PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Toni Vaananen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Simo Keimola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Vaananen
vs
Keimola

177 cm
19
176 lbs
0 - 3 - 0

174 cm
18
190 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

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 0 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Toni Vaananen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Simo Keimola!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Keimola scores a takedown into full mount!
Keimola landing shots from mount.

Keimola goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Vaananen is on top in guard.
Keimola wants to stand and escape but Vaananen is having none of it.
Keimola should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Vaananen stopping the sweep attempt from Keimola.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Keimola looking for a guillotine here but Vaananen defends easily.
Keimola seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

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.
Vaananen postures up.
Keimola looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Vaananen has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Keimola is proving hard to escape from.
Keimola wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Vaananen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Keimola changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Vaananen tries to avoid it but Keimola manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Vaananen to the ground. Vaananen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Vaananen doesn't manage to clinch there - Keimola circles away.

Keimola pushes Vaananen up against the cage in a clinch.
Keimola tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Vaananen's elbow.
Keimola fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Vaananen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

It looks like Simo Keimola has been cut.
Keimola looks gassed!
Vaananen lands a left hand.

Vaananen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Vaananen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Vaananen wants to clinch

and Keimola moves into the clinch.
Keimola jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Vaananen walks away with a smile on his face. Keimola gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Toni Vaananen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simo Keimola.
Some wild striking there from Vaananen.
Keimola shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Vaananen but Vaananen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Vaananen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Vaananen closes the distance and pushes Keimola back into the cage.
Vaananen tries a knee to the head but Keimola blocks it.

Vaananen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Keimola slips a jab and a cross from Vaananen.
Vaananen tries to clinch

and Keimola counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Vaananen!
Keimola controlling the position easily from mount.
Keimola looking to ground and pound but Vaananen is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simo Keimola dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Simo Keimola's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Keimola feints and as Vaananen raises his hands in defense, Keimola changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Keimola missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Keimola trying to control the position from guard on top but Vaananen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Keimola accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Keimola looking to pass the guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Keimola looking to sit in guard and control but Vaananen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vaananen passes into half guard under a barage of strikes.
Keimola is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two 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.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Keimola punishes Vaananen's body with a nice straight punch.
Toni Vaananen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Vaananen darts in trying to clinch
and Keimola counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Vaananen thinking.
Nice sprawl there from Vaananen as Keimola shoots in.
Vaananen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Vaananen wants to clinch

and Keimola counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Keimola.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The referee calls for Keimola to work.
Keimola tries for a takedown but Vaananen manages to get underhooks.

Vaananen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Keimola misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Toni Vaananen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Simo Keimola.
Vaananen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Keimola closes the distance and clinches up with Vaananen, looking for a takedown. Keimola pushes Vaananen against the cage but Vaananen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Vaananen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.

Keimola drives through and clinches with Vaananen against the cage.

Vaananen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Keimola fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Keimola displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Toni Vaananen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Vaananen closes the distance looking to clinch

and Keimola decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Vaananen's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Keimola gets to his feet - Vaananen follows without any prompting.
Keimola with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Vaananen wants to clinch

and Keimola counters with a shoot takedown. Vaananen fights it but they end up in guard.
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!
Keimola looking to sit in guard and control but Vaananen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Keimola throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Simo Keimola showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Simo Keimola's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Keimola closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Vaananen to the mat! Vaananen manages to get full guard.

Vaananen is edging up against the cage. He's using the cage to get back to his feet. Nice work there - the fighters are clinched.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Keimola.
Keimola tries for a takedown. No joy.

Vaananen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Keimola shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Vaananen as he jumps to the side.
Vaananen is looking to clinch but Keimola is avoiding it.
Vaananen misses with a few strikes there.

Keimola shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Simo Keimola has got the better of the ground game so far.
Keimola trying to control from Vaananen's half guard. Vaananen has other ideas though and has regained full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keimola stops Vaananen from standing up.
Keimola throwing strikes but missing.
Keimola trying to control the position from guard on top but Vaananen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two 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.
Keimola stops Vaananen from standing up.
Keimola throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Keimola is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Vaananen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Vaananen has escaped and now he's on top!
Keimola wants to get back to his feet but Vaananen passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Keimola pushes Vaananen off looking to stand but Vaananen dives back in and keeps control.
It looks like Vaananen is going to stand back up.
Vaananen is thwarting Keimola's attempts to control the position.
Toni Vaananen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Simo Keimola is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Vaananen stands up and beckons Keimola to join him on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Simo Keimola.
I've got Keimola winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Simo Keimola!