PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jari Litmanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Maori Souljah (ranked 0 p4p, 0 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.

Litmanen
vs
Souljah

170 cm
21
150 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
25
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

Good wrestler
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jari Litmanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Maori Souljah!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Litmanen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Souljah paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Litmanen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Souljah closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Litmanen quickly recovers to half guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.
Litmanen is looking to escape.
Souljah is thwarting Litmanen's attempts to control the position.
Souljah throwing shots but Litmanen is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Litmanen is trying to stand up here but Souljah is controlling him well.
Nice strikes from Souljah there.
Litmanen trying to control but Souljah postures up.
Litmanen works his way to full guard. Good work.
Souljah is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Litmanen is trying to control the position but Souljah postures up.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Souljah is working Litmanen over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Souljah sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Litmanen's guard.
Souljah content to control rather than advance.
Litmanen moves into full guard.
Souljah throws a big elbow that misses.
Souljah sitting in guard here, content to control.
Souljah trying to control the position from guard on top but Litmanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Souljah sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souljah tries to free his leg and advance position but Litmanen is retaining full guard.
Souljah working some strikes from top position.

Litmanen throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Souljah escapes and throws Litmanen's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Souljah working the ground and pound from side control.
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!
Souljah works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Souljah is moving around in side control but his primary objective seems to be to maintain the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souljah is working Litmanen over with some ground and pound from side control.
Souljah working the head and body with strikes.
Souljah working the head and body with strikes.
Souljah working the ground and pound.
Souljah lands an elbow.
Souljah lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Litmanen down.
Souljah looks up at the clock and then as Litmanen takes his cue and looks up at the clock too, Souljah smacks him right in the chops with a big elbow! How rude!
Souljah tries to move into full mount but can't pass Litmanen's legs.
Souljah is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
You can see the frustration on Litmanen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souljah scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Litmanen to see if he's OK.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Souljah has knee on belly and now moves to full mount! Trouble for Litmanen!
Souljah working the ground and pound effectively.
Souljah controlling the position easily from mount.
Souljah is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Litmanen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souljah with a couple of short strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maori Souljah dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Souljah tries for a takedown but Litmanen circles away easily
and Litmanen counters with a one-two to the body.
Souljah changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Litmanen tries to avoid it but Souljah manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Litmanen to the ground. Litmanen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Souljah shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Litmanen but Litmanen pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Jari Litmanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maori Souljah.
Litmanen looks to score with a jab to the body but Souljah is just out of range.
Litmanen closes the distance and clinches up with Souljah, looking for a takedown. Litmanen pushes Souljah against the cage but Souljah circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Litmanen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Souljah keeping hold of Litmanen's head, controlling as best he can.
Maori Souljah has got the better of the ground game so far.
Litmanen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Litmanen is trying to control. Souljah wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Souljah keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Souljah has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Litmanen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Souljah does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Souljah is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Litmanen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Litmanen's back!
Litmanen wants to control his opponent's hands but Souljah gets his hands free.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Litmanen rolls, trying to escape but Souljah keeps control of the position.
Litmanen trying to control the action but Souljah just sinks the hooks in.
Souljah is punishing Litmanen with some ground and pound.
Souljah scores with strikes from the back.
Souljah is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Souljah gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Souljah gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Souljah apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Souljah dives in and grabs Litmanen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Litmanen pushes down on Souljah's head and hops out.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souljah swats away the attempt to clinch by Litmanen.
Litmanen shoots in for a takedown but Souljah shows good takedown defense.

Souljah fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Litmanen to the ground. Souljah is now in Litmanen's guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Souljah is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Souljah looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Souljah lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Souljah scoring with some ground and pound.
Souljah postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souljah looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Souljah with a flurry of punches that miss.
Souljah scoring with some ground and pound.
Souljah stops Litmanen from standing up.
Souljah controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Litmanen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Souljah's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souljah is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Litmanen has momentary wrist control but Souljah slips an elbow through the middle.
Souljah postures up and lands a big shot to Litmanen's brow.
Souljah sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Litmanen's guard.
Souljah is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Souljah connects with a nice short shot to Litmanen's temple.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Souljah is nestled in close to Litmanen, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Souljah frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Souljah sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Maori Souljah showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

No luck with that takedown attempt from Souljah.
Souljah shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Litmanen counters with a big head kick but Souljah shrugs it off.
Litmanen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Souljah circles away.
Litmanen misses with a body shot.
Souljah fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Jari Litmanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Maori Souljah.
Souljah tries for a takedown but Litmanen circles away easily
and Litmanen counters with a body kick that stops Souljah in his tracks momentarily.
Litmanen wants to clinch.
Souljah takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Litmanen throws a jab but it's blocked by Souljah.
Nice sprawl there from Litmanen as Souljah shoots in.
Nice takedown defense from Litmanen. No joy for Souljah on that attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Litmanen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Souljah tries for a takedown but Litmanen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Litmanen shoots in and drives through. Souljah sprawls well.
Litmanen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Souljah avoids it really well and circles away.
Litmanen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Souljah's waist but Souljah gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Litmanen off to one side.
Souljah shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Litmanen as he jumps to the side.
Litmanen is looking to clinch.
Litmanen tries to clinch but Souljah is having none of it.
Litmanen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Souljah's waist but Souljah gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Litmanen off to one side.

Litmanen gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Souljah to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Souljah postures up in Litmanen's guard and throws a big left but Litmanen blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Souljah throws a big elbow that misses.
Souljah is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Litmanen throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Souljah escapes and throws Litmanen's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
The referee asks Souljah politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Souljah prefers to stall for the moment though.
A control attempt from Litmanen but he's now mounted!
Souljah avoids the attempt from Litmanen to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Souljah lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Litmanen hang on?
Souljah lands with some strikes.
Souljah lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Litmanen hang on?
Souljah looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Souljah connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
A nice elbow there by Souljah.
Souljah lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Souljah working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Litmanen tries to lock up and control but Souljah gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Souljah scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Litmanen?
Souljah dominating with strikes here.
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!
Souljah with a couple of short strikes.
Souljah lands with some strikes.
Souljah landing strikes from the mount and Litmanen is in trouble!
Souljah lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
The referee warns Litmanen that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Jari Litmanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Souljah lands a big shot there that rocks Litmanen but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Maori Souljah comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Souljah 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Maori Souljah!