PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Rowan Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilkka Laitinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laitinen is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: AC/DC - Thunderstruck. Ilkka Laitinen will no doubt be looking to use his reach advantage to good effect.

Stevenson
vs
Laitinen

166 cm
30
142 lbs
9 - 6 - 0

177 cm
42
165 lbs
42 - 25 - 0

Great wrestler
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class 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 - 0, fighting out of London, Rowan Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 42 - 25 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilkka Laitinen!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, William Gold and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Stevenson throws a sloppy head kick
and Laitinen counters with a low kick, right behind Stevenson 's knee.

Stevenson is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Laitinen's half guard.
Stevenson wants to control but Laitinen is keeping him busy.

Stevenson is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Laitinen has managed to free his arm - good work.
Stevenson slows the pace down in half guard.
Stevenson winds up and cracks Laitinen with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laitinen is trying to stand up here but Stevenson is controlling him well.
Stevenson 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.
Laitinen is looking for a sweep. Stevenson is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Stevenson throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson working over Laitinen with some ground and pound. Laitinen looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Stevenson wants to free his trapped foot but Laitinen is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Stevenson looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
Laitinen is staying active underneath Stevenson, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Stevenson sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Stevenson looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Laitinen with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Stevenson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stevenson is trying to control. Laitinen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Stevenson wants to pass the guard but Laitinen is defending well.
Stevenson missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Laitinen regains full guard. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stevenson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Stevenson accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stevenson is looking to work some ground and pound but Laitinen has wrist control.
Stevenson lands a couple of elbows.
Stevenson loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Stevenson with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stevenson looking to pass the guard.
Laitinen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Stevenson won't allow Laitinen to get back to his feet.
Stevenson is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Stevenson postures up in Laitinen's guard and throws a big left but Laitinen blocks it.
Stevenson throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Stevenson throwing strikes from guard but Laitinen blocks nicely.
Stevenson controls from within his opponent's guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Stevenson throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Laitinen's head.
Laitinen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Laitinen wants it to stay on the feet.

Stevenson gets a takedown into half guard.
Laitinen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stevenson.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevenson thows a huge punch but Laitinen dodges it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen pushes Stevenson off looking to stand but Stevenson dives back in and keeps control.
Laitinen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stevenson.
Stevenson throwing shots but Laitinen is blocking nicely.
Stevenson thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Stevenson prevents Laitinen from improving his position.
Stevenson lands strikes from half guard.
Stevenson is trying to control the action in half guard but Laitinen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Stevenson is thwarting Laitinen's attempts to control the position.
Stevenson sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Laitinen defending well though.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stevenson trying to control from half guard but Laitinen is working away.
Laitinen looks like he's trying to stand up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rowan Stevenson dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Stevenson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Stevenson is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Laitinen can do to turn this around?
A head kick misses from Stevenson.
Stevenson throws a leg kick but Laitinen checks it.
Stevenson tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Laitinen defends well and Stevenson ends up having to push Laitinen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch but Laitinen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Stevenson cracks Laitinen with a good jab.
Laitinen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice takedown defense from Laitinen. No joy for Stevenson on that attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laitinen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Stevenson has closed the distance and engaged Laitinen in a clinch.
Laitinen is pressed up against the cage. Stevenson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Laitinen down to the mat. Laitinen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rowan Stevenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stevenson avoids the body shot from Laitinen.

Stevenson rushes Laitinen and presses him up against the cage.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Stevenson here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laitinen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stevenson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Laitinen is fending him off so far but Stevenson persists. Nope, Laitinen circles away and we're back to standing.
Stevenson fails with a takedown attempt.
Stevenson missing with a left hand there. Laitinen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.
Stevenson bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Laitinen's head backwards.
Stevenson misses with a looping right.
Laitinen moves out of range of the strikes.
Laitinen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Stevenson throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Laitinen's waist but Laitinen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Stevenson off to one side.
Laitinen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown but Laitinen shows good takedown defense.
A big right from Stevenson misses.
Laitinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Stevenson moves away.
Ilkka Laitinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Laitinen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Stevenson on the side of the head.
Laitinen throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Stevenson lands a leg kick that knocks Laitinen off balance momentarily.
Laitinen leaves Stevenson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stevenson blocks a low kick nicely.
A slapping leg kick lands for Laitinen.
Laitinen throws a low kick but Stevenson avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stevenson circles away quickly and effectively.
Stevenson swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.
Stevenson throws a low kick, looking for Laitinen's leg but Laitinen calmly moves out of range.
Laitinen appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Laitinen throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
A bone on bone clash there as Stevenson blocks the leg kick.
Stevenson tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Laitinen leaves Stevenson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Stevenson pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Stevenson tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Laitinen tries a head kick but it misses.
Laitinen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Stevenson throws a sloppy head kick and Laitinen moves out of range easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen tests Stevenson's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Laitinen lands with a kick to the ribs.
Stevenson is looking to clinch.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Stevenson is defended easily by Laitinen.
Stevenson tries to close the distance and clinch up but Laitinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Laitinen misses with a body shot.
Ilkka Laitinen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Laitinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Laitinen takes a swing at Stevenson's ribcage but misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilkka Laitinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Stevenson misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Laitinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Stevenson manages to avoid it.
Laitinen scores with a leg kick.
Stevenson tried to score with a low kick but Laitinen checks it.

Stevenson fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Laitinen, pushing him back against the cage.

Stevenson turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Stevenson wants to lay and pray for a moment but Laitinen keeps working.
Stevenson throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevenson tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Laitinen wants to get back to his feet but Stevenson drags him back down.
Laitinen tries to bench press Stevenson off him but Stevenson keeps the position.
Stevenson throws a strike aimed at the side of Laitinen's head but Laitinen avoids it well.
Laitinen wants to control but Stevenson postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson wants to control but Laitinen is keeping him busy.
Stevenson working the head with strikes.
Stevenson working the head with strikes.
Stevenson working the ground and pound but Laitinen is defending the strikes.
Stevenson working away.
Stevenson working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Stevenson trying to control the position but Laitinen is working away.
Laitinen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Laitinen explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Laitinen gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen just misses with a punch to the body.
Stevenson tries to counter with a takedown but Laitinen is quick to defend against it.
Laitinen sizes up Stevenson with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.
Stevenson shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Laitinen as he jumps to the side.
A leg kick checked by Stevenson.
Good shot there by Stevenson.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Nice defenses there by Laitinen.
Laitinen misses with a body kick.
Laitinen takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
A looping hook to the body misses from Laitinen. Stevenson does a little dance to reset his feet.
Laitinen lands a nice shot to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Stevenson. Stevenson obviously looking to wear him down.
Laitinen lands a nice shot to the body.
Laitinen leaves Stevenson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Laitinen scores with a leg kick.
Stevenson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.

Stevenson has closed the distance and engaged Laitinen in a clinch.
Laitinen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from Laitinen.
Stevenson is trying to drag Laitinen to the mat but Laitinen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rowan Stevenson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laitinen is pressed up against the cage. Stevenson has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Laitinen down to the mat. Laitinen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson thuds a left hand into Laitinen's body.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Stevenson checks a leg kick.
Laitinen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.

Stevenson is rocked!
BAM! Laitinen delivers a spinning backfist that drops Stevenson like a ragdoll! This is all oooooveeeer! He was out before he hit the ground!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 3, we have a winner by way of KO (Spinning Backfist). Ilkka Laitinen!
An out of breath and clearly excited Ilkka Laitinen thanked Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry) for their help and support (and free stuff they sent him).
In defeat, Rowan Stevenson stepped up to the mic, saying 'No wonder I'm next on the chopping block. Would you hire me? I wouldn't!'.