PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Usko Raikkonen (ranked 5108 p4p, 5101 weight class) and Niko Ahola (ranked 568 p4p, 567 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.

Raikkonen
vs
Ahola

185 cm
18
204
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Usko Raikkonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Ahola!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Both fighters are only really looking to counter, so after a good 30 seconds of circling each other endlessly, the referee has stepped in and told them both to be more aggressive.
Raikkonen lands a lovely overhand right.

Raikkonen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raikkonen leaning his opponent against the cage.
The referee calls for Raikkonen to work.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with Raikkonen for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ahola escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ahola is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Raikkonen is struggling to control the position.
Ahola keeps control of Raikkonen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ahola takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Ahola stalling in the clinch.
Ahola continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Ahola wants to break the clinch but can't.
Raikkonen tries to circle away but Ahola has him pinned against the cage.

That's four 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.
Raikkonen is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Ahola leaning his opponent against the cage.
Raikkonen stalling against the cage.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Usko Raikkonen 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.

Raikkonen missing with a left hand there. Ahola was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Ahola looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Ahola throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Raikkonen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Raikkonen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Raikkonen keeps the fight on the outside.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Nice shot by Raikkonen.
Ahola pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Raikkonen has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Raikkonen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

Raikkonen clinches.
Ahola slows down the pace here.
Raikkonen dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Raikkonen is looking to break free of the clinch but Ahola has double underhooks.

Ahola breaks the clinch.

Raikkonen darts in and clinches Ahola up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ahola breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ahola takes one on the chin but seems OK.
The fighters circle momentarily. Raikkonen darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ahola tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Raikkonen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Ahola tries to clinch there but Raikkonen circles away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Raikkonen drives through and clinches with Ahola against the cage.
Ahola controlling the action here for a moment.

Ahola breaks from the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Usko Raikkonen dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ahola with a jab.
Raikkonen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ahola wants to counter with a clinch but Raikkonen pushes him away.
Good exchange - Raikkonen coming out on top.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Raikkonen connects with a good right hand that stumbles Ahola. Ahola circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Raikkonen lands with a cross.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahola tries to close the distance and clinch up but Raikkonen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ahola tries to clinch up.
Raikkonen throwing a counter right hand but Ahola manages to avoid it.
Ahola takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.

Ahola forces Raikkonen back against the cage and clinches.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Raikkonen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ahola stalling against the cage.
Ahola leaning against his opponent.
Raikkonen is trying to force a seperation but Ahola has the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Raikkonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Good shot there by Raikkonen.
Ahola tries to close the distance and clinch but Raikkonen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
A little feinted left hand from Raikkonen on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Raikkonen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Raikkonen circles away from the clinch attempt.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Raikkonen lands with a straight right. Ahola didn't see that one coming.

Raikkonen pushes Ahola up against the cage in a clinch.

Raikkonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Usko Raikkonen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Raikkonen 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Usko Raikkonen!