PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Juhani Kontiovaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marit Larsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). This should be fireworks!

Kontiovaara
vs
Larsson

193 cm
24
272 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

199 cm
22
275 lbs
3 - 6 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Good elbows
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the super heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juhani Kontiovaara!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Marit Larsson!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kontiovaara fails with an attempt to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Kontiovaara as Larsson shoots in.
Larsson avoids a punch combination nicely.
Larsson has a takedown stuffed.
Larsson tries to clinch up
and Kontiovaara cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kontiovaara tries to close the distance and clinch up but Larsson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Larsson tries for a takedown but Kontiovaara circles away easily

so Kontiovaara counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Juhani Kontiovaara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marit Larsson.
Kontiovaara lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kontiovaara wants to control from the top but Larsson keeps moving.
Kontiovaara trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsson throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Kontiovaara wants to control from the top but Larsson keeps moving.
Kontiovaara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Larsson is keeping the position for now.
Larsson trying to control the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Larsson looking for a sweep. Not yet Larsson, not yet.

Kontiovaara is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Kontiovaara is breathing heavily.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Nice sprawl there from Kontiovaara as Larsson shoots in.

Kontiovaara shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kontiovaara showed some decent athleticism there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Larsson looking to control.
Kontiovaara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Larsson is keeping the position for now.
Kontiovaara trying to control but Larsson is working from the bottom.
Kontiovaara stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Larsson swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Larsson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Larsson has Kontiovaara pulled in close to control his posture.
Larsson is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Larsson tries to clinch but Kontiovaara moves away

and Kontiovaara counters with a single leg into guard. Larsson didn't expect that.

Kontiovaara is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Larsson is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Larsson has escaped and now he's on top!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Larsson wants to control from the top but Kontiovaara keeps moving.

Kontiovaara had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Larsson defends it easily.
Larsson thows a big elbow that misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsson missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Larsson wants to pass the guard but Kontiovaara is keeping the position.

Kontiovaara is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Larsson wants to control from the top but Kontiovaara keeps moving.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
A head kick from Larsson lands but Kontiovaara takes it in his stride.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Larsson is looking to clinch but Kontiovaara is avoiding it.
Larsson closes the distance looking to clinch

and Kontiovaara counters with a nice double leg into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juhani Kontiovaara dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Larsson moves in looking to clinch but Kontiovaara pushes him off.
Larsson shoots in but no luck this time.
Larsson wants to clinch up but Kontiovaara keeps it at a distance.
Kontiovaara throws a head kick that misses
and Larsson makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Larsson tries to clinch but Kontiovaara moves out of range.
The fight stays on the outside here - Larsson looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Juhani Kontiovaara is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Larsson throws a combination that misses

and Kontiovaara counters with a takedown into side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kontiovaara looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Larsson's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kontiovaara is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Larsson knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Kontiovaara working away.
Kontiovaara blocks the strikes from Larsson.

Kontiovaara looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Juhani Kontiovaara overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

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

and Kontiovaara counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Larsson tries to break the clinch but Kontiovaara is controlling the position.
Kontiovaara gets underhooks to prevent Larsson's takedown attempt.
Kontiovaara can't break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Kontiovaara takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kontiovaara prevents the takedown attempt.
Juhani Kontiovaara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marit Larsson.
Larsson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Larsson landing knees to the body.
Larsson lands a nice elbow.
Larsson gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kontiovaara is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Larsson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Kontiovaara misses with a hook to the ribs.
Larsson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kontiovaara's face.
Larsson is trying to maintain a safe position but Kontiovaara gets an underhook and turns Larsson into the cage.
Larsson with a knee to the head.
Larsson presses Kontiovaara against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Larsson scores with a knee to the head.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Larsson is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Larsson landing knees to the head.
Kontiovaara tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsson fails to pull guard.
Nice body punch from Larsson.
Larsson connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kontiovaara's face.
Larsson missing with knees to the body.
Kontiovaara just leaning against Larsson, taking a breather.
Larsson lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Larsson looking to throw knees to the head but Kontiovaara is blocking nicely.
Larsson manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.

Kontiovaara has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Larsson is trying to keep an underhook but Kontiovaara manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Kontiovaara is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Larsson is just riding it out for now. Kontiovaara eventually gives up the hold.
Larsson is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Larsson is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Kontiovaara is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Larsson defends it well.

Kontiovaara is trying to work for a kimura but Larsson is defending well.
Larsson regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kontiovaara wants to pass the guard but Larsson is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juhani Kontiovaara dominated that second round.
That's time! Kontiovaara's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Kontiovaara swats away the attempt to clinch by Larsson.
Larsson fails to land with a series of punches.
Larsson wants to clinch.
Marit Larsson seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Larsson fails in his attempt to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larsson tries to clinch but Kontiovaara moves out of range.
Kontiovaara avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Larsson moves in looking to clinch but Kontiovaara pushes him off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Larsson throws a head kick but Kontiovaara moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsson lands with a kick to the temple. Kontiovaara shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Larsson plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Larsson shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Kontiovaara defends it nicely.
Larsson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kontiovaara swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Horrible takedown by Larsson or perhaps it was just good defense by Kontiovaara which made him look bad.
Larsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Kontiovaara circles away.
Larsson is looking to clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Larsson looks for a takedown but Kontiovaara sprawls well.
Juhani Kontiovaara has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Marit Larsson.

Larsson gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Larsson looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kontiovaara is one step ahead there.

Kontiovaara thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

Kontiovaara postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Larsson is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kontiovaara, into his guard.

Larsson avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kontiovaara working for a triangle but Larsson defends it easily.
Larsson pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kontiovaara is keeping the position for now.
Juhani Kontiovaara is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Larsson must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kontiovaara wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Kontiovaara escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Larsson gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kontiovaara keeping moving, preventing Larsson from controlling successfully.
Kontiovaara is trying to control the position but Larsson postures up.
Kontiovaara preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Larsson tries to close the distance and clinch but Kontiovaara swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Larsson moves in looking to clinch but Kontiovaara pushes him off.
Kontiovaara circles away from the clinch attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larsson moves in looking to clinch but Kontiovaara pushes him off.
Larsson doesn't manage to clinch there - Kontiovaara circles away.
Marit Larsson has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Larsson throws a sloppy head kick and Kontiovaara moves out of range easily.

And that's the end of the fight!
Marit Larsson comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kontiovaara has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

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