PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Rami Keimola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mikko Markkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Keimola comes to the cage accompanied by Trick Daddy Ft. Bad Guy - What Dey Do. Mikko Markkanen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Keimola
vs
Markkanen

174 cm
19
190 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

Good wrestler
Brawler
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rami Keimola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikko Markkanen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice takedown defense from Keimola. No joy for Markkanen on that attempt.
Keimola tries to clinch up but Markkanen circles away and keeps his distance.

Keimola gets caught flat footed, as Markkanen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Markkanen preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Markkanen prevents Keimola from getting back to his feet.

Keimola has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Markkanen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Markkanen is stalling in the full guard.
Keimola is trying to keep Markkanen in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Markkanen sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Keimola trying to keep a closed guard but Markkanen is proving a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Keimola could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Keimola might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Keimola wants to control the position but Markkanen says "no thanks buddy" and passes to half guard.
Keimola is trying to stand back up but Markkanen is controlling him
Keimola trying to hold on to Markkanen's head to control him but Markkanen postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Keimola has managed to clinch.
Keimola is breathing heavily.

Markkanen lands a takedown into guard.

Keimola escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Markkanen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Markkanen content to stall in guard here.
Markkanen stopping the sweep attempt from Keimola.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Markkanen prevents Keimola from getting back to his feet.
Markkanen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Keimola throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Markkanen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Markkanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Keimola swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Markkanen dominated that round.
That's time! Keimola's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Markkanen shoots in for a takedown but Keimola shows good takedown defense.
Markkanen shoots in for a double leg but Keimola sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Mikko Markkanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Keimola tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Markkanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Keimola shoots in for a double leg but Markkanen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Markkanen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Keimola counters with a nice body shot.
Rami Keimola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikko Markkanen.
Keimola throws a head kick that half lands.
Markkanen fails with the takedown
and Keimola counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Keimola tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Markkanen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Keimola counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Keimola.
Keimola trying to stand up but can't free himself from Markkanen's guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keimola works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Markkanen won't allow Keimola to pass to mount.
Keimola trying to control from Markkanen's half guard. Markkanen has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Keimola wants to pass the guard but Markkanen is keeping the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Keimola wanted to stand there but Markkanen had control of the position.
Keimola trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Keimola tries to free his leg and advance position but Markkanen is retaining full guard.
Keimola wants to control from the top but Markkanen keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Markkanen shoots and misses

and Keimola counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Keimola uses his free foot to push down on Markkanen's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Markkanen.
Keimola working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Keimola throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Keimola is looking to stand but Keimola has his arms wrapped tightly around him, looking to prevent the damage.

Keimola moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Markkanen has worked his arm free - good work by Markkanen!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keimola tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Keimola is looking to take a break and control but Markkanen is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Markkanen wants to control but Keimola postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rami Keimola dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Keimola keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Markkanen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Keimola lands a high kick!

Keimola shoots in and bounces Markkanen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Rami Keimola overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Markkanen is trying to control the position but Keimola postures up.
Keimola wants to control from the top but Markkanen keeps moving.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Keimola throwing strikes from guard but Markkanen blocks nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keimola slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Markkanen 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Keimola tries to stand but Markkanen is controlling from the bottom.
Keimola pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Markkanen is keeping the position for now.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Keimola throws a wild body kick that Markkanen sees coming a mile off.
Markkanen with a poor takedown

and Keimola counters by clinching up.
Rami Keimola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mikko Markkanen.

Keimola pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Markkanen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Keimola wants to improve his position but Markkanen is controlling well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keimola is trying to maintain the position but Markkanen is very close to passing his half guard.
Keimola wants to improve his position but Markkanen is controlling well.
Markkanen is controlling the pace.
Markkanen is tying to control. Keimola wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Keimola is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Markkanen wants to pass to mount but Keimola is defending the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Markkanen scores a takedown into full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Mikko Markkanen.
I think Markkanen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Mikko Markkanen!