PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Dion Lovejoy (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilmari Rannikko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lovejoy
vs
Rannikko

190 cm
25
220 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

187 cm
25
210 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Intelligent

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Heavy handed

Sully's Bar & Grill

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 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Dion Lovejoy!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ilmari Rannikko!
The judges for this bout are David Hoff, Winston Alpacca and Santiago Holmes.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rannikko throws a hook but Lovejoy avoids it easily.
Rannikko lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Rannikko tries a low kick but Lovejoy avoids it.
Rannikko takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Lovejoy ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Rannikko moves away.
Rannikko looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Rannikko tries to score with a low kick but Lovejoy moves his leg out of the way.
Lovejoy misses with a looping right.
Lovejoy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rannikko.
Lovejoy uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rannikko.
Rannikko swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rannikko drops his hands momentarily and Lovejoy takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Lovejoy keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Lovejoy is looking to counter the offense by Rannikko and move into the clinch.
A good leg kick by Rannikko.
Ilmari Rannikko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lovejoy checks the leg kick.
Lovejoy lands a really nice looking cross but Rannikko seems unphased.
Rannikko looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rannikko moves away from the strike by Lovejoy.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
A chopping leg kick lands by Rannikko.
Rannikko takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Rannikko avoids the body shot from Lovejoy.
Lovejoy jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Rannikko now looks to counter with a shot at the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Rannikko, right into the meat.
Lovejoy takes one to the chin there.
Rannikko has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Lovejoy finds it's way round the side to connect with Rannikko's head.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rannikko.
Rannikko fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Lovejoy manages to avoid it.

Lovejoy waves his right hand out in front of him, looking to distract Rannikko. Oh, he's unloaded a beast of a left hand - it worked! He's dropped Rannikko to the canvas! Can he finish him!?

Rannikko 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!
Lovejoy wants to control from the top but Rannikko keeps moving.
Rannikko is still in real trouble! Can Lovejoy finish him?
Rannikko is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Rannikko seems to have recovered his senses.
Rannikko is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Lovejoy makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Lovejoy trying to control but Rannikko is working from the bottom.
Lovejoy won't allow Rannikko to get back to his feet.
Rannikko trying to keep a closed guard but Lovejoy is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lovejoy wants to control from the top but Rannikko keeps moving.
Rannikko is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lovejoy passes into half guard.
Lovejoy sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rannikko defending well though.
Lovejoy working Rannikko over with strikes.

Rannikko is defending against the submission attempts here by Lovejoy.
Lovejoy prevents Rannikko from improving his position.
Lovejoy working Rannikko over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Lovejoy connects with a nice short shot to Rannikko's temple.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rannikko can do anything to dispel that myth.

Lovejoy seems like he's working for an arm triangle here. He's freed his trapped foot and he's rotating nicely. Rannikko is in big trouble! He's tapping out! This one is aaaaaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:25 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Dion Lovejoy!