PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Masaya Erta Ale (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Majak Daw (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Erta Ale's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Evil Boy. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Erta Ale
vs
Daw

183 cm
20
173 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

183 cm
27
170 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

LHK Clothing

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Masaya Erta Ale!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Majak Daw!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Daw throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Daw swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Erta Ale decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Daw's guard.
Erta Ale trying to control but Daw is working from the bottom.

Daw throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Daw is trying to control the position but Erta Ale postures up.
Erta Ale wants to control from the top but Daw keeps moving.
Erta Ale is really struggling to control Daw but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Erta Ale looking to pass the guard.
Daw is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Majak Daw wasn't active enough on the ground.

Erta Ale closes the distance and clinches.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Erta Ale lands a takedown into guard.
Erta Ale trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Erta Ale postures up.
Daw controlling Erta Ale's posture.

Daw had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Erta Ale defends it easily.
Erta Ale not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Daw is trying to keep Erta Ale in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Erta Ale trying to control but Daw is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Daw is looking for a triangle but Erta Ale pushes his legs off easily.
Erta Ale pushing down on Daw's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Daw trying to control from the bottom.

Erta Ale is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Daw sees it coming and defends easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Erta Ale trying to pass the guard but Daw defending well.
Erta Ale wants to lay and pray for a moment but Daw keeps working.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Erta Ale passes to side control.
Erta Ale trying to control the position but Daw is working away.

Erta Ale wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Daw, who protects the arm well.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daw tries to escape but Erta Ale is in control.
Daw is trying to get back to half guard.
Erta Ale advances to mount.
Daw is looking to get to half guard.
Erta Ale sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

Erta Ale is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Daw has managed to escape the submission attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Erta Ale trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Daw really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Daw tries to hold on but Erta Ale pushes him away.
Daw is working to get back to half guard.

Erta Ale jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Daw is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Daw and Erta Ale has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Masaya Erta Ale dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Daw scores with a hook to the body. Erta Ale takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Daw stuffs the takedown attempt from Erta Ale. Erta Ale gets slowly back to his feet.
Daw lands a jab to the head.
Daw changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Erta Ale steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Daw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Daw waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Erta Ale.
Daw misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Erta Ale.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Daw, as that shot connected.
Daw lands with a right hand.
Nice defenses there by Erta Ale.
The fighters circling - Daw throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Daw swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Erta Ale.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daw throws a predictable looking body shot

and Erta Ale counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

Daw gets control of Erta Ale's arms and successfully pulls guard. Daw will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Erta Ale passes into half guard.

Erta Ale is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Daw sees it coming and defends easily.

Daw looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Erta Ale tries to pass to full mount but Daw defends it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Erta Ale uses his free foot to push down on Daw's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Daw.

Daw defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Erta Ale.
Erta Ale trying to control but Daw is having none of it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Daw is desperately trying to improve his position but Erta Ale has a good base and remains in mount.
Daw holds of for dear life.
Erta Ale trying to control but Daw is having none of it.
Daw wants to control but Erta Ale is having none of it.

Erta Ale working for a submission but Daw is keeping him at bay.
Erta Ale tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daw regains half guard.
Daw is trying to stand up here but Erta Ale is controlling him well.

Erta Ale is trying to work for a kimura but Daw is defending well.

Erta Ale is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Daw sees it coming and defends easily.

Erta Ale looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Erta Ale is trying to work for a kimura but Daw is defending well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Majak Daw showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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. 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.

Daw misses with a wild body shot.
Erta Ale moves to clinch but Daw breaks away
and Daw counters with a straight right hand.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Daw looks to land a left hand but Erta Ale moved out of range nicely.
Erta Ale bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Erta Ale keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Daw.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Daw scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Daw working the strikes but Erta Ale uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
Erta Ale trying to control from the bottom.
Erta Ale slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Erta Ale is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Daw stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Erta Ale swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Daw is stalling in the full guard.
Daw advances to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Daw prevents Erta Ale from improving his position.
Erta Ale makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Erta Ale.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Daw trying to control the position from guard on top but Erta Ale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Erta Ale looking for a guillotine here but Daw defends easily.
Daw trying to control the position from guard on top but Erta Ale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Daw must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Daw looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Erta Ale has a closed guard, preventing Daw from standing up.
Daw with a flurry of punches that miss.
Daw wants to pass the guard but Erta Ale is keeping the position.
Erta Ale working a defensive guard here.

Daw got a little sloppy there for a moment and Erta Ale has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Daw has managed to get both his arms back between Erta Ale's legs - danger averted.
Daw is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Erta Ale tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Erta Ale working a defensive guard here.

Erta Ale has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Daw can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Daw pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Erta Ale is keeping the position for now.

Erta Ale has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Daw can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Daw trying to control the position from guard on top but Erta Ale is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Daw pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Erta Ale is keeping the position for now.

Erta Ale had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Daw defends it easily.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Erta Ale is looking for a triangle but Daw pushes his legs off easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Majak Daw.
I think Daw 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Majak Daw!