedown attempt.
Sanders tries to clinch there but Jakola circles away.

Jakola has taken the fight to the clinch.

Jakola breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jakola tries to close the distance and clinch but Sanders swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Sanders avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders avoids the head kick by Jakola.
Jakola doesn't manage to clinch there - Sanders circles away.
Sanders shoots in for a takedown but Jakola shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

Jakola clinches up against the cage.

Jakola breaks the clinch.
Sanders avoids a punch combination nicely.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Sanders .
Jakola wants to clinch up but Sanders keeps it at a distance.
Jakola misses the shot to the body.
Jakola slaps away a takedown attempt from Sanders , before circling back to the center of the mat.
Sanders tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Jakola swivels and escapes.

That's four 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.
Sanders takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Sanders circles away from the clinch attempt.
A solid body kick from Jakola.
Jakola tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sanders paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sanders shoots in for a takedown but Jakola shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Sanders circles away from the clinch attempt

and Sanders counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Jakola pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Sanders pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Jakola looks to score with a jab to the body but Sanders is just out of range.
Jakola tries to land a front kick but Sanders steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sanders cracks a nice hook into Jakola's ribs.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Michael Sanders will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Jakola misses the shot to the body.
Sanders shoots in looking for a takedown. Jakola tries to sprawl out of it but Sanders keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jakola manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Jakola wants to clinch but Sanders slips to the side

and Sanders decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Jakola's guard.
Sanders won't allow Jakola to get back to his feet.
Sanders controls from within his opponent's guard.
Sanders stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Jakola swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Sanders decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Jakola, up you get!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sanders takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Jakola misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Sanders looks for a takedown but Jakola sprawls well.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Sanders moves into the clinch successfully.

Jakola's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Sanders fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Jakola lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Sanders tries to clinch up.
Sanders looks to land a right hand but Jakola moved out of range.
Jakola tries to clinch up but Sanders circles away and keeps his distance.
Jakola throws a head kick that misses.
Sanders shoots in looking for a takedown. Jakola tries to sprawl out of it but Sanders keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Jakola manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Sanders . That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jakola is looking to clinch but Sanders is avoiding it.

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.
Jakola misses with a body shot.
Sanders moves out of range of the strikes.

Sanders darts in and clinches Jakola up against the cage.

Jakola's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Jakola misses with a head kick.

Sanders shoots in and bounces Jakola off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Jakola is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Sanders is controlling him.

Jakola wriggles free and stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sanders moves in looking to clinch but Jakola pushes him off.
Jakola connects with a high kick.
Jakola attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Sanders on the wrong end of a kick to the body.
Sanders drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Sanders is looking to clinch.

Jakola closes the distance and clinches.

Jakola escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Jakola misses with a head kick.
Sanders pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Sanders fails with the takedown.
Nice sprawl there from Jakola as Sanders shoots in.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanders fails with the takedown.
Jakola throws a lazy head kick

and Sanders moves into the clinch.

Sanders jumps into guard, dragging Jakola to the mat.
Jakola wants to stand but Sanders is controlling his posture from full guard.
Michael Sanders overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jakola wants to stand and escape but instead Sanders has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Sanders prevents Jakola from getting back to his feet.
Sanders slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Jakola wants to get back to his feet but Sanders is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Sanders showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Sanders 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Sanders !