PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Kimmo Kivipaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Pentti Linkoala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Linkoala is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Ei enää pelitä. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Kivipaa
vs
Linkoala

180 cm
19
158 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
155 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
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, Kimmo Kivipaa!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pentti Linkoala!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kivipaa fails to land the takedown.
A punch combination from Linkoala misses.
Linkoala tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Linkoala tries to clinch but Kivipaa moves out of range.
Kivipaa dodges the punch combination from Linkoala.
Linkoala tries to close the distance and clinch but Kivipaa swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Linkoala swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Linkoala slaps away a takedown attempt from Kivipaa, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Kivipaa shoots in but Linkoala avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kimmo Kivipaa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kivipaa circles away from the clinch attempt.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kivipaa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kivipaa slips under a jab from Linkoala.
Linkoala lands a high kick!
Linkoala displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kivipaa.
Linkoala throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivipaa blocks a head kick by Linkoala.
Kivipaa showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Linkoala.
Kivipaa avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Linkoala shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Kivipaa sprawls well. Kivipaa wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Linkoala gets slowly back to his feet.

Kivipaa looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Linkoala blocking the ground and pound attempt from Kivipaa.
Kivipaa seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Linkoala tries to kick Kivipaa off but Kivipaa keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Linkoala looks gassed!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Kivipaa is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Linkoala avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Kivipaa.
Kivipaa knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Linkoala on the ground.
Kivipaa thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Linkoala's head.
Kivipaa seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Linkoala is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kivipaa wants to pass the guard but Linkoala is defending well.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Linkoala with a lazy takedown attempt

and Kivipaa counters by moving into the clinch.
Linkoala is working for takedown but Kivipaa is calmly controlling the position for now.
Kivipaa has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Linkoala is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

Kivipaa successfully pulls guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivipaa 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.
Kivipaa has Linkoala pulled in close to control his posture.
Linkoala won't allow Kivipaa to sweep him here.
Linkoala wants to stand but Kivipaa is controlling his posture from full guard.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kivipaa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kivipaa manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Linkoala manages to get himself to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Kivipaa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Linkoala has his feet on Kivipaa's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.
Kivipaa shoots in for a double leg but Linkoala sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Linkoala tries to keep at a distance but Kivipaa has taken the fight into the clinch.
Linkoala can't get the takedown.
Kivipaa stalls.
Linkoala prevents the takedown attempt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kimmo Kivipaa dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kivipaa throws a head kick but Linkoala moves out of range.
Linkoala blocks a head kick by Kivipaa.
A jab lands there for Kivipaa.
Linkoala misses the jab.
Kivipaa tries to score a power double leg takedown but Linkoala sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kivipaa somewhat.
Linkoala looks to land a combination but Kivipaa avoids it well.
Linkoala leaves Kivipaa with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Kivipaa circles away from the clinch attempt

and Kivipaa counters by clinching up.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kivipaa fails to pull guard.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kimmo Kivipaa. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Kivipaa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kivipaa wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linkoala misses with a wild combination.
Linkoala rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kivipaa moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Horrible takedown by Kivipaa or perhaps it was just good defense by Linkoala which made him look bad.

Linkoala throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kivipaa was covering up waiting for the punch and Linkoala finishes the takedown easily into guard.

Kivipaa is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kivipaa is looking to stand up but Linkoala isn't so interested in that idea.

Kivipaa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Linkoala defends well.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Linkoala accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Linkoala decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Kivipaa moves into the clinch.
Linkoala goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Linkoala prevents a takedown attempt there.
Kivipaa tries to pull guard but Linkoala holds him up against the cage and eventually Kivipaa drops back down to his feet.
Kivipaa tries for a takedown. No joy.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Kivipaa.
Kivipaa is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivipaa goes for a takedown attempt but Linkoala pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Linkoala misses with a combination
and Kivipaa counters with a two punch combo.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Linkoala goes for a takedown attempt but Kivipaa pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Kivipaa shoots in for a double leg but Linkoala sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.

Kivipaa clinches with his opponent.
Linkoala misses with some punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivipaa gets underhooks to prevent Linkoala's takedown attempt.
Linkoala goes for a takedown in the clinch but Kivipaa prevents it.
Linkoala stops a takedown attempt from Kivipaa.

Kivipaa ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kivipaa no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Linkoala in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kivipaa on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kivipaa tries to get out of the position.
Kivipaa pulls Linkoala in close to his closed guard and prevents Linkoala from doing any damage or advancing position.

Kivipaa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kivipaa pulls Linkoala in close to prevent any damage.
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 Kimmo Kivipaa will probably get the nod.
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. This is the final round!

Linkoala doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Kivipaa counters by clinching up.
Kivipaa leaning against his opponent.

Kivipaa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Linkoala tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Kivipaa holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Linkoala pushes off an throws an elbow but Kivipaa leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Kivipaa tries to land knees in the clinch but Linkoala avoids the damage to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Linkoala prevents the takedown attempt.
Linkoala blocks an elbow strike.

Kivipaa drags the fight down to the ground.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Linkoala wanted to stand there but Kivipaa had control of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Linkoala stopping the sweep attempt from Kivipaa.
Linkoala postures up in Kivipaa's guard and throws a big left but Kivipaa blocks it.
Kivipaa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Linkoala would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Kivipaa managing to control the position.
Linkoala won't allow Kivipaa to get back to his feet.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Linkoala swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Kivipaa counters into the clinch. Nicely done.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Kivipaa jumps guard and drags Linkoala to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Linkoala trying to stand up but can't free himself from Kivipaa's guard.

Kivipaa escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Linkoala gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kivipaa wants to stand but Linkoala is controlling the position.
Linkoala in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kivipaa has control of Linkoala's left arm, preventing Linkoala from doing any damage.
Linkoala trying to control but Kivipaa is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Linkoala in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Nice takedown defense from Linkoala. No joy for Kivipaa on that attempt.
Linkoala stuffs the takedown attempt from Kivipaa. Kivipaa gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kimmo Kivipaa. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Linkoala closes the distance but Kivipaa moves to the side

and Kivipaa counters by moving into the clinch.
Linkoala is trying to force a seperation but Kivipaa has the dominant position.

Kivipaa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kivipaa shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Linkoala pinned against the cage. Linkoala gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Kimmo Kivipaa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Linkoala throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kivipaa counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kivipaa fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Linkoala avoids it really well and circles away.
Linkoala lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Kivipaa circles away quickly and effectively.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kivipaa circles away from the clinch attempt.

Kivipaa rushes Linkoala and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Kivipaa has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Linkoala uses from the top position.
Linkoala won't allow Kivipaa to get back to his feet.

Kivipaa has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Linkoala off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Linkoala throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kivipaa counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Linkoala is looking to stand up but Kivipaa isn't so interested in that idea.
Kivipaa pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Linkoala is keeping the position for now.
Pentti Linkoala has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Kimmo Kivipaa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Linkoala keeping moving, preventing Kivipaa from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kimmo Kivipaa showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Kivipaa, 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kimmo Kivipaa!