PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Carlos Anabolino (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikael Sankari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Anabolino
vs
Sankari

181 cm
19
180 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

183 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Intelligent

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 Helsinki, Carlos Anabolino!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikael Sankari!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Anni Minnemäki and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Anabolino is looking to clinch but Sankari is avoiding it.

Sankari has taken the fight to the clinch.
Sankari wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sankari looking to slow down the pace here.
Anabolino trying to stall but Sankari improves his position.

Anabolino has clasped his hands together around Sankari's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Sankari is looking for a sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Anabolino gets to mount! Sankari was on the offensive and wasn't defending properly.

Anabolino get's back to his feet.

Anabolino shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Sankari's guard.

Sankari has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Anabolino off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Sankari closes the distance looking to clinch

and Anabolino counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Anabolino.
Sankari trying to stall but Anabolino improves his position.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sankari.
Anabolino can't get the takedown.
Sankari misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Anabolino.

Sankari pulls Anabolino into guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sankari trying to keep a closed guard but Anabolino is proving a slippery customer.

Sankari looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Sankari wants to sweep here but Anabolino controlling him for the moment.
Sankari looks gassed!
Sankari wants to stand but Anabolino is controlling the position.

Sankari is working an open guard so Anabolino takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Sankari has his takedown stuffed

and Anabolino moves into the clinch.
Anabolino tries to throw a body punch but Sankari avoids it by throwing Anabolino back against the cage.

Anabolino breaks the clinch.
Anabolino misses with a takedown attempt

and Sankari holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Anabolino tightens his grip and picks Sankari up, before dumping him to the ground. Sankari manages to land in guard.

Sankari looking for a guillotine here but Anabolino defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Sankari looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Anabolino has picked Sankari up and slammed him! Sankari can't keep hold of the triangle and Anabolino manages to pass to side control!
Anabolino passes to full mount! That's big trouble for Sankari!
Sankari is in all sorts of trouble here.
Sankari wants to get back to his feet.

Sankari bucks Anabolino off and manages to get back to his feet!

Sankari shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
Sankari trying to control but Anabolino is working from the bottom.
Anabolino trying to control the position.

Sankari stands and steps away. Anabolino gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sankari darts in and clinches Anabolino up against the cage.

Sankari manages to break the clinch.

Sankari rushes Anabolino and presses him up against the cage.
The referee calls for Sankari to work.

Sankari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Anabolino keeps the fight on the outside.
Anabolino clinches but Sankari breaks the clinch

and Sankari holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Anabolino fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Sankari scores with a nice hook to the head.
Sankari lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Anabolino wants to break the clinch but can't.
Sankari throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Anabolino blocks it with crossed arms.
Anabolino tries to pull guard but Sankari won't allow it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Anabolino. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sankari escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Anabolino tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Sankari paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Sankari tries to clinch up.

Sankari scores a takedown into full mount!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anabolino is trying to get back to his feet but can't.
Sankari controlling his opponent.

Sankari looking to secure an arm triangle but Anabolino defends it well.
Sankari with the ground and pound from mount.
Anabolino tries to hold on but Sankari postures up.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Anabolino can't escape the position.
Sankari wants to control the pace but Anabolino is squirming around nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Mikael Sankari will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Anabolino looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Sankari!
Anabolino tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Anabolino trying to control but Sankari is having none of it.

Anabolino is standing up, even though he is in mount.
Mikael Sankari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Sankari shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Anabolino as he avoids it easily.
Anabolino throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sankari's waist but Sankari gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Anabolino off to one side.
Sankari is breathing heavily.

Sankari takes the fight into the clinch.
Anabolino fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Sankari breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Anabolino shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Anabolino. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Sankari closes the distance looking to clinch

and Anabolino counters with a takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sankari is looking for a sweep.
Anabolino works to advance to full mount. Sankari defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.
Sankari is trying to stand.
Anabolino fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Sankari is trying desperately to improve position.
Sankari is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Sankari looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Carlos Anabolino overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sankari tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Anabolino can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sankari is looking to escape.
Sankari wants to hold on but Anabolino pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Sankari is looking to improve his position but Anabolino isn't that keen on the idea.
Sankari really wants to buck Anabolino off and get back to his feet.
Sankari is looking to improve his position but Anabolino isn't that keen on the idea.
Anabolino looking to control but Sankari is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Sankari is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Sankari regains half guard.
Sankari is looking for a sweep. Anabolino is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sankari looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Sankari missing with punches from the bottom.
Sankari looks like he's trying to stand up.
Sankari is controlling Anabolino's trapped leg to prevent Anabolino from advancing to side control.
Anabolino is taking a breather. Sankari says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

Sankari looking for submissions off his back.
Sankari works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's four 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.

Sankari working for a triangle but Anabolino defends it easily.

Sankari manages to escape and get back to his feet.

Sankari fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Anabolino sprawls well initially but Sankari persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Anabolino controlling the position well.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Anabolino is looking to control Sankari's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Anabolino avoid being mounted?
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 Carlos Anabolino will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Anabolino closes the distance and clinches.
Anabolino is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Anabolino drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sankari pulls his leg out and moves away.

Sankari rushes Anabolino and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Come on Anabolino - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Sankari lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Anabolino.
Anabolino drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sankari pulls his leg out and moves away.
Anabolino tries for a takedown but Sankari circles away easily

so Sankari counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Carlos Anabolino. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Sankari stands up from Anabolino's guard - Sankari perhaps looking for a knockout.

Anabolino gets caught flat footed, as Sankari shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sankari passes Anabolino's right leg, so he's now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Anabolino has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Sankari is working away from the top position though.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sankari looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Anabolino trying to control from the bottom.

Sankari is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

Sankari is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Anabolino moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

Anabolino wriggles free and stands up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Anabolino wants to clinch up but Sankari keeps it at a distance.
Anabolino shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Sankari counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Anabolino manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Anabolino misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.

Sankari forces Anabolino back against the cage and clinches.

Sankari breaks the clinch.
Anabolino misses with a takedown

and Sankari holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Sankari has picked Anabolino up - he's going for a ride! Sankari dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Sankari blocks the strikes from Anabolino.

Anabolino looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Anabolino is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Sankari's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Sankari's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Anabolino patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Anabolino lands a punch that was close to the back of the head but the ref thinks it's OK.
Anabolino wants to control but Sankari is keeping busy.

Sankari defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Anabolino's arms.
Anabolino thows a huge left but connects with the canvas and not his opponent.

Anabolino is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Sankari knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Sankari for a finish.
Anabolino is hanging on to Sankari's back as he tries to escape.

Sankari defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Anabolino has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Sankari's body.
Sankari has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.
Anabolino really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Sankari.
Sankari wants to escape the position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Anabolino is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Oooh a big shot gets through from Anabolino. Many more shots like that and the referee will have to think about stepping in!

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikael Sankari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sankari 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Mikael Sankari!