PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ville Akerman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antti Makivalkkila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Akerman
vs
Makivalkkila

190 cm
19
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

185 cm
19
200 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Prefers ground

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 Helsinki, Ville Akerman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Antti Makivalkkila!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Makivalkkila swats away the attempt to clinch by Akerman.
Akerman pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Akerman tries to clinch there but Makivalkkila circles away.
Makivalkkila looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Akerman is fending him off so far but Makivalkkila persists. Nope, Akerman circles away and we're back to standing.

Makivalkkila scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Makivalkkila trying to control the action but Akerman is working from the bottom.
Akerman struggling a bit here.
Akerman is in a bad position, trying to hold on for dear life but he is really struggling to maintain any sort of control.

Makivalkkila is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Akerman is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Akerman bucks up and manages to escape back to his feet!
Makivalkkila looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.

Makivalkkila clinches with his opponent.

Makivalkkila breaks from the clinch.
Makivalkkila doesn't manage to clinch there - Akerman circles away.

Akerman drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Akerman has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Akerman throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Makivalkkila's waist but Makivalkkila gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Akerman off to one side.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Makivalkkila.
Akerman wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Akerman is looking for a sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Akerman is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Makivalkkila has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Akerman struggling a bit here.
Akerman on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Akerman tries to get out of the position.
Akerman tries to bench press Makivalkkila off him but Makivalkkila keeps the position.
Akerman holds on tight, trying to prevent any damage.
Akerman is looking to regain half guard here but Makivalkkila keeps moving and retains side control.
Makivalkkila taking a break here but Akerman is having none of it and regains half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Akerman shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Makivalkkila pinned against the cage. Makivalkkila gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akerman misses with a takedown attempt - Makivalkkila sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ville Akerman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Makivalkkila misses with a takedown attempt
and Akerman counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Akerman moves into the clinch successfully.
Akerman jumps guard but Makivalkkila stands there with Akerman around his waist. Akerman gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Akerman tightens his grip and picks Makivalkkila up, before dumping him to the ground. Makivalkkila manages to land in guard.
Makivalkkila is trying to keep Akerman in close.
Akerman works a leg free and moves into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Makivalkkila is trying to get back to full guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Akerman in particular looking to stall.
Makivalkkila trying to control here.
Makivalkkila has a hand on Akerman's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Akerman takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Akerman looking to control and managing it successfully.
Akerman landing shots from mount.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Akerman wants to clinch

so Makivalkkila counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Akerman striking off his back but it's not causing Makivalkkila any problems.

Makivalkkila gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Akerman tries to clinch but Makivalkkila moves out of range.
Akerman connects with a high kick.
Akerman is looking to clinch but Makivalkkila is avoiding it.

Akerman has taken the fight to the clinch.
Akerman scores with a knee to the head.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Akerman lands a nice elbow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Akerman fails to pull guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Makivalkkila is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

Akerman has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Makivalkkila uses from the top position.
Akerman wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akerman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Akerman has control of Makivalkkila's left arm, preventing Makivalkkila from doing any damage.
Akerman's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Ville Akerman overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Akerman throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Akerman is adopting a defensive guard.
Akerman throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Akerman thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Akerman is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Makivalkkila stops Akerman from standing up.
Akerman is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Akerman manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Makivalkkila wants to control but Akerman is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Akerman connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Akerman connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Makivalkkila taking shots to the head.
Akerman pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Akerman controlling from the full mount.
Akerman landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ville Akerman dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Horrible takedown by Makivalkkila or perhaps it was just good defense by Akerman which made him look bad.
Ville Akerman seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Akerman tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Makivalkkila paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Akerman stuffs the takedown.
Akerman tries to clinch there but Makivalkkila circles away.

Akerman moves into range and clinches up with Makivalkkila.
Akerman creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Makivalkkila's defenses.
Akerman landing knees to the body.

Akerman breaks from the clinch.
Akerman fails with a takedown attempt.
Akerman is looking to clinch.
Makivalkkila takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Akerman clinches.

Akerman breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Akerman tries for a takedown but Makivalkkila sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Akerman has taken the fight to the clinch.
Akerman lands an elbow inside that Makivalkkila shrugs off.

Akerman pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Akerman shoots for a double leg takedown but Makivalkkila sprawls well. He's pushed Akerman's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ville Akerman. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Akerman throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Makivalkkila.
Akerman shoots in but no luck this time.
Makivalkkila looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Akerman is fending him off so far but Makivalkkila persists. Nope, Akerman circles away and we're back to standing.
Makivalkkila misses with a head kick.
Makivalkkila misses with a takedown attempt - Akerman sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Akerman has Makivalkkila up against the cage in a clinch.

Akerman manages to break the clinch.

Akerman closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Akerman is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Akerman gets to his feet - Makivalkkila follows without any prompting.
Akerman wants to clinch.
Ville Akerman is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Akerman wants to clinch
and Makivalkkila counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Akerman fails with an attempt to clinch.
Makivalkkila stuffs the takedown attempt from Akerman. Akerman gets slowly back to his feet.

Makivalkkila scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Makivalkkila trying to control the action but Akerman is working from the bottom.

Akerman has one foot on Makivalkkila's thigh - he pushes off and manages to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Makivalkkila swats away the attempt to clinch by Akerman.
Akerman lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Akerman throws a head kick but Makivalkkila moves out of range.
Makivalkkila misses with a takedown attempt

and Akerman decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Makivalkkila's guard.
Makivalkkila not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Akerman trying to control but Makivalkkila is working from the bottom.
Makivalkkila is looking to stand up but Akerman isn't so interested in that idea.

Makivalkkila is looking for a triangle but Akerman pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Akerman drops back looking for a leg! Makivalkkila is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Makivalkkila manages to kick Akerman off! Akerman jumps back into Makivalkkila's guard.
Akerman won't allow Makivalkkila to sweep him here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Makivalkkila trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Akerman not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ville Akerman showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Akerman has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 for Ville Akerman!
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Ville Akerman!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Ville Akerman!

Ville Akerman wins by unanimous decision!