PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kiki Kolehmainen (ranked 1328 p4p, 1618 weight class) and Marko Zrinski (ranked 193 p4p, 229 weight class). Zrinski comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Devil eyes kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kolehmainen
vs
Zrinski

174 cm
21
197
3 - 0 - 0

183 cm
21
185
4 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
World class MT
Good gas tank

Hardcore Alchemy

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kiki Kolehmainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Marko Zrinski!
The judges for this bout are Elvis Blanc, Yves DeLean and Steve Smith.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zrinski misses the jab.
An attempted straight right counter from Kolehmainen misses the target.
Kolehmainen throws out a leg kick but Zrinski moves out of range and Kolehmainen only half commits.
Zrinski looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Zrinski just misses with a punch to the body.
Zrinski throws a body shot but no joy.
Kolehmainen moves out of range of the strikes.
Kolehmainen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kolehmainen feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Zrinskis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Marko Zrinski seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big left from Kolehmainen misses.
Kolehmainen takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kolehmainen cracks Zrinski with a good jab.
Kolehmainen keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Zrinski.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Zrinski misses.

Kolehmainen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Kolehmainen showed some decent athleticism there.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Zrinski is looking to escape.
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.

Kolehmainen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Zrinski has managed to free his arm - good work.
Kolehmainen controlling the pace.
Zrinski keeps control of the position for the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kolehmainen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kolehmainen trying to control the pace.
Zrinski wants to control but Kolehmainen is keeping busy.
Zrinski trying to control here but he's found himself mounted! Oh no!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kolehmainen wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.
Kolehmainen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Kolehmainen wants to take Zrinski's back here but Zrinski is holding on to an arm, himself looking to escape.
Kolehmainen wants to control the pace but Zrinski is squirming around nicely.
Kolehmainen controlling from mount.

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.

Kolehmainen working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.

Zrinski defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Kolehmainen.
Kolehmainen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Zrinski is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kolehmainen tries to close the distance and clinch but Zrinski swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Kolehmainen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Zrinski manages to avoid it.
Zrinski is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Kolehmainen with a body shot.
Zrinski swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kolehmainen throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Kolehmainen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Zrinski looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Kolehmainen slips a straight right by Zrinski.
Zrinski turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kolehmainen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
A jab from Kolehmainen misses.
Kolehmainen is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
A good leg kick by Zrinski.
Zrinski walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Kolehmainen checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Zrinski thows a leg kick but Kolehmainen checks it
and Kolehmainen counters with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A swing and a miss from Kolehmainen.
Zrinski tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kolehmainen was well out of range. Poor timing from Zrinski.
Zrinski's corner calls for a 1-2. Zrinski obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Marko Zrinski seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Zrinski goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Zrinski misses with an uppercut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kolehmainen goes for a double leg but Zrinski avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Zrinski continues to drive forward.
Zrinski lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kolehmainen.
Zrinski lands a shot to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Zrinski.
Zrinski lands a body punch in the clinch.
A nice right hand lands inside from Zrinski.
A short right from Zrinski.
Zrinski scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Zrinski lands a left hand.
A head punch on the inside from Zrinski fails to land.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Zrinski as Kolehmainen tries to tie him up.
Kolehmainen working aggressively here.
Kolehmainen scores with a shot to the side of Zrinski's head.
Kolehmainen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kolehmainen lands a hook that snaps the head of Zrinski backwards.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kolehmainen is trying to maintain a safe position but Zrinski gets an underhook and turns Kolehmainen into the cage.
Zrinski working aggressively here.
Kolehmainen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Kolehmainen working aggressively here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zrinski lands a nice uppercut.
Kolehmainen throws a head punch that misses.
Zrinski fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Zrinski tries to work over Kolehmainen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kolehmainen tries to work over Zrinski's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Zrinski fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Kolehmainen lands a shot to the body.
Kolehmainen prevents a body shot from Zrinski.
Zrinski tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kolehmainen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kolehmainen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Zrinski tries to work over Kolehmainen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

Kolehmainen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kolehmainen throws a jab when Zrinski was well out of range.
Kolehmainen with a jab.
Zrinski misses with a wild body shot.
It looked like Kolehmainen wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Kolehmainen looks to land a left hand but Zrinski moved out of range nicely.
Zrinski fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kolehmainen throws a body shot but no joy.
Zrinski throws a body punch but Kolehmainen moves out of range.
As Zrinski backs away, Kolehmainen returns fire with a leg kick that just misses.
Kolehmainen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Kolehmainen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kolehmainen throws a jab but it's blocked by Zrinski.
Kolehmainen avoids the body shot from Zrinski.
Kolehmainen feinted with a counter takedown.
Zrinski lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Kolehmainen looks for the body kick but Zrinski saw that one coming.
Zrinski looks to land a right hand but Kolehmainen moved out of range.
Zrinski throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kolehmainen looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Zrinski appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Kolehmainen takes a swing at Zrinski's ribcage but misses.
Zrinski let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Kolehmainen shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Zrinski eats them both and turns towards Kolehmainen to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.

Zrinski gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Zrinski not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Zrinski really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kolehmainen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kolehmainen advances to half guard.

Kolehmainen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Kolehmainen passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Zrinski!
Zrinski tries to hold on but Kolehmainen postures up.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Marko Zrinski will probably get the nod - 10:9.
That's time! Kolehmainen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. 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.

Zrinski lands with a thumping leg kick.
Kolehmainen slips a jab from Zrinski.
Zrinski lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Zrinski loads up on a big right hand but Kolehmainen slips the punch.
Zrinski thows a left - swing and a miss!
Zrinski slips a jab from Kolehmainen.
Kolehmainen uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Zrinski.

Kolehmainen feints and as Zrinski raises his hands in defense, Kolehmainen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Zrinski wants to control but instead he gets his guard passed and Kolehmainen is now in half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kolehmainen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Zrinski's head.
Kolehmainen passes to side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kolehmainen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Kolehmainen is trying to get an arm triangle but Zrinski is defending well.

Kolehmainen wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Zrinski, who protects the arm well.
Kolehmainen trying to control the action but Zrinski is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zrinski wants to control but Kolehmainen postures up.
Kiki Kolehmainen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Zrinski trying to remain calm as Kolehmainen controls from the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kolehmainen has worked his way into a potential kimura here. Zrinski is trying to get out of the position but his squirming has just got him deeper into trouble. Kolehmainen yanks on the arm and Zrinski is forced to tap due to a very painful looking submission! Nice work by Kolehmainen.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:58 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Kiki Kolehmainen!
An out of breath Kiki Kolehmainen thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.