PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Keijo Kala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jussi Likkybumliineen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Kala
vs
Likkybumliineen

205 cm
20
280 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

188 cm
21
224 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the 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, Keijo Kala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jussi Likkybumliineen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kala displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Likkybumliineen throws out the jab.
Likkybumliineen keeps the fight on the outside.

Kala gets the takedown into side control.
Likkybumliineen tries to improve position but can't.
Kala knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Likkybumliineen on the ground.
Kala staying calm.

Kala stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Likkybumliineen fails to land with a series of punches.
Nice defenses there by Likkybumliineen.
Likkybumliineen waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Kala.
Likkybumliineen dives in and grabs Kala's left leg, looking for a takedown. Kala pushes down on Likkybumliineen's head and hops out.
A punch combination from Kala misses.

Kala decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Likkybumliineen looks gassed!
Likkybumliineen wants to get back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kala is trying to get back to his feet now but his leg is trapped.
Kala not landing any meaningful shots this time.

Kala escapes and gets back to his feet.
Likkybumliineen tries a head kick but it misses.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Kala.

Kala closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Likkybumliineen to the mat! Likkybumliineen manages to get full guard.
Kala is looking to stand up but Likkybumliineen won't let him.
Likkybumliineen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Kala is controlling him.
Likkybumliineen keeping full guard, as Kala tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kala wants to stand but Likkybumliineen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Likkybumliineen working a defensive guard here.

Kala decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Kala throws a combination that misses
and Likkybumliineen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Likkybumliineen dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on Kala. That did some damage!
Likkybumliineen looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Likkybumliineen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Likkybumliineen stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Kala.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kala throws a right and a left that Likkybumliineen avoids nicely.
Likkybumliineen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Likkybumliineen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A low kick from Kala misses

and Likkybumliineen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Likkybumliineen.
Likkybumliineen tries to free his leg and advance position but Kala is retaining full guard.
Likkybumliineen wants to stand but Kala is controlling his posture from full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Kala holds on and takes a little breather.

Likkybumliineen gets to his feet. Kala looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Left hook, right uppercut from Kala.
Kala doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kala takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Likkybumliineen fails in his attempt to clinch.
A combination from Kala does no damage.
Kala throws a leg kick
and Likkybumliineen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.

Likkybumliineen closes the distance and clinches.
Likkybumliineen tries to land knees in the clinch but Kala avoids the damage to the body.
Kala goes for a takedown in the clinch but Likkybumliineen prevents it.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kala avoids the elbow strike from Likkybumliineen, against the cage.

Likkybumliineen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kala dodges the punch combination from Likkybumliineen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keijo Kala dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Kala rushes Likkybumliineen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Likkybumliineen lands an elbow inside that Kala shrugs off.
Kala tries to pull guard but Likkybumliineen holds him up against the cage and eventually Kala drops back down to his feet.
Likkybumliineen gets through Kala's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Likkybumliineen misses with an elbow strike.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Kala.
Likkybumliineen throws a head punch that misses.
Kala is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Likkybumliineen has had enough of the clinch but Kala keeps him there for the moment.
Likkybumliineen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Kala breaks the clinch.
Kala fails with the takedown.
Kala misses with a combination
and Likkybumliineen counters with a good low kick that Kala was not able to check.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
A slapping leg kick lands for Likkybumliineen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Likkybumliineen misses with a jab, cross combination.

Likkybumliineen drives through and clinches with Kala against the cage.
Likkybumliineen is looking to break free of the clinch but Kala has double underhooks.
A short uppercut from Likkybumliineen.

Kala breaks from the clinch.
Likkybumliineen tries to clinch up.
Likkybumliineen throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kala is looking to clinch.
Likkybumliineen avoids the head kick by Kala.
Kala takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.

Likkybumliineen scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Kala tries to get to full guard but Likkybumliineen has control of the leg.
Kala trying to get back to full guard but Likkybumliineen takes advantage of the position and moves to full mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Likkybumliineen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kala is looking to escape.
Kala is working to get back to half guard.
Likkybumliineen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Likkybumliineen lands a big shot there that rocks Kala but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Keijo Kala overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Likkybumliineen prevents Kala from getting the reversal.
Likkybumliineen looking to control but Kala is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Likkybumliineen throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.
Likkybumliineen prevents Kala from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kala is in a horrible position here. Likkybumliineen smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.

Likkybumliineen stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
Likkybumliineen staying out of range there.
Kala thows a leg kick but Likkybumliineen checks it

and Likkybumliineen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Kala's guard.
Likkybumliineen preventing the sweep.
Kala keeping moving, preventing Likkybumliineen from controlling successfully.
Likkybumliineen wants to pass the guard but Kala is keeping the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jussi Likkybumliineen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kala throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Likkybumliineen tries for a takedown but Kala sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Kala will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kala misses with a body punch
and Likkybumliineen counters with an outside leg kick.
Kala doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Likkybumliineen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Likkybumliineen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Kala takes one on the chin but seems OK.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Likkybumliineen tries to clinch up.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Likkybumliineen. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.
Kala throws a leg kick

so Likkybumliineen counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kala looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Likkybumliineen throws a big right hand that misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Likkybumliineen looking to pass the guard.
Likkybumliineen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kala works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Likkybumliineen is looking to stand up but Kala won't let him.
Likkybumliineen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Likkybumliineen wants to pass the guard but Kala is keeping the position.

Likkybumliineen has gone for a leg lock! Kala slips out almost immediately though and dives into Likkybumliineen's guard.
Likkybumliineen looking to control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Kala has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Kala wants to stand but Likkybumliineen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Kala postures up and lands a big shot to Likkybumliineen's brow.

Kala decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Likkybumliineen, up you get!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
An inside leg kick lands from Likkybumliineen.

Kala closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Likkybumliineen to the mat! Likkybumliineen manages to get full guard.
Kala tries to stand but Likkybumliineen is controlling from the bottom.
Likkybumliineen has his hands on Kala's head, controlling the position.

Likkybumliineen scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Kala avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

Kala scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Likkybumliineen is refusing to be controlled, as Kala sits in half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kala is thwarting Likkybumliineen's attempts to control the position.
Likkybumliineen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kala stalling away here and it's allowed Likkybumliineen to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Likkybumliineen seems keen to control Kala's posture.
Kala postures up.
Kala won't allow Likkybumliineen to get back to his feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Keijo Kala.
I think Kala has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 28:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Jussi Likkybumliineen!