PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Aleksi Kaurismaeki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wanderlei Simba (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Kaurismaeki
vs
Simba

200 cm
18
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

192 cm
25
220 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aleksi Kaurismaeki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wanderlei Simba!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Simba throws a shot from downtown. Kaurismaeki moves away and avoids it.
Kaurismaeki takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kaurismaeki fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Simba tries to keep at a distance but Kaurismaeki has taken the fight into the clinch.
Kaurismaeki changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Simba fights it off and pushes away nicely.
A jab from Simba does it's job there.
Simba connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Wanderlei Simba seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kaurismaeki slips under a jab from Simba.
Simba misses with a hook

and Kaurismaeki counters by moving into the clinch.
Simba looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Simba is trying to push Kaurismaeki away but Kaurismaeki has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
Simba working hard to break the clinch.
Kaurismaeki tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Simba smiles and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksi Kaurismaeki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kaurismaeki moves out of range of the strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaurismaeki takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Kaurismaeki closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Simba bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kaurismaeki's head.
Kaurismaeki moves forwards but Simba connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Kaurismaeki takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Simba scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kaurismaeki takes one to the side of the head.
Simba lands a lovely overhand right.
Jab from Simba.
Simba misses with a right hand

and Kaurismaeki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Kaurismaeki throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kaurismaeki works his way into full mount!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kaurismaeki sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simba tries to buck Kaurismaeki off but he can't manage it.
Kaurismaeki lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kaurismaeki sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kaurismaeki 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simba really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kaurismaeki. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kaurismaeki trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Kaurismaeki looking to ground and pound but Simba is blocking nicely.
Simba is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Kaurismaeki controlling from mount.
Kaurismaeki has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Simba looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksi Kaurismaeki dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Simba connects with the punch.
The fighters circle momentarily. Simba darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Simba feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kaurismaekis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
Kaurismaeki moves out of range as Simba strikes.
Simba connects with the punch.
Simba bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A left lands for Simba.
Simba might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
A punch lands to the side of Kaurismaeki 's head but he takes it in his stride.

Simba gets tackled into the cage by Kaurismaeki. Kaurismaeki maintains the clinch.
Simba wants to get back to striking at distance but Kaurismaeki won't allow it.
Kaurismaeki tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Simba just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kaurismaeki just leaning against Simba, taking a breather.
Kaurismaeki unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kaurismaeki has clasped his hands together around Simba's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.
Kaurismaeki tries to move to mount but Simba blocks the move with his legs.
The ground and pound from Kaurismaeki seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Simba tries to improve position but can't.
Kaurismaeki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Simba keeps working.
Kaurismaeki controls the position from side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kaurismaeki throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Kaurismaeki misses with an attempted head punch from side control.

Kaurismaeki looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sloppy strikes there by Kaurismaeki.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kaurismaeki trying to control the position but Simba is working away.
Simba is trying to improve his position.
Simba tries to escape but Kaurismaeki is in control.
Kaurismaeki wants to control but Simba is keeping him busy.

That's four 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.
Simba tries to control but Kaurismaeki manages to take his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kaurismaeki trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

Kaurismaeki is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksi Kaurismaeki dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Simba misses with a straight left.
Kaurismaeki takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Kaurismaeki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Simba.
Simba lands with an uppercut that bounces Kaurismaeki off the cage and back into rage.
A left and a right from Simba both land. Nice combination.
Simba cracks Kaurismaeki with a good jab.
Simba misses with a right hand
and Kaurismaeki counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Simba misses the jab.
Kaurismaeki walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Kaurismaeki looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Kaurismaeki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Kaurismaeki takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Kaurismaeki fails to land the takedown.
Simba leaves Kaurismaeki with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Aleksi Kaurismaeki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Simba connects with a right hand. Kaurismaeki shakes it off.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kaurismaeki throws a sloppy head kick
and Simba counters with a nice uppercut.
Nice shot by Simba.
Simba lands with an uppercut that bounces Kaurismaeki off the cage and back into rage.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Simba.
Simba takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Kaurismaeki on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Simba scores with a crisp jab that stopped Kaurismaeki in his tracks.
Simba fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Simba lunges at Kaurismaeki with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kaurismaeki's hand.
Simba bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kaurismaeki's head.
Simba moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Simba lands with a hook. Kaurismaeki tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Aleksi Kaurismaeki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kaurismaeki avoids the head kick by Simba.
Kaurismaeki takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Kaurismaeki looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Kaurismaeki takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Simba pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Wanderlei Simba is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Simba bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kaurismaeki's head backwards.
Simba scores with a jab.
Jab by Simba.
Simba goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Simba lands with a hook. Kaurismaeki tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Simba scores with a nice right hand.
Simba connects with a right hand. Kaurismaeki shakes it off.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Simba fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Wanderlei Simba seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Simba connects with a looping right hand.
Simba lets the fists fly and connects with a left straight followed by a right hook.
Simba lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
Simba lands a jab to the head.
Kaurismaeki takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Simba lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Simba scores with a punch to the head.
Simba pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Simba connects with a looping right hand.
Simba works the jab nicely.
Simba slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kaurismaeki misses with a kick to the body
and Simba counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Simba scores with a sloppy right hand. Kaurismaeki should have avoided that one.
An inside leg kick lands from Simba.
Kaurismaeki closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Simba fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Kaurismaeki on the side of the head.
A punch lands to the side of Kaurismaeki 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Nice straight punches there by Simba. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Simba.
Kaurismaeki's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Simba connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kaurismaeki scrambles back to his feet.
Simba lands with a straight right. Kaurismaeki didn't see that one coming.
A decent looking cross lands there for Simba.
Simba tests Kaurismaeki's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kaurismaeki closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Simba feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Kaurismaekis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Simba connects with a leg kick. Kaurismaeki looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Kaurismaeki takes a jab right on the kisser.
Wanderlei Simba has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Simba bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Simba throws a shot to the body.
Simba scores with a jab. Kaurismaeki acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kaurismaeki on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Simba takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Simba scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Simba swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Kaurismaeki.
Simba works the jab nicely.
Simba connects with the punch.
Simba lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice jab there from Simba.
Simba lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
A jab from Simba finds it's way through Kaurismaeki's defenses.
Aleksi Kaurismaeki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Simba bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kaurismaeki's head.

And that's the end of the fight!
Wanderlei Simba comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kaurismaeki 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:28

The fight is ruled a draw!