PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between James Stol (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilkka Wasama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Wasama has chosen The Prodigy - Take Me to the Hospital as his entrance music. Both fighters really staring eachother down here, as Ilkka Wasama enters the cage!

Stol
vs
Wasama

175 cm
18
160 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

170 cm
19
158 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Big heart

BJJ White Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, James Stol!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilkka Wasama!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut there from Wasama.
Stol showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wasama.
Stol showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wasama.

Stol rushes Wasama and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Stol tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Stol is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Wasama pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Stol tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Stol. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Stol fails to pull guard.

Stol breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Stol wants to clinch up but Wasama keeps it at a distance.
Wasama fails to land with a series of punches.
No luck for Stol with that takedown attempt.
Wasama throws a series of punches but Stol moves out of range.
Wasama swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

Stol shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Wasama is trying to defend but Stol finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stol seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Wasama does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Wasama looks like he's trying to stand up.
Wasama looks gassed!
Wasama is using up a lot of energy trying to get back to his feet. Perhaps he should improve his position first.
Stol perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.

That's two 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.

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

Stol rushes Wasama and presses him up against the cage.
Stol is working for takedown but Wasama is calmly controlling the position for now.
Stol tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Wasama just stands there and leans against the cage.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Stol wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Wasama wants to break the clinch but can't.
Wasama is looking to break free of the clinch but Stol has double underhooks.
Wasama wants to break free but Stol has control.

Wasama breaks the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stol avoids a punch combination nicely.
Ilkka Wasama seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Wasama connects with a looping right hand.
Some wild striking there from Wasama.
Wasama misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Stol drops down looking for an ankle pick but Wasama pulls his leg out and moves away.
Wasama misses with the combination.
Stol uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Wasama.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Stol shoots in but no luck this time.
Wasama tries to bum rush Stol with a series of wild strikes but Stol uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Wasama misses with a wild combination.
Ilkka Wasama is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Stol shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Wasama but Wasama pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Wasama lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stol circles away quickly and effectively.
Wasama misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

Stol looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Wasama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Wasama wants to stand up but Stol is controlling him.
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 James Stol will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Stol will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Wasama fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James Stol is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Stol showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Wasama.
Stol has a takedown stuffed.
Wasama lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stol circles away quickly and effectively.
Stol moves out of range of the strikes.
Stol slips a jab and a cross from Wasama.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Wasama throws a series of strikes that have Stol backpedaling.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Stol slips a jab and a cross from Wasama.
Stol throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Wasama misses with a few strikes there.
Some wild striking there from Wasama.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stol doesn't manage to clinch there - Wasama circles away.
Wasama is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Stol.
Wasama fails to land with a series of punches.
Wasama misses with a series of wild punches.
Wasama misses with a series of wild punches.
Stol moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Wasama with a jab.
Wasama misses with a jab, cross combination.
Wasama misses with a two punch combination.
Stol avoids a punch combination nicely.
Stol closes the distance and clinches up with Wasama, looking for a takedown. Stol pushes Wasama against the cage but Wasama circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Stol. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Wasama misses with a looping right.
Stol shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wasama as he jumps to the side.
Wasama misses with a series of wild punches.
Wasama lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Stol circles away quickly and effectively.
Stol shoots in for a takedown but Wasama shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Wasama misses with the combination.
Stol lands a high kick!
Wasama will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wasama lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Stol backs up against the cage.
Stol fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stol dodges the punch combination from Wasama.
Stol misses with a wild combination.
Wasama lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Wasama misses with a few strikes there.
Stol blocks a jab.
Wasama throws a series of punches but Stol avoids them all with ease.
Wasama pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Wasama throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Stol.
Wasama misses with a double jab
and Stol counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Wasama throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Stol sees it coming and avoids it easily.

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

Stol bobs and weaves into range and then changes levels and scores with a nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stol tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.
Stol prevents Wasama from escaping the position.
Stol postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Wasama is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Stol has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Stol stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Wasama avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
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 James Stol 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!

Stol wants to clinch up but Wasama keeps it at a distance.
Wasama throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Wasama falls off balance throwing a combination
and Stol counters with a head kick. That will keep Wasama thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Wasama fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Stol tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Wasama paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wasama fails to land with a series of punches.
Wasama takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Wasama throws a series of punches but Stol avoids them all with ease.
Stol shoots in but Wasama avoids the takedown attempt easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stol shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Wasama as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Wasama throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Stol holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Stol tries for a takedown but Wasama manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for James Stol. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Wasama tries to break free but Stol pushes him back against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wasama tries to break the clinch but Stol is controlling the position.
Come on Stol - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Stol is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Wasama is pressed up against the cage. Stol has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Wasama down to the mat. Wasama avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Wasama looks to land a right hand but Stol moved out of range.
A thudding body kick lands there by Stol!
Wasama will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Wasama swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Wasama might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Wasama misses with an uppercut.
Wasama throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Stol holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Ilkka Wasama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two 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.
Wasama is trying to break the clinch but Stol is controlling him.
Wasama tries to circle away but Stol has him pinned against the cage.

Stol escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wasama fails to land with a series of punches.
Stol displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Wasama throws out the jab.
Stol avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Stol wants to clinch up but Wasama keeps it at a distance.
A combination from Wasama does no damage.
Stol moves in looking to clinch but Wasama pushes him off.
Wasama tries to bum rush Stol with a series of wild strikes but Stol uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Stol closes the distance and clinches up with Wasama, looking for a takedown. Stol pushes Wasama against the cage but Wasama circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Wasama throws a right and a left that Stol avoids nicely.

Wasama gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Stol to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wasama is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Stol dives into side control.
Stol tries to score with some ground and pound. Wasama controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Wasama is looking to work his way out of this bad position but Stol is controlling him well.

Stol decides to stand up, so the ref orders Wasama to his feet.
Stol tries for a takedown but Wasama sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wasama moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wasama keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Wasama throws a series of punches but Stol moves out of range.
Wasama misses with a double jab

and Stol counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Stol.
Stol stops Wasama from standing up.
Stol is standing up over Wasama. Wasama looks to escape but Stol dives into side control.

Wasama sneaks out the side door and pushes Stol away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Stol tries for a takedown but Wasama sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Wasama misses with a double jab
and Stol counters with a big head kick but Wasama shrugs it off.
James Stol is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Wasama throws a series of punches but Stol moves out of range.

And that's the end of the fight!
James Stol showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Stol, 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... James Stol!