PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kimi Aanekoski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomas Bear Shield (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Aanekoski
vs
Bear Shield

190 cm
23
185 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

183 cm
20
196 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Determined

Aggression Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kimi Aanekoski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tomas Bear Shield!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Bear Shield gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Aanekoski to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Bear Shield preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Aanekoski landing some decent shots from guard.
Bear Shield wants to stand and escape but Aanekoski is having none of it.
Aanekoski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Bear Shield works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Aanekoski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aanekoski throwing strikes but missing.
Aanekoski is looking to work some ground and pound but Bear Shield has wrist control.
Bear Shield wants to stand up but Aanekoski is controlling him.
Bear Shield really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Aanekoski. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Aanekoski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Bear Shield swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Bear Shield fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Aanekoski looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aanekoski shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Bear Shield tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Bear Shield doesn't manage to clinch there - Aanekoski circles away.
Bear Shield takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Bear Shield misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tomas Bear Shield seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Bear Shield looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Aanekoski keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Bear Shield thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Bear Shield throws a strike but Aanekoski avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Aanekoski pulls Bear Shield in close to prevent any damage.
Aanekoski has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Aanekoski is on top in guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aanekoski in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aanekoski with a flurry of punches that miss.
Aanekoski stops Bear Shield from standing up.
Bear Shield utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aanekoski postures up and lands a big shot to Bear Shield's brow.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aanekoski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice takedown defense from Bear Shield. No joy for Aanekoski on that attempt.
Bear Shield throws a head kick that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Aanekoski.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kimi Aanekoski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bear Shield lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Bear Shield tries to close the distance and clinch but Aanekoski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aanekoski swats away the attempt to clinch by Bear Shield.
Bear Shield tries to score a power double leg takedown but Aanekoski sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Bear Shield somewhat.
Jab from Bear Shield.
Aanekoski avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Aanekoski misses with a takedown attempt - Bear Shield sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Bear Shield looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aanekoski closes the distance and clinches up with Bear Shield, looking for a takedown. Aanekoski pushes Bear Shield against the cage but Bear Shield circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Bear Shield jabs Aanekoski right on the nose. Aanekoski blinks but takes it well.
Bear Shield fails with the takedown

and Aanekoski counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Aanekoski missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Aanekoski prevents Bear Shield from standing back up.
Aanekoski lands strikes from half guard.
Aanekoski is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Aanekoski lands with a punch from half guard.
Aanekoski stops Bear Shield from getting back to his feet.
Bear Shield looks gassed!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aanekoski missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bear Shield wants to get back to his feet.
Aanekoski working over Bear Shield with some ground and pound. Bear Shield looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kimi Aanekoski will probably get the nod.
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.

Bear Shield is trying hard to land a takedown here. Aanekoski sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Bear Shield misses with a two punch combination.
Bear Shield will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Aanekoski lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Bear Shield circles away quickly and effectively.
Bear Shield throws a right and a left that both miss.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Aanekoski.
Aanekoski creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Aanekoski lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Bear Shield down.
Bear Shield is trying to buck Aanekoski off.
Aanekoski lands a decent elbow from side control.
Bear Shield is breathing heavily.
The ground and pound from Aanekoski seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Aanekoski landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aanekoski works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Bear Shield takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Aanekoski working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Aanekoski landing strikes.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Bear Shield takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
Bear Shield taking a bit of punishment here - Aanekoski scoring with strikes.
Aanekoski is working Bear Shield over with some ground and pound from side control.
Aanekoski throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Aanekoski tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Bear Shield is trying to get back to his feet.
Aanekoski fails to land a wild elbow strike.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Bear Shield can do anything to dispel that myth.
Aanekoski cracks Bear Shield with a big elbow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Aanekoski in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.
Aanekoski in side control, trying to ground and pound but not landing this time.

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

Bear Shield gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.

Bear Shield breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Aanekoski throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Bear Shield's waist but Bear Shield gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Aanekoski off to one side.
Bear Shield throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Aanekoski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Bear Shield wants to stand but Aanekoski is controlling the position.
Aanekoski is looking to work some ground and pound but Bear Shield has wrist control.
Aanekoski trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Aanekoski postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Bear Shield utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aanekoski stops Bear Shield from standing up.
Aanekoski in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aanekoski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kimi Aanekoski 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.
Bear Shield throws a sloppy head kick and Aanekoski moves out of range easily.
Bear Shield throws a combination that misses

and Aanekoski counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Bear Shield wants to get back to his feet but Aanekoski is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Aanekoski postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Aanekoski lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Aanekoski distracts Bear Shield with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Aanekoski working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Aanekoski content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Aanekoski stops Bear Shield from standing up.
Bear Shield avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bear Shield wants to stand and escape but Aanekoski is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aanekoski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bear Shield tries to clinch up but Aanekoski circles away and keeps his distance.
Bear Shield misses with a combination
and Aanekoski counters with a three punch combo that has Bear Shield backing up. Bear Shield nods at Aanekoski to acknowledge the strikes.
Aanekoski ducks under a wild hook from Bear Shield.
Aanekoski looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Bear Shield is fending him off so far but Aanekoski persists. Nope, Bear Shield circles away and we're back to standing.
Bear Shield tries to close the distance and clinch but Aanekoski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Aanekoski misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kimi Aanekoski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Bear Shield shoots in but no luck this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kimi Aanekoski dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Bear Shield with a poor takedown
and Aanekoski counters with a two punch combo.
Aanekoski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Bear Shield counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Bear Shield trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Aanekoski manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aanekoski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Aanekoski cracks Bear Shield with a solid left hand.
Aanekoski in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Aanekoski throws a big right hand that misses.
Aanekoski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Aanekoski thows a big elbow that misses.
Aanekoski thows a big elbow that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bear Shield fails in his attempt to clinch.

Bear Shield darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Bear Shield missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Bear Shield thows a big elbow that misses, also allowing Aanekoski to regain full guard.
Bear Shield wants to pass the guard but Aanekoski is keeping the position.
Aanekoski bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bear Shield's guard.
Aanekoski in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Bear Shield is looking to stand up but Aanekoski isn't so interested in that idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bear Shield has momentary wrist control but Aanekoski slips an elbow through the middle.
Aanekoski postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Aanekoski thows a big elbow that misses.
Bear Shield avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Bear Shield wants to stand and escape but Aanekoski is having none of it.
Aanekoski in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Bear Shield with a poor takedown

and Aanekoski counters with a single leg into guard. Bear Shield didn't expect that.
Aanekoski throwing strikes from guard but Bear Shield blocks nicely.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aanekoski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

Bear Shield manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Jab, cross, leg kick. Nice combination by Bear Shield!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aanekoski uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Bear Shield.
Bear Shield shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Aanekoski counters with a three punch combo that has Bear Shield backing up. Bear Shield nods at Aanekoski to acknowledge the strikes.
Kimi Aanekoski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomas Bear Shield.
Bear Shield takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Bear Shield tries to clinch but Aanekoski moves away
and Aanekoski counters with a body kick that stops Bear Shield in his tracks momentarily.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Aanekoski.
Aanekoski misses the jab.
Bear Shield lands a two punch combo.
Aanekoski shoots in and drives through. Bear Shield sprawls well.
Bear Shield tests Aanekoski's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's four 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.
Aanekoski avoids a punch combination nicely.
Bear Shield throws a left and a right that both miss

and Aanekoski counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Bear Shield!
Aanekoski cracks Bear Shield with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Aanekoski thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Aanekoski throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
Aanekoski unloads with some shots from mount but Bear Shield bucks and avoids them well.
Bear Shield wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Aanekoski.
Tomas Bear Shield has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Bear Shield is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Aanekoski blocks Bear Shield's feeble attempts to strike from the bottom.

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 Kimi Aanekoski.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Aanekoski, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kimi Aanekoski!