PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rainer Varvaskoukku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Atlas Kivi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kivi is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Metallica - Ride the Lightning. Atlas Kivi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Varvaskoukku
vs
Kivi

164 cm
24
147 lbs
9 - 6 - 2

175 cm
24
160 lbs
12 - 5 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 9 - 6 - 2, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rainer Varvaskoukku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Atlas Kivi!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Aleksandr Martynov and Aleksei Zolotukhin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kivi connects with a body shot.
A jab from Kivi misses.
Kivi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Varvaskoukku manages to avoid it.
Varvaskoukku cracks Kivi with an open hand slap.
Kivi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Varvaskoukku sprawls well. Varvaskoukku wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kivi gets slowly back to his feet.
Good work by Varvaskoukku as he checks the leg kick.
A jab from Kivi misses.
Kivi throws a big shot that misses.

Varvaskoukku changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Kivi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Varvaskoukku misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Varvaskoukku trying to control the position but Kivi is working away.
Kivi is trying to improve his position.
Kivi is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Kivi defending against the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivi parries the strikes from Varvaskoukku easily there. Varvaskoukku is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Kivi to escape.
Varvaskoukku throwing strikes but Kivi manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Varvaskoukku might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Varvaskoukku is trying to get back to half guard.
Varvaskoukku gets back to half guard.
Varvaskoukku has a hand on Kivi's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Kivi takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Kivi lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Varvaskoukku 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.
Varvaskoukku is wriggling around trying to escape.
Varvaskoukku is squirming around, avoiding Kivi's attempts to control the action.
Kivi avoids the attempt from Varvaskoukku to control.
Varvaskoukku is looking to improve his position but Kivi isn't that keen on the idea.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varvaskoukku is squirming around, avoiding Kivi's attempts to control the action.
Kivi breaks from Varvaskoukku's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Kivi landing strikes, looking to finish!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Varvaskoukku regains half guard.
Kivi sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Varvaskoukku defending well though.

Kivi seems to be looking for submissions.
Kivi is looking to advance position but Varvaskoukku won't allow it.
The fighters are battling for position here. Varvaskoukku manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

Kivi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Kivi landing with the ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varvaskoukku controls Kivi momentarily but Kivi frees himself.
Kivi lands a couple of digs.
Varvaskoukku preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Varvaskoukku is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Varvaskoukku keeping moving, preventing Kivi from controlling successfully.
Kivi distracts Varvaskoukku with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Kivi trying to control the position from guard on top but Varvaskoukku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kivi scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Varvaskoukku is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Varvaskoukku is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kivi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Varvaskoukku.
Varvaskoukku wants to take a breather but Kivi is having none of it.
Kivi slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Kivi utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kivi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Varvaskoukku!
Varvaskoukku is looking to improve his position but Kivi isn't that keen on the idea.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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 Rainer Varvaskoukku will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kivi works the jab nicely.
A shot to the liver by Varvaskoukku. Beautiful body shot.
Kivi takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Varvaskoukku steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kivi.
Varvaskoukku tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Kivi swivels and escapes.
Kivi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Varvaskoukku circles away.
Varvaskoukku swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Kivi lands with a cross.
Kivi changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Varvaskoukku tries to avoid it but Kivi manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Varvaskoukku to the ground. Varvaskoukku escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Kivi keeps the fight on the outside.
Varvaskoukku defending well as Kivi loads up on a big left hand.
Kivi doesn't succeed with the takedown
letting Varvaskoukku counter with a right hand.
Rainer Varvaskoukku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Atlas Kivi.
Varvaskoukku slips under a jab.
Kivi is looking to score with low kicks.
Kivi fails to land the takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivi scores with a three punch combo!
Kivi throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Kivi shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kivi showed some decent athleticism there.
Varvaskoukku gets full guard.
Kivi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kivi trying to control but Varvaskoukku is working from the bottom.
Kivi throwing strikes from guard but Varvaskoukku blocks nicely.
Kivi postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Varvaskoukku has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Kivi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Varvaskoukku is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kivi is not content to let Varvaskoukku control the position.
Kivi avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Varvaskoukku.
Varvaskoukku content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Kivi gets back to full guard.
Varvaskoukku is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kivi keeping moving, preventing Varvaskoukku from controlling successfully.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Varvaskoukku's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varvaskoukku throws a strike but Kivi rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kivi preventing the sweep.
Kivi throwing strikes from guard but Varvaskoukku blocks nicely.
Kivi wants to control from the top but Varvaskoukku keeps moving.

Kivi avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Varvaskoukku looking to control but Kivi passes into half guard.
Varvaskoukku gets back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivi's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Varvaskoukku is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Kivi defends well.
Kivi passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Varvaskoukku tries to bench press Kivi off him but Kivi keeps the position.
Kivi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Varvaskoukku keeps working.
Varvaskoukku tries to get back to half guard but can't.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Varvaskoukku regains half guard.
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 Rainer Varvaskoukku will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Kivi looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Varvaskoukku is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

Varvaskoukku bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
Kivi takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Varvaskoukku is trying to ground and pound but Kivi uses the momentary lack of control by Varvaskoukku to regain half guard.
Varvaskoukku throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Kivi to regain full guard.
Varvaskoukku postures up.
Varvaskoukku wants to control from the top but Kivi keeps moving.
Varvaskoukku throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kivi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varvaskoukku stopping the sweep attempt from Kivi.
Kivi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Kivi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Varvaskoukku in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Varvaskoukku throwing strikes but missing.
Varvaskoukku postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Varvaskoukku is looking to work some ground and pound but Kivi has wrist control.

Kivi has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Varvaskoukku is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kivi.
Kivi wants to control but Varvaskoukku postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kivi is looking to regain half guard here but Varvaskoukku keeps moving and retains side control.
Kivi gets back to half guard.
Varvaskoukku is trying to control. Kivi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Varvaskoukku is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant 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.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Varvaskoukku working the head and body with strikes.
Rainer Varvaskoukku overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivi is controlling Varvaskoukku's trapped leg to prevent Varvaskoukku from advancing to side control.
Varvaskoukku is pressing down on Kivi's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kivi is holding on for now.
Kivi is pressing down on Varvaskoukku's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Varvaskoukku throwing strikes but missing.
Kivi preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Varvaskoukku throwing strikes from guard but Kivi blocks nicely.
Kivi is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Varvaskoukku is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varvaskoukku has hold of Kivi's hands but Kivi slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Varvaskoukku is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Varvaskoukku taking some punishment here, with Kivi in his half guard.
Varvaskoukku has hold of Kivi's hands but Kivi slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Varvaskoukku slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Varvaskoukku looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Kivi puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kivi thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Varvaskoukku's head.
Kivi looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kivi wants to control but Varvaskoukku is keeping him busy.

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 Rainer Varvaskoukku.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Varvaskoukku, 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 Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Rainer Varvaskoukku!
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight for Rainer Varvaskoukku!
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight for Rainer Varvaskoukku!

Rainer Varvaskoukku wins by unanimous decision!
An out of breath Rainer Varvaskoukku thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.