PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joonatan Sievinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jorma Soini (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Soini has chosen I Don't Wanna Stop as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Sievinen
vs
Soini

180 cm
20
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

193 cm
22
220 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Counter striker
Experienced

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joonatan Sievinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jorma Soini!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Sievinen fails with a takedown attempt.
Soini takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Sievinen could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Soini shoots in for a double leg but Sievinen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Sievinen throws a head kick but Soini moves out of range.
Sievinen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Joonatan Sievinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Sievinen clinches with his opponent.
Sievinen digs a right hand into Soini's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Soini's gas tank.
Sievinen wants to take the fight to the mat but Soini manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Soini stops a takedown attempt from Sievinen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Joonatan Sievinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Sievinen.
Soini is defending well against a takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soini wants a takedown but no success here.
Soini is trying to pull guard but Sievinen has him pressed against the cage.
Soini tries for a takedown but Sievinen manages to get underhooks.
Soini gets underhooks to prevent Sievinen's takedown attempt.

Sievinen jumps guard.
Sievinen trying to control the position here.
Soini prevents Sievinen from getting back to his feet.
Soini 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.
Soini wants to pass the guard but Sievinen is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soini is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Sievinen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Sievinen tries to work over Soini's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Soini has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Sievinen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Soini tries for a takedown but Sievinen manages to get underhooks.
A body shot lands from Sievinen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Soini wants a takedown.
Sievinen pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

Sievinen pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Soini pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sievinen is keeping the position for now.
Sievinen wants to stand but Soini is controlling the position.
Soini controlling from the top position.
Sievinen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Soini's guard.
Sievinen prevents Soini from getting back to his feet.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Soini can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sievinen tries to stand but Soini is controlling from the bottom.
Sievinen tries to free his leg and advance position but Soini is retaining full guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

Sievinen stands and steps away. Soini gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
No joy there for Sievinen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Sievinen looks to land a combination but Soini avoids it well.
Sievinen is breathing heavily.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Sievinen closes the distance and clinches.
Soini looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joonatan Sievinen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Sievinen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Soini, pushing him back against the cage.
Sievinen gets underhooks to prevent Soini's takedown attempt.
Sievinen is trying to drag Soini to the mat but Soini just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Sievinen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Soini pulls his leg out and moves away.
Sievinen motions for Soini to come forward. Sievinen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Soini misses with the combination.
Sievinen misses with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sievinen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Sievinen motions for Soini to come forward. Sievinen throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.

Sievinen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Soini can't get the takedown.
Soini drops down looking for an ankle pick but Sievinen pulls his leg out and moves away.
Joonatan Sievinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorma Soini.
Sievinen tries to bum rush Soini with a series of wild strikes but Soini uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Sievinen digs a good body shot into Soini's ribs.

Sievinen pushes Soini up against the cage in a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sievinen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Soini after a bit of a struggle.

Sievinen jumps into guard, dragging Soini to the mat.
Sievinen wants to stand up but Soini is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Soini is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jorma Soini has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

Sievinen gets a clinch.

Sievinen manages to pull guard.
Soini postures up in Sievinen's guard and throws a big left but Sievinen blocks it.
Soini trying to control but Sievinen is working from the bottom.
Soini slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Let's hope that Soini has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Jorma Soini wasn't active enough on the ground.
Sievinen stuffs the takedown.

Sievinen has taken the fight to the clinch.

Sievinen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Sloppy strikes from Sievinen. Those never looked like landing.

Sievinen moves into range and clinches up with Soini.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Soini has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Sievinen is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Soini wants to take the fight to the mat but Sievinen manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Sievinen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joonatan Sievinen dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Sievinen does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.

Sievinen clinches.

Sievinen breaks from the clinch.
Sievinen tries to land a front kick but Soini steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Sievinen tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Sievinen throws a front kick aimed at Soini's knee but Soini avoids it well.
Sievinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Soini moves away.
Joonatan Sievinen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Sievinen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Sievinen clinches up against the cage.

Sievinen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Sievinen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Soini not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Soini wants to control from the top but Sievinen keeps moving.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Soini content to stall in guard here.

Jorma Soini has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Sievinen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sievinen throws a lazy body kick

and Soini counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Soini trying to pass the guard but Sievinen defending well.
Soini keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soini prevents Sievinen from improving his position.
Soini keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Sievinen tries to kick Soini off but Soini keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.

Sievinen pushes Soini off and gets back to his feet.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Sievinen attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Soini dives in and grabs Sievinen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Sievinen pushes down on Soini's head and hops out.
Sievinen throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.

Sievinen darts in and clinches Soini up against the cage.
Soini blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Soini tries to score a body lock takedown but Sievinen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sievinen tries to throw a body punch but Soini avoids it by throwing Sievinen back against the cage.
Soini tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Joonatan Sievinen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jorma Soini.
Sievinen tries to score a body lock takedown but Soini shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Sievinen goes for a takedown attempt but Soini pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Soini misses with a two punch combination.

Sievinen moves into range and clinches up with Soini.
Soini wants to take the fight to the mat but Sievinen manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Sievinen tries to work over Soini's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Sievinen looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sievinen is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Soini is defending well.
Sievinen prevents a takedown attempt there.
Joonatan Sievinen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Soini wants a takedown.

Sievinen pulls guard.
Soini not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Soini stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sievinen swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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 Joonatan Sievinen.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Sievinen, 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 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joonatan Sievinen!
Joonatan Sievinen decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.