PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pauli Polvi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Verneri Kynaniska (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Verneri Kynaniska has the power to score a knockout today if he connects clean with Pauli Polvi's chin.

Polvi
vs
Kynaniska

195 cm
18
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

189 cm
20
208 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pauli Polvi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Verneri Kynaniska!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kynaniska shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Polvi pinned against the cage. Polvi gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Polvi shoots in but no luck this time.
Kynaniska tries to clinch but Polvi is having none of it.
Polvi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kynaniska manages to avoid it.
Polvi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Polvi throws the kick towards the body but Kynaniska avoids it.
Polvi looks to clinch
and Kynaniska counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kynaniska misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kynaniska walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Polvi checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kynaniska misses with a jab, cross combination.
Polvi dodges the punch combination from Kynaniska.
Polvi looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kynaniska looks to land a combination but Polvi avoids it well.
Kynaniska misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Polvi.
Polvi throws a body kick that misses.
Polvi finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Pauli Polvi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Polvi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Kynaniska sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
A slapping body kick lands there for Polvi.

Kynaniska closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kynaniska wants to stand up but Polvi is controlling the position.
Polvi knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kynaniska on the ground.
Kynaniska looks gassed!
Polvi on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Polvi tries to get out of the position.

Polvi kicks Kynaniska off and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kynaniska misses with a looping right.
Kynaniska wants to slow Polvi down by chopping away at his legs.
Kynaniska takes one on the button.

It looks like Verneri Kynaniska has been cut.
A solid body kick from Polvi.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Polvi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kynaniska fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pauli Polvi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Polvi throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
Polvi tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kynaniska sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Polvi somewhat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Polvi. That's going to slow Kynaniska down.
Polvi throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Kynaniska walks forward, straight into a front kick from Polvi.
Polvi lands a slapping body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kynaniska blocks a head kick by Polvi.
Kynaniska throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Polvi tries to clinch up
and Polvi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Polvi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polvi lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Polvi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Kynaniska's head.

Polvi fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kynaniska, pushing him back against the cage.
Polvi lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kynaniska or not.
Polvi landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kynaniska prevents a takedown attempt there.
A knee to the head by Polvi.
Knees in the clinch landing for Polvi.

Polvi gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Polvi is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Polvi prevents Kynaniska from standing back up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Polvi tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Kynaniska.
Polvi is figuring out what he wants to do next.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauli Polvi dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Verneri Kynaniska's cut.
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.

Kynaniska avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Polvi wants to clinch.
Polvi throws a head kick that misses.
Kynaniska blocks a head kick by Polvi.
Kynaniska tries to close the distance and clinch but Polvi swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kynaniska tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kynaniska is breathing heavily.
Kynaniska rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Polvi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kynaniska changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Polvi tries to avoid it but Kynaniska manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Polvi to the ground. Polvi escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
The fight stays on the outside here - Polvi looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good leg kick by Polvi there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Pauli Polvi is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Polvi closes the distance and clinches up with Kynaniska, looking for a takedown. Polvi pushes Kynaniska against the cage but Kynaniska circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Good leg kick by Polvi there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Polvi cracks Kynaniska with an open hand slap.
Polvi tries to clinch there but Kynaniska circles away.

Polvi moves into the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Polvi.
Polvi unloads a knee to the mid-section. Kynaniska lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Kynaniska takes a knee to the side of the body.
Polvi content to slow the pace in the clinch.
With the fighters up against the cage, Polvi throws an elbow but misses.
A bit of stalling here from Polvi.
Polvi lands a knee to the body.
Kynaniska being controlled against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Polvi landing knees to the head.
Polvi lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kynaniska stops a takedown attempt from Polvi.
Polvi changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Kynaniska fights it off and pushes away nicely.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pauli Polvi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Polvi looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Polvi throws a body punch but Kynaniska moves out of range.
Polvi takes a jab right on the kisser.
Polvi tries to land a front kick but Kynaniska steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Polvi is looking to clinch but Kynaniska is avoiding it.
Kynaniska has a nice red mark on his side after a thudding body kick by Polvi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polvi thows a body kick. Kynaniska tries to catch it but that hurt him.

Polvi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Polvi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Polvi takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Polvi seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Kynaniska for as long as he can get away with.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Polvi is stalling here but it's allowed Kynaniska to get half guard.
Kynaniska is trying to stand.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pauli Polvi dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Verneri Kynaniska's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Polvi.
A punch combination from Kynaniska misses.
Kynaniska blocks a head kick by Polvi.
Pauli Polvi is winning the standup battle so far.
Polvi is looking to clinch.
Kynaniska keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
A head kick misses from Polvi.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kynaniska throws a series of punches but Polvi moves out of range.
Polvi misses the shot to the body.
Nice sprawl there from Kynaniska as Polvi shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Pauli Polvi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kynaniska blocks a head kick by Polvi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Polvi misses with a body kick.
Polvi does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Polvi wants to clinch.
Kynaniska will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
A chopping leg kick lands by Polvi.

Polvi instigates a clinch.
Polvi putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Kynaniska in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Kynaniska misses with some punches.
Kynaniska is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Kynaniska takes a knee right on the jaw!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Polvi stalling the fight.
A head punch on the inside from Kynaniska fails to land.
Polvi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kynaniska pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Polvi stalling.

Kynaniska's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kynaniska dives in and grabs Polvi's left leg, looking for a takedown. Polvi pushes down on Kynaniska's head and hops out.
Polvi thows a body kick. Kynaniska tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Kynaniska stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Polvi.
An inside leg kick lands from Polvi.
Kynaniska steps to his left, right into the path of a big body kick from Polvi. That one must have hurt.

Polvi has closed the distance and engaged Kynaniska in a clinch.
Polvi throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Polvi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kynaniska can do to turn this around?
Polvi has Kynaniska pushed against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Polvi is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Kynaniska pulls him back up using the underhooks.
A knee to the head by Polvi.
Polvi prevents the takedown attempt.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Polvi as Kynaniska tries to tie him up.
Polvi connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kynaniska's face.
Kynaniska's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Kynaniska has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Kynaniska wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Polvi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Polvi lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Verneri Kynaniska has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Polvi lands a good knee to the midsection. Kynaniska won't want to take too many of those.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Polvi.
Polvi stalling against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Polvi.
Polvi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Kynaniska blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kynaniska is trying to break the clinch but Polvi has him pressed against the cage.
A knee to the head by Polvi.

Kynaniska escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Pauli Polvi is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four 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.
Polvi slips under a jab from Kynaniska.
Polvi darts in trying to clinch

and Kynaniska counters with a shoot takedown. Polvi fights it but they end up in guard.
Kynaniska won't allow Polvi to get back to his feet.

Kynaniska has gone for a leg lock! Polvi slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kynaniska's guard.
Kynaniska can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Polvi controls the pace.

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 Pauli Polvi.
Well Polvi 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pauli Polvi!