PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sako Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Akuhisa Kimyasa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Akuhisa Kimyasa will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Li
vs
Kimyasa

165 cm
26
165 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

185 cm
26
135 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Experienced

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sako Li!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Akuhisa Kimyasa!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Li scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Li closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Li lands in his opponent's guard.
Kimyasa keeping full guard, as Li tries to pass.

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

Li avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Kimyasa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Li defends well.
Li slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.

Li tries for a kimura but Kimyasa is defending well.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kimyasa struggling a bit here.

Li tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Li has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Li looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
You can see the frustration on Kimyasa's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Li tries to move to mount but Kimyasa blocks the move with his legs.

Li looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Li is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Kimyasa is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kimyasa tries to bench press Li off him but Li keeps the position.
Li works to advance to full mount. Kimyasa defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kimyasa wants to control but Li is having none of it.

Li working for a guillotine from mount but Kimyasa is in no mood to give up.

Li is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kimyasa can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.

Li is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Kimyasa to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Kimyasa shrugs it off.

Li goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Kimyasa turns into him and now he's in Li's guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kimyasa passes Li's left leg - he's now in half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Kimyasa is working for a submission of some sort.
Li is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Li looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Li regains full guard. Nicely done.

Kimyasa has gone for a leg lock! Li slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kimyasa's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Li drops back looking for a leg! Kimyasa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kimyasa manages to kick Li off! Li jumps back into Kimyasa's guard.
Li wants to pass the guard but Kimyasa is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Sako Li dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Kimyasa tries to move into range but Li moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Li fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Li leaves Kimyasa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kimyasa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Li scores with a jab. Kimyasa acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Kimyasa takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Li shoots in for a double leg but Kimyasa sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Li gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Kimyasa counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sako Li. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kimyasa is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Li is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Li has escaped and now he's on top!

Li is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Kimyasa is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Kimyasa has escaped and now he's on top!

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Li drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Li jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Li could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.

Li avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.

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

Kimyasa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Li doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Li manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kimyasa is breathing heavily.

Li drops back looking for a leg! Kimyasa is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kimyasa manages to kick Li off! Li jumps back into Kimyasa's guard.

Kimyasa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Li defends it easily.
Li trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Li drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Li jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Li stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kimyasa swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kimyasa is trying to control the position but Li postures up.
Li is pushing down on Kimyasa's leg trying to pass to half guard. Kimyasa is fighting to maintain full guard but Li has managed to sneak the leg through.

Kimyasa looking for submissions off his back.

Li is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Kimyasa is just riding it out for now. Li eventually gives up the hold.

Li seems to be looking for submissions.

Li is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.

Kimyasa makes his way to full guard, as Li worked for a kimura.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li tries to free his leg and advance position but Kimyasa is retaining full guard.

Kimyasa is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.
Li stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kimyasa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Li pushing down on Kimyasa's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kimyasa actively working from the bottom here.

Li looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Sako Li will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Li tests Kimyasa's chin there with a solid looking shot.

Li darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Li wants to pass to mount but Kimyasa is defending the position.
Kimyasa is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Li's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Li's back!
Li might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Kimyasa seems to be going for a rear naked choke. He has an arm under Li's chin but Li turns very nicely into Kimyasa's guard. Good BJJ skills being displayed there by Li.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kimyasa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Li gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kimyasa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Li got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kimyasa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Li has managed to get both his arms back between Kimyasa's legs - danger averted.
Kimyasa is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Li wants to pass the guard but Kimyasa is keeping the position.

Li drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Kimyasa dives on top into guard.

Kimyasa looking to improve position, pressing down on Li's thigh with his hand. Li seems to be working to lock up a guilotine though... is Kimyasa paying attention? Apparently not! He's locked it up tight! Kimyasa's face has turned purple! Will he tap? Will he! YES! He's tapped! Li picked his opening and made it count! Great finish!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Sako Li!