PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jussi Apila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksi Hihnavaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hihnavaara has chosen Slayed as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Buckle up people - heeeeeeeeeere we go!

Apila
vs
Hihnavaara

182 cm
23
155 lbs
4 - 0 - 1

175 cm
23
155 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Heavy handed

Rätei ja lumpui - Cheapest clothes in Helsinki

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 0 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Jussi Apila!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Aleksi Hihnavaara!
The judges for this bout are Nard Betker, Wagner Zegers and Radbod Blank.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Apila takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Hihnavaara is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Apila.
Apila keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Hihnavaara swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Apila ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hihnavaara swings for the body but Apila moves out of range.

Apila shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Hihnavaara wants to get back to full guard.
Hihnavaara is pressing down on Apila's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Apila looking to pass the guard.

Hihnavaara looking for a guillotine here but Apila defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hihnavaara is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Hihnavaara is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Apila defends well.
Apila preventing the sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Hihnavaara working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Apila doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Apila manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Hihnavaara looks gassed!

Hihnavaara working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Apila has passed into half guard!
Apila lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Hihnavaara on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Apila lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Hihnavaara is refusing to be controlled, as Apila sits in half guard.
Apila scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Apila seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Hihnavaara is trying to stand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Apila scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Apila is pressing down on Hihnavaara's thigh, looking to free his foot. Hihnavaara is holding on for now.
Apila winds up and cracks Hihnavaara with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Apila tries to pass to full mount but Hihnavaara defends it.
Apila working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Ground and pound from Apila.
Apila wants to lay and pray for a moment but Hihnavaara keeps working.
Apila scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Hihnavaara keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Hihnavaara actively working from the bottom here.

Hihnavaara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Apila lands with a punch from half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hihnavaara tries to roll over but Apila keeps him under control.
Apila lands with a punch from half guard.

Hihnavaara looking to force a kimura from the bottom here. He's concentrating on that move too much though and Apila pushes past his half guard into mount!
Apila with shots to the head and body - Hihnavaara looks very uncomfortable down there.
Hihnavaara takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Apila scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Hihnavaara?

Hihnavaara is rocked!
Hihnavaara keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Hihnavaara is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Apila landing strikes from the mount.
Apila postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Hihnavaara looks a forlorn figure.
Apila lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Apila punishing his opponent with strikes.
Hihnavaara is still in real trouble! Can Apila finish him?
Apila in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Apila postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Hihnavaara badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Apila around the waist but Apila pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Apila is the winner by TKO! Apila jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:30 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Jussi Apila!
Jussi Apila is the new featherweight champion!