PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Erkki Vieri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Edmund Dantes (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters really staring each other down here, as Edmund Dantes enters the cage!

Vieri
vs
Dantes

180 cm
30
170 lbs
24 - 6 - 1

180 cm
29
165 lbs
17 - 7 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Perkele!
Sparta Fightware

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 24 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Erkki Vieri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 7 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Edmund Dantes!
The judges for this bout are James Atkins, William Gold and Daniel Bishop.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice body kick from Vieri.

Vieri shoots in and gets a takedown into Dantes's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Vieri pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Dantes is keeping the position for now.
Dantes trying to strike off his back.
Dantes looking for a sweep. Not yet Dantes, not yet.
Dantes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Vieri stopping the sweep attempt from Dantes.
Dantes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dantes keeping moving, preventing Vieri from controlling successfully.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Vieri has gone for a leg lock! Dantes slips out almost immediately though and dives into Vieri's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dantes stopping the sweep attempt from Vieri.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vieri looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vieri is on top in guard.
Vieri tries to free his leg and advance position but Dantes is retaining full guard.
Vieri throwing strikes but missing.
Vieri trying to control the position from guard on top but Dantes is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Dantes keeping full guard, as Vieri tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dantes is trying to control the position but Vieri postures up.
Dantes utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Dantes tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Vieri being controlled here momentarily.
Vieri throws an elbow that misses. Dantes uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Vieri's guard. Nice move by Dantes!
Dantes sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Vieri manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dantes slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Vieri works his foot free and advances to mount.
Vieri misses with a head shot.
Dantes is wriggling around trying to escape.
Vieri dominating with strikes here.
Vieri landing shots from mount.
Dantes slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
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!
Vieri works his way into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vieri is looking to take a break and control but Dantes is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Vieri tries to move to mount but Dantes blocks the move with his legs.
The strikes coming from Vieri are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Vieri is putting a hurting on Dantes here, landing some big shots from side control.
Vieri throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Vieri landing strikes.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dantes is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Vieri off and has taken his back!
Dantes keeps control of the position as Vieri tries to break free.

Dantes is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Vieri defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erkki Vieri dominated that 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.

Vieri tries to score a power double leg takedown but Dantes sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Vieri somewhat.
Vieri on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Dantes throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
The fight stays on the outside here - Vieri looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Vieri throws a leg kick
and Dantes counters with a stiff right hand.
Dantes scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Vieri throws a nice inside leg kick.
Vieri lands with a nice body punch.
Vieri misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dantes throws a solid leg kick but Vieri takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Dantes.
Dantes scores with a spinning back kick!

Vieri drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Dantes is trying to control the position but Vieri postures up.
Vieri stopping the sweep attempt from Dantes.
Vieri throws a big elbow that misses.
Vieri advances to half guard.
Vieri thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dantes's head.
Dantes regains full guard. Nicely done.
Vieri with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vieri throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Vieri looking to sit in guard and control but Dantes gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vieri looking to control.
Dantes makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Dantes lands a couple of elbows.
Vieri manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Dantes manages to get himself to full guard.
Dantes preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dantes working a defensive guard here.
Dantes tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Vieri got a little sloppy there for a moment and Dantes has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Vieri has managed to get both his arms back between Dantes's legs - danger averted.
Vieri throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dantes looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vieri with a flurry of punches that miss.
Vieri looking to pass the guard.
Vieri throwing strikes but missing.
Vieri in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Vieri works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Vieri thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Dantes's head.
Dantes tries to roll over but Vieri keeps him under control.
Dantes gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vieri throwing strikes from guard but Dantes blocks nicely.
Vieri passes Dantes's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Dantes on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Dantes keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Dantes trying to control but Vieri postures up.
Vieri is stalling here. Dantes is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Vieri seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Dantes has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Dantes is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Vieri is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dantes works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
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 Erkki Vieri will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Jab, jab by Vieri - just one landing.
Vieri checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Vieri attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Vieri thows a leg kick but Dantes checks it

and Dantes counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Dantes.
Dantes won't allow Vieri to sweep him here.
Vieri is working hard here to advance position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Vieri is on top in guard.
Dantes lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Dantes advances to half guard.
Vieri tries to roll over but Dantes keeps him under control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dantes passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Vieri!
Vieri bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
Dantes not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Vieri postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Dantes has momentary wrist control but Vieri slips an elbow through the middle.
Dantes controlling Vieri's posture.
Erkki Vieri overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Vieri throws a strike but Dantes rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Vieri keeping moving, preventing Dantes from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dantes won't allow Vieri to sweep him here.
Dantes loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dantes trying to control but Vieri is working from the bottom.
Erkki Vieri is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Vieri is pulling down on Dantes's head. It's preventing any offense from Dantes, at least for the moment.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Dantes accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Dantes lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Vieri is trying to keep Dantes in close.
Vieri wants to sweep but no luck.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dantes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Dantes missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Vieri is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Dantes works his way to full guard. Good work.
Dantes keeping moving, preventing Vieri from controlling successfully.
Edmund Dantes has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dantes looking to hit a scissor sweep but Vieri is one step ahead there.
Vieri stays in close to Dantes's body and controls the position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dantes working a defensive guard but Vieri manages to pass into side control anyway.
Vieri takes a little break here. Dantes wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Vieri trying to control the action but Dantes is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dantes is looking for a sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Erkki Vieri.
Well Vieri has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 James Atkins scores the fight 30:28
Judge William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erkki Vieri!
During a confident post fight interview, Erkki Vieri thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.