PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Marit Larsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juhani Kontiovaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Juhani Kontiovaara is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Larsson
vs
Kontiovaara

199 cm
22
275 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

193 cm
23
272 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent elbows
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marit Larsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juhani Kontiovaara!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larsson misses with the combination.

Kontiovaara changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Larsson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Larsson struggling a bit here.
Larsson tries to buck Kontiovaara off but Kontiovaara is having none of it.
Larsson is working hard here to advance position.
Larsson can't do much from the bottom here.

Kontiovaara swings around for an armbar but Larsson sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Kontiovaara's guard.
Larsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Kontiovaara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kontiovaara is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Larsson trying to control the position from guard on top but Kontiovaara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kontiovaara keeping full guard, as Larsson tries to pass.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsson wants to control from the top but Kontiovaara keeps moving.

Kontiovaara working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Larsson has passed into half guard!
Larsson prevents Kontiovaara from improving his position.

Larsson seems to be looking for submissions.

Kontiovaara is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Larsson pulls his head out easily.

Kontiovaara is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Larsson pulls his head out easily.
Kontiovaara looks gassed!

Larsson is trying to work for a kimura but Kontiovaara is defending well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Larsson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kontiovaara keeps working.
Kontiovaara trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Larsson manages to pass to mount!
Larsson throws some wild stikes that Kontiovaara manages to avoid easily.
Kontiovaara is wriggling around trying to escape.
Larsson trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kontiovaara can't escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Larsson has control of Kontiovaara's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Kontiovaara regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Kontiovaara keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Kontiovaara wants to hold on but Larsson pushes him away.
Larsson tries to control but Kontiovaara wriggling away.
Larsson is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Kontiovaara is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Kontiovaara holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Larsson tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Larsson looking to control but Kontiovaara is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

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.
Larsson avoids the attempt from Kontiovaara to control.
The referee warns Kontiovaara that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Larsson punching from mount but Kontiovaara doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kontiovaara wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Larsson.
Larsson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larsson scoring with strikes but Kontiovaara is staying in there.
Larsson looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Juhani Kontiovaara will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Larsson has closed the distance and engaged Kontiovaara in a clinch.
Larsson jumps guard but Kontiovaara stands there with Larsson around his waist. Larsson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Kontiovaara successfully pulls guard.
Larsson wants to stand but Kontiovaara has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Larsson chips away with some ground and pound.

Kontiovaara is looking for a triangle here but Larsson uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.
Larsson trying to control the action but Kontiovaara is working from the bottom.
Kontiovaara is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kontiovaara is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Larsson pulls his head out easily.
Kontiovaara is breathing heavily.
Kontiovaara is looking for a sweep. Larsson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Kontiovaara trying to control here.
Larsson trying to control the action but Kontiovaara is working from the bottom.
Kontiovaara is trying to maintain the position but Larsson is very close to passing his half guard.
Larsson is trying to control the action in half guard but Kontiovaara is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Larsson with a poor takedown

and Kontiovaara counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Larsson wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsson wants to control but Kontiovaara is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kontiovaara tries to pass to full mount but Larsson defends it.
Larsson gets full guard.
Larsson manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Kontiovaara tries to reverse the position but Larsson maintains control.
Larsson trying to control but Kontiovaara is having none of it.
Kontiovaara tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Larsson throwing strikes here but Kontiovaara is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kontiovaara tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Larsson thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Larsson trying to control but Kontiovaara is having none of it.
Larsson throws an elbow from mount that misses. Lucky escape for Kontiovaara because Larsson loaded up on that one.
Kontiovaara's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Kontiovaara tries to hold on but Larsson postures up.
Kontiovaara really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Larsson trying to control but Kontiovaara is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Larsson throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Kontiovaara tries to lock up and control but Larsson gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kontiovaara blocking the ground and pound.
Kontiovaara gets back to half guard.
Larsson trying to control the action but Kontiovaara is working from the bottom.

Kontiovaara looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Larsson pushes past his half guard into mount!

Larsson looking for an armbar but decides to keep the dominant position instead.
Kontiovaara manages to regain half guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kontiovaara tries to get to full guard but Larsson has control of the leg.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juhani Kontiovaara 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! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Larsson wants to clinch but Kontiovaara slips to the side

and Kontiovaara counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kontiovaara.
Larsson tries for a takedown. No joy.

Larsson breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kontiovaara swats away the attempt to clinch by Larsson.
Larsson fails with an attempt to clinch.
Larsson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Larsson fails with the takedown

and Kontiovaara counters with a nice double leg into side control. Larsson won't be happy with that.

Kontiovaara goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Larsson has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Kontiovaara but great work by Larsson.
Kontiovaara is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kontiovaara is not content to let Larsson control the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kontiovaara dodges the ground and pound from Larsson.
Kontiovaara manages to get back to half guard.

Kontiovaara is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Larsson pulls his head out easily.

Kontiovaara looking for submissions off his back.
Larsson wants to stand up but Kontiovaara has a hold of him and won't allow it.

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.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Larsson shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Kontiovaara counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Kontiovaara.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Marit Larsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Larsson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Kontiovaara takes a knee to the side of the body.
Kontiovaara avoiding damage as Larsson throws knees to the body.
Larsson swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Larsson landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Larsson trying to land knees to the body.

Kontiovaara jumps into guard, dragging Larsson to the mat.
Kontiovaara wants to sweep here but Larsson controlling him for the moment.
Kontiovaara keeping moving, preventing Larsson from controlling successfully.

Kontiovaara is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Larsson defends well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kontiovaara looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Larsson passes into side control.
Kontiovaara sneaks back into half guard.
Juhani Kontiovaara is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Larsson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Kontiovaara does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Kontiovaara trying to control from the bottom.
Kontiovaara keeps control of the position for the meantime.
Larsson is thwarting Kontiovaara's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Larsson content to control rather than advance.
Kontiovaara has his hands clasped together around Larsson's back. He's all about the action.
Kontiovaara is looking to control Larsson's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Kontiovaara avoid being mounted?

And that's the end of the fight!
Juhani Kontiovaara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Kontiovaara 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juhani Kontiovaara!