PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aster Sand (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mark Sikkila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Sand
vs
Sikkila

167 cm
22
155 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

180 cm
25
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Solid chin

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aster Sand!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mark Sikkila!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Sikkila drives through and clinches with Sand against the ropes.

Sikkila has picked Sand up - he's going for a ride! Sikkila dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Sikkila in particular looking to stall.
Sikkila stops Sand from getting back to his feet.
Sikkila seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Sikkila connects with a nice short shot to Sand's temple.

Sikkila wants to work for an arm triangle but Sand is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Sikkila passes the guard and advances to mount!
Sand might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Sikkila breaks from Sand's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sand is not a happy chappy… he wants out of there.
Sand is breathing heavily.
Sikkila in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sikkila putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Sikkila lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Sand is in a horrible position here. Sikkila smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Sikkila putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sikkila in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Sand is trying to stand.
Sikkila with shots to the head and body - Sand looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sikkila punishing his opponent with strikes.

Sikkila has hold of Sand's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Sand manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Sikkila tries to control but Sand wriggling away.
Sikkila lands a nice shot to the head.
Sikkila controlling the pace for now.
Sikkila with shots to the head and body - Sand looks very uncomfortable down there.
Sikkila trying to control but Sand is having none of it.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Sand trying desperately to get to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sikkila working Sand over with strikes here.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Sand is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Sikkila lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Sikkila can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sand is looking to escape.

Sand defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Sikkila.
Sand is in a horrible position here. Sikkila smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Sikkila lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Sand hang on?
Sikkila lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Sikkila postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Sand looks a forlorn figure.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sikkila lands a nice shot to the head.
Sikkila lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Sikkila lands a big elbow.
Sikkila breaks from Sand's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Sikkila won't let Sand get back to his feet... He wants to keep the fight where it is for now.
Sikkila putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
BOOM! Sikkila connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Sand wants to get back to his feet.

Sikkila working from mount. He moves in close and looks like he might be going for an arm triangle... He's hopped off to the side and he's transitioned into an Anaconda choke. Sand turning a nasty shade of purple. He's refusing to tap but he's gone! He's out! The ref rips Sikkila off and cradles Sand's limp body as Sikkila celebrates with his corner.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Anaconda Choke). Mark Sikkila!
A victorious Mark Sikkila thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.