PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between IP Freely (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pippy Poker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the prize buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Freely
vs
Poker

160 cm
23
140 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

157 cm
25
140 lbs
5 - 2 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very strong

Good takedowns
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, IP Freely!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Pippy Poker!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed right hand from Poker misses the target.
Poker changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Freely tries to avoid it but Poker manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Freely to the ground. Freely escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Freely tries to sprawl but Poker drives through with a takedown into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Freely is defending against the submission attempts here by Poker.
Freely missing with punches from the bottom.
Freely keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Poker prevents Freely from improving his position.
Freely has his hands clasped together around Poker's back. He's all about the action.
The fighters are battling for position here. Freely manages to regain full guard. Nice work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Poker throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Freely works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Freely keeping full guard, as Poker tries to pass.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Poker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Poker prevents Freely from getting back to his feet.
Poker throwing strikes from guard but Freely blocks nicely.

Freely looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Poker accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Poker landing some decent shots from guard.
Poker throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Poker landing with the ground and pound.
Freely is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Poker scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Freely is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Poker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Freely is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Freely thows a huge punch but Poker dodges it nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poker avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Freely.
Poker has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Freely not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Freely working the head and body with strikes.

Poker looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Freely tries to pass to full mount but Poker defends it.
Poker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Poker slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Poker is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Freely stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Poker swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Freely accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Freely is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Freely with a nice head shot there.
Freely stands and throws Poker's legs to the side, diving into side control.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Poker tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Freely presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Freely scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Poker?
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that IP Freely will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Poker closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Poker throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Freely to regain full guard.
Freely avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Poker tries to free his leg and advance position but Freely is retaining full guard.
Poker postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Freely preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Freely avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Poker trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Freely wants to sweep but no luck.
Poker missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

Poker drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Freely dives on top into guard.

Poker is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freely lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Freely scoring with some ground and pound.
Poker working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Freely.
Freely trying to control the position from guard on top but Poker is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Poker escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Freely gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Poker trying to strike off his back.
Freely throwing strikes from guard but Poker blocks nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Freely missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Freely scoring with some ground and pound.
Freely trying to control but Poker is working from the bottom.
Freely pushing down on Poker's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Poker is refusing to be controlled, as Freely sits in half guard.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Freely is just content to waste time from the top position. Poker takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Freely scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Freely drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Poker manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Freely has Poker in his guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poker working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Poker throwing strikes from guard but Freely blocks nicely.
Poker trying to control the position from guard on top but Freely is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Freely is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Freely has his hands on Poker's head, controlling the position.
Freely wants to sweep here but Poker controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poker landing some decent shots from guard.
Freely utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Freely keeping moving, preventing Poker from controlling successfully.
Freely is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Freely wants to stand up but Poker is controlling him.
Freely wants to improve his position but instead Poker has moved into half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that IP Freely will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Poker looks for a takedown but Freely sprawls well.
Poker shoots and misses
and Freely counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Poker shoots in for a takedown but Freely shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
IP Freely has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pippy Poker.
Poker tries for a takedown but Freely circles away easily
and Freely counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

Freely looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Freely slips a nice elbow through Poker's hands, connecting with Poker's forehead.
Freely looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.

Poker looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Poker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Poker has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Freely is working away from the top position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Freely wants to pass the guard but Poker is defending well.
Freely works his way into full mount!
Poker is in all sorts of trouble here.
Freely lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Freely working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Freely raining down shots from the mount!
Freely lands a big elbow.

Poker is rocked!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Freely lands a big elbow - Poker is in trouble! More strikes from the mount and Poker is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:24 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). IP Freely!
An out of breath IP Freely thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.