PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Verneri Ahma (ranked 507 p4p, 469 weight class) and Ultima Koivisto (ranked 76 p4p, 68 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.

Ahma
vs
Koivisto

172 cm
37
156
31 - 22 - 0

173 cm
34
158
28 - 14 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Vegan Gains
Voodoo Nutrition

HELLBENT
Paddy's Enhancing Drugs (160Q)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 31 - 22 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Verneri Ahma!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 28 - 14 - 1, fighting out of Amsterdam, Ultima Koivisto!
The judges for this bout are Jack Bonds, Percy O'Donnell and Frank Antenori.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ahma misses with a right hand
and Ahma takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Koivisto blocks a jab.
Ahma pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Koivisto back to the cage. Ahma follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Koivisto circles away from the clinch attempt.
Ahma getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Koivisto throws a leg kick but Ahma checks it.
Koivisto throws a body shot but no joy.
Ahma moves out of range of the body kick from Koivisto.
Koivisto is looking to slow Ahma down with leg kicks.
Ahma moves out of range as Koivisto strikes.
Koivisto scores with a shot to the body.
Ahma looks to land a combination but Koivisto avoids it well.
A nice side step and Koivisto releases a counter shot to the body, but it doesn't find it's home.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ahma throws a hook but Koivisto blocks it.
Koivisto slips under a jab.
Koivisto misses with a body punch
and Ahma counters with a one-two to the body.

Koivisto shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Ahma is trying to defend but Koivisto finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Koivisto thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahma has his hands clasped together around Koivisto's back. He's all about the action.
Koivisto has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Koivisto sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Ahma defending well though.
Koivisto not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Koivisto scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ahma is staying active underneath Koivisto, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Koivisto thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Koivisto throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Koivisto throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ahma to regain full guard.
Koivisto throws a big right hand that misses.
Koivisto chips away with some ground and pound.
Koivisto stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Ahma swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto wants to control from the top but Ahma keeps moving.
Ahma wants to sweep here but Koivisto controlling him for the moment.
Koivisto showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Ahma preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Koivisto throws a strike but Ahma rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Ahma trying to control but Koivisto is working from the bottom.

Ahma got a little sloppy there for a moment and Koivisto has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ahma has managed to get both his arms back between Koivisto's legs - danger averted.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahma sitting in guard here, content to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koivisto pulls Ahma in close to prevent any damage.

Koivisto working for a triangle but Ahma defends it easily.

Koivisto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Koivisto looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ahma is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Ahma won't allow Koivisto to sweep him here.
Ahma is looking to pass into half guard but Koivisto pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Koivisto is in guard.

Koivisto postures up in Ahma's guard and throws a big left but Ahma blocks it.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ahma misses with an attempted mid kick.
Ahma throws a leg kick
and Koivisto counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Koivisto connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Koivisto scores with a jab.

Ahma is rocked!
Ahma throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Oh Ahma is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Koivisto works Ahma's body with a nice hook.
Koivisto misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ahma.
Ahma uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Koivisto.
Koivisto connects with a leg kick.
Ahma on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Ahma scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Koivisto throws a decent looking leg kick but it doesn't land clean.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Koivisto thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ahma throws a series of punches but Koivisto moves out of range.
Ahma seems to have got his legs back now.
Ahma attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Ahma bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Koivisto's head.
Ahma is looking to clinch but Koivisto is avoiding it.
Ahma misses with a leg kick

so Koivisto counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Koivisto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Koivisto postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivisto throws an elbow that misses. Ahma uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Koivisto's guard. Nice move by Ahma!

Ahma looking to pass the guard.
Koivisto lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Koivisto trying to control the position from guard on top but Ahma is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ahma preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Koivisto trying to control but Ahma is working from the bottom.
Ahma working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Koivisto.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Koivisto working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Koivisto accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ahma keeping moving, preventing Koivisto from controlling successfully.
Koivisto scoring with some ground and pound.
Ahma working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Koivisto.
Koivisto with a flurry of punches that miss.
Koivisto landing with the ground and pound.
Koivisto throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto throwing strikes from guard but Ahma blocks nicely.
Koivisto postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Koivisto tries to free his leg and advance position but Ahma is retaining full guard.
Ahma utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Koivisto wants to control from the top but Ahma keeps moving.
Koivisto is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Koivisto throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ahma works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ahma keeping moving, preventing Koivisto from controlling successfully.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.

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.
Koivisto closes the distance and clinches up with Ahma, looking for a takedown. Koivisto pushes Ahma against the cage but Ahma circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
The fighters circling - Ahma throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ahma keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Verneri Ahma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Koivisto connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ahma fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ahma tries to bum rush Koivisto with a series of wild strikes but Koivisto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Ahma looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Koivisto fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Koivisto lands a lovely overhand right.
Ahma scores with a hook.
No joy there for Ahma, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Ahma fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ahma will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Koivisto's jab looks to have found its range, popping Ahma under the eye.
Koivisto misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ahma looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Koivisto throws a nice inside leg kick.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ultima Koivisto showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Ahma tries to bum rush Koivisto with a series of wild strikes but Koivisto uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Koivisto has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ahma will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Ahma misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koivisto.
Nice shot lands for Koivisto.
Koivisto lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ahma circles away quickly and effectively.
Verneri Ahma is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ahma comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ahma digs a good hook to Koivisto's body.
Koivisto is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Ahma.
Ahma misses with a looping left.
Koivisto connects with a jab.
Koivisto lands a nice looking body shot.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Koivisto lands a glancing blow to the side of Ahma's head.
Ahma takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
A solid leg kick lands there for Koivisto.
Koivisto slips a straight right by Ahma.
Koivisto lands a really nice looking cross but Ahma seems unphased.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Ahma.
Ahma trying to control the action but Koivisto is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivisto manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Koivisto felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Koivisto is refusing to be controlled, as Ahma sits in half guard.
Koivisto regains full guard. Nicely done.
Koivisto has Ahma pulled in close to control his posture.
Ahma controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Koivisto is trying to control the position but Ahma postures up.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Ahma misses with a right hand
and Koivisto counters with a stiff right hand.
Ahma tries to clinch there but Koivisto circles away.
Koivisto ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Koivisto looks to land a right hand but Ahma moved out of range.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Koivisto.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto throws a body shot but no joy.
The fighters circle momentarily. Koivisto darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Ahma avoids the body shot from Koivisto.
A quick step to the side and Ahma tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ahma takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Ahma uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Koivisto.
Koivisto jabs Ahma to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Koivisto lands a really nice looking cross but Ahma seems unphased.
Koivisto dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Verneri Ahma has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ahma is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ahma staying out of range there.
Ahma closes the distance but Koivisto moves to the side
and Koivisto makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ahma tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ahma looks to land a combination but Koivisto avoids it well.
Koivisto ducks under a wild hook from Ahma.
Koivisto is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ahma swings for the body but Koivisto moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahma jabs Koivisto right on the nose. Koivisto blinks but takes it well.
Ahma misses with a combination
and Koivisto counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Ahma takes one to the side of the head.
Koivisto tests Ahma's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Koivisto cracks Ahma on the jaw with a powerful right hand and Ahma falls backwards against the cage. Koivisto follows up with more strikes that drop Ahma to his knees. Koivisto keeps the pressure on and the referee jumps in to save Ahma! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:26 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Ultima Koivisto!
A relieved looking Ultima Koivisto thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.