PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kenneth Smith (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and mikki Hiiri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Smith
vs
Hiiri

180 cm
22
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 0

170 cm
18
160 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Big heart

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

The Fire Inside
Monster MMA

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 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kenneth Smith!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, mikki Hiiri!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Hiiri gets a takedown into half guard.
Hiiri tries to stand and escape but Smith is controlling the position.
Hiiri is looking to take a break and control but Smith is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Hiiri is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Smith is looking to improve his position.
Hiiri seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Smith is trying to control but can't.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
A jab from Hiiri misses.
Smith moves out of range as Hiiri throws a body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hiiri closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Smith to the mat! Smith manages to get full guard.
Hiiri not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Hiiri trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.
Hiiri throws a big right hand that misses.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Smith escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Hiiri gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Hiiri seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hiiri trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Hiiri looking to pass the guard.
Hiiri stands and throws Smith's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Hiiri looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Smith takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Smith is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiiri trying to control the position but Smith is working away.
Smith is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Hiiri's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Smith regains full guard. Nicely done.

Hiiri drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Hiiri jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Hiiri stays in close to Smith's body and controls the position.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiiri stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Smith swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Smith is trying to keep Hiiri in close.
Hiiri has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Smith is proving hard to escape from.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hiiri.
Hiiri wants to pass the guard but Smith is keeping the position.
Hiiri must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Smith is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Smith is breathing heavily.
Hiiri tries to free his leg and advance position but Smith is retaining full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

mikki Hiiri dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Hiiri scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hiiri tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Hiiri is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Smith is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Hiiri tries to score with some ground and pound. Smith controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Hiiri trying to control the position but Smith is working away.
Smith avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Hiiri.
Smith is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Hiiri off and has taken his back!
Hiiri can't escape the position.
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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hiiri manages to reverse the position and now he's in Smith's guard. Nice work there by Hiiri.
Smith utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Hiiri working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hiiri trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Smith manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Hiiri manages to get himself to full guard.
Hiiri wants to stand and escape but Smith is having none of it.
Smith wants to pass the guard but Hiiri is keeping the position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Hiiri is on top in guard.
Smith working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Hiiri.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Smith throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Smith is working an open guard so Hiiri takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.

Hiiri drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Hiiri trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

Smith is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Hiiri trying to control but Smith is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hiiri is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Hiiri preventing the sweep.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Hiiri passes into half guard.
Smith wants to control but Hiiri is keeping busy.
Smith is not content to let Hiiri control the position.
mikki Hiiri has got the better of the ground game so far.
Hiiri lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Smith wants to get back to full guard.

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.
Hiiri trying to pass the guard but Smith defending well.
Hiiri seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Smith does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

Hiiri is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.
The fighters are battling for position here. Smith manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Hiiri trying to control the position from guard on top but Smith is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Smith has his foot on Hiiri's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Hiiri works his way back into a safe position though.
Hiiri works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Hiiri missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Smith is not content to let Hiiri control the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

mikki Hiiri showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hiiri scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hiiri wants to control but Smith is keeping him busy.
Smith tries to buck Hiiri off but Hiiri is having none of it.
Smith takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Hiiri trying to control the position but Smith is working away.

Despite being in the dominant position, mikki Hiiri just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hiiri shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Smith pinned against the cage. Smith gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Smith scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Hiiri is trying to improve his position.
Smith scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Hiiri to see if he's OK.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hiiri regains half guard.
Hiiri wants to improve his position but Smith is controlling well.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Hiiri can do anything to dispel that myth.
Hiiri is staying active underneath Smith, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Hiiri on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Hiiri trying to control from the bottom.

Smith is looking for a kimura but Hiiri is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Smith to get the leverage.

Smith is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Hiiri doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Smith.
Hiiri is looking for a sweep. Smith is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
A jab from Smith misses.
Hiiri has his takedown stuffed

and Smith counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Hiiri looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Smith puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Hiiri flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Hiiri tries to get to full guard but Smith has control of the leg.

Smith is working for a kimura but Hiiri is defending it quite comfortably.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hiiri is trying to control but can't.

Smith is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Hiiri trying to control here.
Hiiri is pressing down on Smith's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Kenneth Smith has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hiiri doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kenneth Smith showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Hiiri has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... mikki Hiiri!