PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Stacey Malouf (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and uimis karinoja (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.

Malouf
vs
karinoja

184 cm
20
168 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

225 cm
18
185 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Stacey Malouf!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, uimis karinoja!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Malouf keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
karinoja will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Malouf shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Malouf looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Malouf is looking for a kimura here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Malouf is working for a submission of some sort.

Malouf is working for a kimura but karinoja is defending it quite comfortably.
karinoja really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Malouf. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Malouf is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so karinoja is just riding it out for now. Malouf eventually gives up the hold.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malouf is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and karinoja defends it well.
Malouf is looking to take a break and control but karinoja is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Malouf performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Malouf trying to control the action but karinoja is working from the bottom.
Malouf is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Malouf seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.

Malouf is trying to work for a kimura but karinoja is defending well.
karinoja taking some punishment here, with Malouf in his half guard.
Malouf tries to pass to full mount but karinoja defends it.
karinoja is trying to maintain the position but Malouf is very close to passing his half 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.
Malouf prevents karinoja from improving his position.
karinoja is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Malouf wants to lay and pray for a moment but karinoja keeps working.

Malouf seems to be looking for submissions.
karinoja wants to control but Malouf is keeping busy.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
karinoja has his takedown stuffed

and Malouf counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in karinoja's guard now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

karinoja doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Malouf counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in karinoja's guard now.
Malouf trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Malouf trying to control the position from guard on top but karinoja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Malouf stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. karinoja swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Malouf might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
karinoja is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Malouf is working karinoja over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
karinoja with a poor takedown

and Malouf counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Malouf is trying to work for a kimura. He's got his hands clasped together - this could be trouble! No, karinoja has managed to free his arm - good work.
Malouf trying to control the action but karinoja is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Malouf is working for a kimura but karinoja is defending it quite comfortably.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
karinoja is not content to let Malouf control the position.

Malouf is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Malouf trying to control from half guard but karinoja is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
karinoja wants to control but Malouf is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Malouf looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
karinoja misses with a takedown

and Malouf counters with a takedown into side control.
Stacey Malouf has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of uimis karinoja.

Malouf wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by karinoja, who protects the arm well.

Malouf looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Stacey Malouf overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Malouf working away.
karinoja is not content to let Malouf control the position.
karinoja prevents Malouf from moving into mount.
karinoja defending against the ground and pound.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Stacey Malouf dominated that second round.
That's time! Malouf's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

karinoja fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
No luck for Malouf with that takedown attempt.

Malouf drives through with a takedown into guard.
karinoja is trying to keep Malouf in close.
Malouf trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Malouf postures up.
Malouf showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

Malouf is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
karinoja is trying to control the position but Malouf postures up.
Malouf stopping the sweep attempt from karinoja.
karinoja keeping moving, preventing Malouf from controlling successfully.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
karinoja fails with the takedown

and Malouf counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
karinoja is trying to control but can't.
Malouf wants to take a breather but karinoja is having none of it.
karinoja wants to get back to full guard.
Malouf uses his free foot to push down on karinoja's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for karinoja.

karinoja defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Malouf.
Malouf tries to control but karinoja wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
karinoja is desperately trying to improve his position but Malouf has a good base and remains in mount.
Malouf trying to control but karinoja is having none of it.

Malouf looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
karinoja tries to hold on but Malouf pushes him away.

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.
Malouf trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Malouf is really struggling to control karinoja but he's trying to hold on to the position.

Malouf swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and karinoja is now in Malouf's guard. A big mistake from Malouf there, giving up the dominant position!

Malouf is looking for a triangle but karinoja pushes his legs off easily.
uimis karinoja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Stacey Malouf is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
karinoja trying to control but Malouf is working from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Stacey Malouf showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Malouf has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:26
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:26
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Stacey Malouf!