PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Ali (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jari Litmannen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ali
vs
Litmannen

205 cm
25
270 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

200 cm
18
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rocky Ali!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jari Litmannen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Litmannen misses the target.
Ali takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Ali takes the fight into the clinch.
Litmannen is trying to break the clinch but Ali has him pressed against the cage.
Litmannen tries to break the clinch but Ali is controlling the position.

Ali gets control of Litmannen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ali will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Ali is trying to keep Litmannen in close.
Ali looking for a sweep. Not yet Ali, not yet.
Litmannen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Ali tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's one minute gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Ali shoots in for a takedown but Litmannen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ali is trying hard to land a takedown here. Litmannen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Litmannen's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ali under the eye.
Ali shoots in and drives through. Litmannen sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Ali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A slow jab from Litmannen misses its intended target.
Litmannen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Litmannen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Ali.
Litmannen throws a big shot that misses.
Ali looks for a takedown but Litmannen sprawls well.
A jab from Litmannen does it's job there.
Litmannen catches Ali with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Ali ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Ali tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Litmannen swivels and escapes.
Nice cross by Litmannen.
Litmannen 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.
Litmannen lands a head shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Litmannen lands an overhand right.
Litmannen connects with the punch.
Ali looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Litmannen is fending him off so far but Ali persists. Nope, Litmannen circles away and we're back to standing.
Litmannen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Litmannen lands a slapping body shot.
Ali misses with a few strikes there.
Ali is breathing heavily.
Ali changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Litmannen tries to avoid it but Ali manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Litmannen to the ground. Litmannen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Litmannen misses with a wild combination.
Litmannen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Litmannen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ali tries to score a power double leg takedown but Litmannen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ali somewhat.
Litmannen scores with a nice head shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Litmannen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Litmannen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ali on the side of the head.
Jari Litmannen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ali lands a jab to the nose.
Ali shoots in and drives through. Litmannen sprawls well.
Litmannen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ali fails with a takedown attempt.
Litmannen jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Litmannen scores with a jab to the body.
Donk. Litmannen catches Ali right on the button with a cross.
Ali fails with a takedown attempt.
Litmannen cracks Ali with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Litmannen lands a body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Litmannen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Litmannen lands a jab to Ali's midsection.
Litmannen is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Ali had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Ali on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Litmannen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
A cross from Litmannen lands.
Litmannen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Ali takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Litmannen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ali at a distance.
Jab, jab by Litmannen - just one landing.
Ali takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Jari Litmannen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice uppercut there from Litmannen.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ali takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Litmannen lands a nice looking body shot.
Ali's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Litmannen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Ali scrambles back to his feet.
Nice straight punches there by Litmannen. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Litmannen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

A shot to the liver by Litmannen. Beautiful body shot.
Litmannen throws a combination that misses

and Ali holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

Ali pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jari Litmannen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Litmannen throws a body punch but Ali moves out of range.
Litmannen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Ali steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Litmannen.
Litmannen stuffs the takedown.
Litmannen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ali manages to avoid it.
Ali shoots in for a double leg but Litmannen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Litmannen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ali gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Litmannen.

Ali takes the fight into the clinch.
Litmannen swings away with an uppercut that misses.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Litmannen gets underhooks to prevent Ali's takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Ali. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Ali escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ali lands with a thumping leg kick.
Ali slips a straight right by Litmannen.
Litmannen paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Litmannen looks to land a right hand but Ali moved out of range.
Nice cross by Litmannen.
Ali shoots in and drives through. Litmannen sprawls well.
Ali needs to keep his hands up - Litmannen had a free shot at his head there.
Litmannen stuffs the takedown.
Litmannen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ali at a distance.
Ali is trying hard to land a takedown here. Litmannen sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Litmannen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Litmannen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Ali is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ali throws a hook to the side of Litmannen's head but Litmannen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Litmannen lands a glancing blow to the side of Ali's head.
Litmannen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Litmannen dips to his left and cracks Ali with an uppercut!
Litmannen throws the left hand but Ali avoids the punch easily.
Litmannen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ali looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Ali takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Ali tries to close the distance and clinch but Litmannen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ali shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Litmannen defends it nicely.
Litmannen scores with a jab. Ali acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Rocky Ali is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Litmannen scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Litmannen lands a nice looking body shot.
Litmannen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Litmannen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Ali has time to react.
Ali has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Litmannen finds it's way round the side to connect with Ali's head.
Litmannen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Ali takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Litmannen dips to his left and cracks Ali with an uppercut!
Litmannen lands with a good body shot.
A nice combination there by Litmannen.
Ali slips a straight right by Litmannen.
A punch combination from Litmannen misses.
Litmannen stuns Ali with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
A lazy left from Litmannen finds it's target.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Litmannen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Litmannen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Litmannen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Litmannen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Ali.
Litmannen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ali's head backwards.
Litmannen jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Litmannen lands a nice shot that snaps Ali's head back.
Litmannen misses with a jab, cross combination.
Ali shoots in but no luck this time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nice body punch from Litmannen.
Litmannen lands with an uppercut that bounces Ali off the cage and back into range.
Ali walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Ali walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jari Litmannen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Ali takes a jab right on the kisser.
Ali uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Litmannen.
Litmannen misses with a wild combination.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Ali.
Ali shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Litmannen but Litmannen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Ali walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Litmannen connects with a body shot that sends Ali's belly button to the back.
Litmannen scores with a jab to the body.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Litmannen lands a lovely overhand right.
Litmannen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Litmannen misses with a wild combination.
Litmannen slaps away a takedown attempt from Ali, before circling back to the center of the mat.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rocky Ali. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ali has closed the distance and engaged Litmannen in a clinch.
Litmannen is trying to break the clinch but Ali has him pressed against the cage.

Ali pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Ali.
Nice sprawl there from Litmannen as Ali shoots in.
Litmannen lands a glancing blow to the side of Ali's head.
Litmannen swats away the attempt to clinch by Ali.
Litmannen slaps away a takedown attempt from Ali, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Nice body punch from Litmannen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Litmannen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Danga de danga de dang - Litmannen scores with a four punch combination!
Jab by Litmannen.
Ali takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Ali needs to keep his hands up - Litmannen had a free shot at his head there.
A slow jab from Litmannen misses its intended target.
Litmannen scores with a nice head shot.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ali shoots in looking for a takedown but Litmannen manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Ali's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Litmannen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Litmannen lands the left hand.
Litmannen scores with a three punch combo!
Litmannen lands a jab-cross combination.
Ali uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Litmannen.
Litmannen works the jab nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ali needs to keep his hands up - Litmannen had a free shot at his head there.
Litmannen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Litmannen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ali moves away.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Litmannen.
Ali shoots in but no luck this time.
Ali takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Litmannen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Ali doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Litmannen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Good shot there by Litmannen.
Ali is looking to clinch.
Litmannen lands with a good body shot.
A decent looking cross lands there for Litmannen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Litmannen looks to land a right hand but Ali moved out of range.
Litmannen misses with a hook. Ali ducked under it nicely.
Ali throws a nice head kick!
Ali takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Litmannen scores with a hook.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Litmannen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Litmannen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Ali on the side of the head.
Litmannen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ali looks for a takedown but Litmannen sprawls well.
Litmannen scores with a jab to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Litmannen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Rocky Ali has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Litmannen tests Ali's chin there with a solid looking shot.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jari Litmannen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Litmannen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jari Litmannen!