PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Andrew Spencer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Sami Ojankaivaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Spencer
vs
Ojankaivaja

194 cm
22
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

201 cm
22
255 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Andrew Spencer!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Sami Ojankaivaja!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Ackerman and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

The fight moves into the clinch position.

Spencer is fighting off a takedown attempt but Ojankaivaja is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Spencer to the mat. Spencer regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Spencer trying to control the position here.
Spencer keeping full guard, as Ojankaivaja tries to pass.
Ojankaivaja working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Spencer could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Ojankaivaja missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ojankaivaja trying to control but Spencer is working from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ojankaivaja postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Spencer keeping full guard, as Ojankaivaja tries to pass.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Spencer darts in and clinches Ojankaivaja up against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Spencer jumps guard.
Spencer is trying to keep Ojankaivaja in close.
Ojankaivaja wants to control from the top but Spencer keeps moving.
Ojankaivaja pushing down on Spencer's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ojankaivaja missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Spencer wants to control but Ojankaivaja is keeping busy.
Spencer is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ojankaivaja scores with a couple of nice shots.
Spencer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ojankaivaja is working away from the top position though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ojankaivaja with the ground and pound but Spencer uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Ojankaivaja thows a big elbow that misses.
Spencer keeping moving, preventing Ojankaivaja from controlling successfully.
Ojankaivaja looking to sit in guard and control but Spencer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Ojankaivaja tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Ojankaivaja is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Spencer is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Spencer works over Ojankaivaja's head and body with a nice combination.

Spencer gets a takedown into half guard.
Spencer blocks the strikes from Ojankaivaja.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ojankaivaja is pressing down on Spencer's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Ojankaivaja not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ojankaivaja looks gassed!
Spencer won't allow Ojankaivaja to sweep him here.
Spencer wants to pass the guard but Ojankaivaja is keeping the position.
Ojankaivaja keeping moving, preventing Spencer from controlling successfully.
Ojankaivaja manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Ojankaivaja is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Ojankaivaja content just to control the position here.
Ojankaivaja misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spencer tries to hold on but Ojankaivaja pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ojankaivaja cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Ojankaivaja in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Ojankaivaja working the ground and pound effectively.
Spencer wants to control but Ojankaivaja is having none of it.
Ojankaivaja connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Ojankaivaja cracks Spencer with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
BOOM! Ojankaivaja connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ojankaivaja landing punches.
Ojankaivaja lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Spencer hang on?
Spencer tries to lock up and control but Ojankaivaja gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Ojankaivaja dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Ojankaivaja darts in trying to clinch

and Spencer counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Ojankaivaja's guard now.
Ojankaivaja lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Spencer!
Spencer can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
BOOM! Ojankaivaja connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Ojankaivaja trying to control but Spencer is having none of it.
Ojankaivaja fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Ojankaivaja raining down shots from the mount!
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Ojankaivaja working away from the top, dropping strikes.

Ojankaivaja looking to secure an arm triangle but Spencer defends it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ojankaivaja pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Ojankaivaja trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Ojankaivaja avoids the attempt from Spencer to control.
Spencer is trying to escape the mount.
Spencer is in a horrible position here. Ojankaivaja smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Ojankaivaja tries to control but Spencer wriggling away.

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.
Ojankaivaja raining down shots from the mount!
Spencer is in a horrible position here. Ojankaivaja smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Spencer slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Ojankaivaja trying to control the action but Spencer is working from the bottom.
Spencer trying to hold on to Ojankaivaja's head to control him but Ojankaivaja postures up.
Ojankaivaja missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Spencer is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ojankaivaja's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ojankaivaja's back!
Ojankaivaja turns into Spencer and is now in his guard.
Ojankaivaja with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Spencer looking to hit a scissor sweep but Ojankaivaja is one step ahead there.
Spencer preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Sami Ojankaivaja has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ojankaivaja trying to control the position from guard on top but Spencer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ojankaivaja wants to pass the guard but Spencer is keeping the position.

Spencer looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ojankaivaja postures up and lands a big shot to Spencer's brow.
Ojankaivaja is looking to work some ground and pound but Spencer has wrist control.
Ojankaivaja advances position into side control!
Ojankaivaja working the ground and pound from side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spencer is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Ojankaivaja landing a few strikes.
Ojankaivaja advances to full mount.
Spencer keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ojankaivaja controlling the pace for now.
Ojankaivaja lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Ojankaivaja postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Spencer looks a forlorn figure.

Spencer is rocked!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ojankaivaja in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Oh Spencer is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ojankaivaja is landing with some decent strikes but Spencer is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Ojankaivaja landing punches.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sami Ojankaivaja showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Ojankaivaja tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ojankaivaja gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Spencer counters by moving into the clinch.
Ojankaivaja gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Spencer.

Ojankaivaja has picked Spencer up - he's going for a ride! Ojankaivaja dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Spencer wants to control but Ojankaivaja is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Spencer seems to have got his legs back now.
Spencer taking some punishment here, with Ojankaivaja in his half guard.
Ojankaivaja works his way into full mount!
Ojankaivaja tries to control but Spencer wriggling away.
Ojankaivaja landing punches.
Ojankaivaja with good strikes from the mount here!
Spencer is trying to escape the mount.
Ojankaivaja looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Spencer is squirming around, avoiding Ojankaivaja's attempts to control the action.
Ojankaivaja working the ground and pound effectively.
Spencer wants to hold on but Ojankaivaja pushes him away.
Ojankaivaja working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Ojankaivaja scores with a couple of good head shots there.
Spencer takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Spencer is squirming around, avoiding Ojankaivaja's attempts to control the action.
Spencer is looking to improve his position but Ojankaivaja isn't that keen on the idea.
Spencer tries to hold on but Ojankaivaja postures up.

That's two 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.
Spencer is in all sorts of trouble here.
Spencer regains half guard.
Spencer is holding on to half guard well.
Ojankaivaja is trying to control the action in half guard but Spencer is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Spencer wants to control but Ojankaivaja is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ojankaivaja controlling the pace.
Spencer is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Ojankaivaja's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Ojankaivaja's back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ojankaivaja turns into Spencer and is now in his guard.
Ojankaivaja trying to control the position from guard on top but Spencer is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Spencer seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Ojankaivaja passes Spencer's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Ojankaivaja is keen to just control but Spencer is a slippery customer.
Ojankaivaja lands with a punch from half guard.
Ojankaivaja landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Ojankaivaja lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ojankaivaja is looking to take a break and control but Spencer is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ojankaivaja working Spencer over with strikes.
Ojankaivaja looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ojankaivaja thows a huge punch but Spencer dodges it nicely.
Ojankaivaja thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Spencer's head.
Ojankaivaja not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Ojankaivaja missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Ojankaivaja looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Spencer with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Ojankaivaja sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Spencer defending well though.
Spencer has hold of Ojankaivaja's hands but Ojankaivaja slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ojankaivaja prevents Spencer from standing back up.

Ojankaivaja is looking for a kimura here.
Spencer has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ojankaivaja is working away from the top position though.
Andrew Spencer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Spencer looking for submissions from an awkward position here.

And that's the end of the fight!
Sami Ojankaivaja comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Ojankaivaja winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Sami Ojankaivaja!