PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Eric Wessel (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niko Saarelma (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Wessel
vs
Saarelma

180 cm
20
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of New York, Eric Wessel!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of New York, Niko Saarelma!
The judges for this bout are Reed Andrews, Joseph Jones and John Roberts.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Wessel darts in and clinches Saarelma up against the cage.

Wessel manages to break the clinch.

Wessel gets a takedown into half guard.
Wessel is looking to advance position but Saarelma won't allow it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wessel is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Saarelma is trying is best to control the position here.
Saarelma trying to control here.
Wessel is looking to advance position but Saarelma won't allow it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wessel is looking for a kimura here.
Wessel throws a strike but Saarelma avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Wessel is looking to stand up but Saarelma won't let him.
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.
Wessel misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wessel moves in looking to clinch but Saarelma pushes him off.

Saarelma closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Saarelma lands in his opponent's guard.
Saarelma trying to control the position from guard on top but Wessel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarelma stands and throws Wessel's legs to the side, diving into side control.
A lull in the action here.
Saarelma blocks the strikes from Wessel.
You can see the frustration on Wessel's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Saarelma taking a breather here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarelma tries to move into full mount but can't pass Wessel's legs.
Saarelma working the ground and pound.
Saarelma is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Wessel tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Wessel is breathing heavily.
Wessel is in all sorts of trouble here.

Saarelma stands up from the dominant position, so we're back on the feet.
Wessel fails in his attempt to clinch.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Saarelma changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Wessel looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Saarelma has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Wessel misses with a jab, cross combination.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Saarelma dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Saarelma.
Wessel is looking to regain half guard here but Saarelma keeps moving and retains side control.
Wessel is looking to get back to his feet here but Saarelma is keeping cool and he's managed to take Wessel's back.
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.
Wessel is keeping busy.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wessel is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
Wessel is working hard here to advance position.
Will Saarelma go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Wessel looking to stop the rear naked choke attempt by controlling the hands.

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.
Wessel prevents Saarelma from getting a body triangle.
Saarelma has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Wessel's body.

Despite being in the dominant position, Niko Saarelma just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Wessel fails to land with a series of punches.
Saarelma with a lazy takedown attempt

and Wessel counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Saarelma is pressing down on Wessel's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarelma throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Saarelma preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Saarelma keeping full guard, as Wessel tries to pass.
Wessel content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Saarelma has a closed guard, preventing Wessel from standing up.
Wessel lands a couple of elbows.
Wessel postures up.
Wessel trying to control the position from guard on top but Saarelma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's four 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.
Wessel would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Wessel controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Wessel postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Wessel is looking to stand up but Saarelma won't let him.

Wessel postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Saarelma is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Wessel, into his guard.
Wessel is looking to stand up but Saarelma isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eric Wessel dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Wessel throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Saarelma shoots in for a takedown but Wessel shows good takedown defense.

Saarelma closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Wessel to the mat! Wessel manages to get full guard.
Wessel is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Saarelma is controlling him.
Saarelma trying to control the position from guard on top but Wessel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wessel wants to get back to his feet but Saarelma is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Wessel keeping moving, preventing Saarelma from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wessel kicks Saarelma off and gets to his feet.
Wessel throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Wessel throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Saarelma.
Saarelma tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Wessel swivels and escapes.
Wessel tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Wessel feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Saarelma's calf.

Wessel scores a takedown into full mount!
Wessel scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Saarelma?

Saarelma is rocked!

It looks like Niko Saarelma has been cut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Saarelma's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.

Wessel jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Saarelma is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Saarelma and Wessel has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Saarelma is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Wessel wants to stand up but Saarelma has a hold of him and won't allow it.
Wessel is thwarting Saarelma's attempts to control the position.
Wessel wants to lay and pray for a moment but Saarelma keeps working.
Wessel stalling away here and it's allowed Saarelma to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Saarelma is trying to keep Wessel in close.
Wessel trying to control but Saarelma is working from the bottom.

Saarelma has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Wessel can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Saarelma has his hands on Wessel's head, controlling the position.
Wessel has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four 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.
Wessel throws and elbow that misses. Saarelma uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Wessel's guard. Nice move by Saarelma!
Wessel wants to sweep but no luck.
Saarelma trying to control the position from guard on top but Wessel is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Saarelma gets to his feet. Wessel looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

And that's the end of the fight!
Eric Wessel showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Wessel 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 Reed Andrews scores the fight 29:28
Judge Joseph Jones scores the fight 29:28
Judge John Roberts scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Eric Wessel!