PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kimi Aanekoski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerard Gillard (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kimi Aanekoski is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Aanekoski
vs
Gillard

190 cm
22
185 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

186 cm
22
190 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Determined

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kimi Aanekoski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gerard Gillard!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
The fight stays on the outside here - Gillard looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gillard fails to land the takedown.

Aanekoski closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
A control attempt from Gillard but he's now mounted!
Gillard is looking to improve his position but Aanekoski isn't that keen on the idea.
Aanekoski has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Gillard's face.

Aanekoski has control of Gillard's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Gillard regains control of the situation pretty easily.

Aanekoski looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Aanekoski is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Gillard can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Gillard is looking to get to half guard.

Aanekoski is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Gillard is surviving well by controlling Aanekoski's body position as best he can.
Aanekoski is trying to control here but Gillard has managed to regain half guard.

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.
Gillard tries to get to full guard but Aanekoski has control of the leg.
Aanekoski is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Gillard stuffs the takedown.

Aanekoski shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Gillard manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Gillard is trying to control the position but Aanekoski postures up.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Gillard looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aanekoski is one step ahead there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gillard is wriggling around but Aanekoski manages to pass to half guard.
Aanekoski content to control rather than advance.
Gillard works his way to full guard. Good work.

Aanekoski decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gillard, up you get!
Aanekoski tries for a takedown but Gillard circles away easily

and Gillard moves into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aanekoski wants a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kimi Aanekoski. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Gillard prevents a takedown attempt there.
Aanekoski is breathing heavily.
Aanekoski misses with a hook to the ribs.
Aanekoski throws a knee to the head but misses.

Gillard manages to pull guard.
Aanekoski is fighting to break Gillard's control of his arms but Gillard is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Gillard's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Aanekoski wants to control from the top but Gillard keeps moving.
Gillard is trying to keep Aanekoski in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kimi Aanekoski dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Aanekoski is looking to clinch but Gillard is avoiding it.
Aanekoski checks a leg kick nicely.
Aanekoski misses with a leg kick.
Aanekoski shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Gillard counters with an inside leg kick.
Aanekoski closes the distance looking to clinch

and Gillard counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Gillard.
A left hand lands to the body for Gillard.
A nice right hand lands inside from Aanekoski.

Aanekoski works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.

Aanekoski got a little sloppy there for a moment and Gillard has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Aanekoski has managed to get both his arms back between Gillard's legs - danger averted.
Aanekoski trying to control but Gillard is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aanekoski stopping the sweep attempt from Gillard.

Gillard escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Aanekoski gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Gillard is breathing heavily.
Aanekoski stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Gillard swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Aanekoski keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Gillard's head.
Aanekoski would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Gillard has his takedown stuffed

and Aanekoski counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Aanekoski.
Aanekoski prevents Gillard from getting back to his feet.
Aanekoski is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Aanekoski pushing down on Gillard's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aanekoski prevents Gillard from improving his position.
Aanekoski is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Aanekoski takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
It looks like Aanekoski is going to stand back up.

That's four 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.
Gillard looks like he's trying to stand up.

Aanekoski stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Gillard to get to his feet.
Aanekoski lands a jab.
Kimi Aanekoski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Aanekoski drives through with a takedown into guard.
Aanekoski seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Aanekoski knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Gillard on the ground.
Aanekoski seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Gillard for as long as he can get away with.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kimi Aanekoski dominated that second round.
That's time! Aanekoski's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Gillard with a poor takedown

and Aanekoski counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Gillard!
Gillard is looking to improve his position but Aanekoski isn't that keen on the idea.
Aanekoski sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Gillard taking shots to the head.
Aanekoski controlling from the full mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Aanekoski with the ground and pound from mount.
Gillard takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Aanekoski controlling his opponent.

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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kimi Aanekoski just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Gillard displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Aanekoski.
Aanekoski uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Gillard.

Gillard gets caught flat footed, as Aanekoski shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Gillard being controlled here, momentarily.
Gillard wants to stand and escape but Aanekoski is having none of it.
Aanekoski tries to stand but Gillard is controlling from the bottom.
Kimi Aanekoski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gillard is looking to stand up but Aanekoski isn't so interested in that idea.
Aanekoski looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

Gillard has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Aanekoski is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Gillard.
Gillard is trying to control Aanekoski's posture but Aanekoski avoids it.

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.
Gillard is trying to escape and get back to his feet.

Aanekoski stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Aanekoski fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Gillard.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Aanekoski.
Aanekoski staying calm.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kimi Aanekoski showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Aanekoski, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kimi Aanekoski!