PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kenji Oja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilmari Rannikko (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.

Oja
vs
Rannikko

188 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
210 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Kenji Oja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ilmari Rannikko!
The judges for this bout are Michael Johnstone, Dirk Anderson and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rannikko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rannikko, right into the meat.
Rannikko tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Oja manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Oja misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rannikko.
Rannikko swings for the body but Oja moves out of range.
It looked like Oja was trying to counter with a body shot coming off that last attack from Rannikko.
Rannikko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Oja sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Oja throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Rannikko.
Rannikko tried to score with a low kick but Oja checks it.
Oja tries to counter with a takedown but Rannikko is quick to defend against it.
Rannikko tries to score with a low kick but Oja moves his leg out of the way.
Oja went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Rannikko connects with a leg kick. Oja looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Rannikko showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Oja.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Oja loads up on a big right hand but Rannikko slips the punch.
Oja on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Rannikko tries to clinch up
letting Oja counter with a right hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters circle momentarily. Rannikko darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Oja throws a series of punches but Rannikko moves out of range.
Rannikko fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Oja.
Oja swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Oja slips a jab from Rannikko.
Ilmari Rannikko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rannikko chopping away at his opponent's legs.
The crowd cheers as Rannikko lands an impressive looking overhand right. Oja doesn't seem phased though.
Oja's corner calls for a 1-2. Oja obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.

Rannikko drives through and clinches with Oja against the cage.
A shot in the inside from Rannikko.
Oja prevents a body shot from Rannikko.
Rannikko misses with a short punch on the inside.
Rannikko content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Oja jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rannikko walks away with a smile on his face. Oja gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
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!
Oja stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Rannikko.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Oja takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Rannikko misses the shot to the body.
Rannikko takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Rannikko misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Oja.
Rannikko blocks a jab.
Oja fails with an attempt to clinch.
Rannikko looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rannikko doesn't manage to clinch there - Oja circles away.
Oja is looking to counter punch.
Oja throws a right and a left that both miss.
Rannikko slips under a jab.
Rannikko keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
Oja misses with a double jab.
Rannikko throws a quick inside leg kick.
Rannikko cracks the inside of Oja's front leg.
Rannikko's jab looks to have found its range, popping Oja under the eye.
Oja misses with a series of wild punches.
Oja is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rannikko pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Rannikko fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Oja, pushing him back against the cage.
The referee is keeping an eye on Rannikko - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Rannikko misses with a hook to the ribs.
A right hand to the body from Rannikko.
Rannikko goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Oja tries to break free but Rannikko pushes him back against the cage.
Rannikko can't find room to land a body shot as Oja controls the action.
Oja working hard to break the clinch.
Rannikko lands an uppercut.
Rannikko leaning against his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rannikko throws a head punch that misses.
Oja blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Rannikko content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Rannikko working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Rannikko fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rannikko misses with some punches.
Rannikko lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Rannikko taking a breather.
Rannikko lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Rannikko slowing the pace effectively.
Rannikko's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Rannikko throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilmari Rannikko dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Rannikko throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
As Rannikko tries to get set, Oja tries to push him back and clinch up but Rannikko manages to avoid the attempt.
Rannikko feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Oja's calf.
Rannikko bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Oja's head backwards.
A low kick from Rannikko is predictable there
and Oja counters with a one-two to the body.
Rannikko lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Oja swats away the attempt to clinch by Rannikko.
Rannikko throws a nice outside leg kick.
Rannikko connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Oja's hands.
Rannikko misses with a wild body shot.
Oja lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rannikko circles away quickly and effectively.
Rannikko lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.

Oja is rocked!
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!
Rannikko connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Oh Oja is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Oja throws a nice looking combination but Rannikko bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Rannikko buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Rannikko throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rannikko throws a monster overhand right that drops Oja! Rannikko follows up with more strikes from mount and the fight is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:06 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ilmari Rannikko!