PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lisandro Licha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kevin Flaherty (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lisandro Licha could well score a knockout today. He has the power to get to Kevin Flaherty's chin.

Licha
vs
Flaherty

181 cm
18
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

182 cm
22
175 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Self confident

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lisandro Licha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kevin Flaherty!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
No joy there for Licha, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A punch combination from Licha misses.
Some wild striking there from Licha.
Licha dives in and grabs Flaherty's left leg, looking for a takedown. Flaherty pushes down on Licha's head and hops out.
Flaherty avoids the head kick by Licha.

Flaherty pushes Licha up against the cage in a clinch.
Flaherty with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Flaherty lands a nice elbow.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Flaherty.
Flaherty stalling in the clinch.
Flaherty receives a warning from the referee for stalling.
Licha tries to pull guard but Flaherty holds him up against the cage and eventually Licha drops back down to his feet.
Flaherty misses with a knee to the head.
Licha goes for a takedown attempt but Flaherty pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lisandro Licha. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Flaherty pushes Licha up against the cage in a clinch.
Flaherty tries a knee to the head but Licha blocks it.
Flaherty creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Licha's defenses.
Flaherty misses with a knee to the head.
Flaherty lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Flaherty creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Licha's defenses.
Licha fails to pull guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flaherty gets underhooks to prevent Licha's takedown attempt.
Licha is looking to break free of the clinch but Flaherty has double underhooks.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Flaherty just misses with a elbow thrown towards Licha's brow.
Licha tries to score a body lock takedown but Flaherty shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Flaherty misses with an elbow over the top.
Flaherty lands a damaging elbow.
Flaherty gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Licha.
Flaherty tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Flaherty lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Licha jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Flaherty walks away with a smile on his face. Licha gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Flaherty fails with an attempt to clinch.
Flaherty is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Licha will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Flaherty tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Licha paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Licha fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Flaherty leaves Licha with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Licha looks to land a combination but Flaherty avoids it well.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Flaherty lands a nice elbow.
Flaherty prevents the takedown attempt.
Flaherty with a knee to the head.
Licha is breathing heavily.
Flaherty with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Flaherty has Licha pushed against the cage.
Flaherty is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Flaherty misses with a knee to the head.
Flaherty misses with a knee strike.
Flaherty misses with a knee strike.
Flaherty utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Flaherty displaying some good clinch control by pressing Licha up against the cage.
Flaherty lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Licha tries for a takedown. No joy.
Licha drops down looking for an ankle pick but Flaherty pulls his leg out and moves away.
Licha looks for a takedown but Flaherty sprawls well.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Flaherty rushes Licha and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Flaherty.
Flaherty lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Licha takes an elbow to the temple.
Licha on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Licha drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Flaherty gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Licha can't get the takedown.
Flaherty comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Stalling in the clinch from Flaherty.
Flaherty continues to stall. The referee tells him to work or he's going to break them up.
Flaherty lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Licha changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Flaherty fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Flaherty tries to close the distance and clinch but Licha swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
No luck for Licha with that takedown attempt.
Licha avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kevin Flaherty is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Licha closes the distance and clinches up with Flaherty, looking for a takedown. Licha pushes Flaherty against the cage but Flaherty circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Flaherty fails with an attempt to clinch.
Licha shoots for a takedown but Flaherty saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Flaherty clinches with his opponent.
Flaherty lands an elbow inside.
Flaherty landing knees to the head.
Licha fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Flaherty leaning his opponent against the cage.
Flaherty landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Flaherty lands a nice elbow.
Flaherty creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Licha's defenses.
Flaherty landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Flaherty lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Flaherty connects with a knee to the head.
Licha takes an elbow to the temple.
Flaherty scores a nice knee to the body.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Flaherty working Licha over with knees to the body.
Licha takes an elbow to the forehead.
Licha looking for a takedown.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Flaherty dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Flaherty wants to clinch.
Nice sprawl there from Flaherty as Licha shoots in.

Flaherty rushes Licha and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Flaherty lands a knee to the head.
Flaherty throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Licha blocks it with crossed arms.
Licha drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Flaherty gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Flaherty is stalling here.
Licha on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Flaherty lands a damaging elbow.
Kevin Flaherty seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Licha avoids the elbow strike from Flaherty, against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Flaherty connects with a nasty looking knee right to Licha's face.
Flaherty scores with a knee to the head.
Flaherty throws an elbow but it misses.
Flaherty tries to land a knee to the head but Licha blocks with his arms.
Licha has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Flaherty avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lisandro Licha. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Licha is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Flaherty pulls him back up using the underhooks.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Licha tries to break free but Flaherty pushes him back against the cage.
Licha jumps guard but Flaherty stands there with Licha around his waist. Licha gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Flaherty stops a takedown attempt from Licha.
Licha tries for a takedown. No joy.
Flaherty utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Licha takes a knee right on the jaw!
Flaherty with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Licha tries to pull guard but Flaherty won't allow it.
Flaherty gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Licha.
Flaherty creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Licha's defenses.
Flaherty scores with a knee to the head.
Flaherty creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Licha's defenses.
Licha fails to pull guard.
Flaherty has Licha pushed against the cage.
Flaherty throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Licha blocks it with crossed arms.
Flaherty lands a nice elbow.
Flaherty misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Licha.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Licha drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Flaherty gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Licha tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Licha goes for a takedown in the clinch but Flaherty prevents it.
Flaherty misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Licha.
Flaherty putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Licha in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Flaherty misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Licha.
Flaherty taking a breather.
Flaherty tries a knee to the head but Licha blocks it.
Licha tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Flaherty smiles and moves away.
Licha throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Flaherty's waist but Flaherty gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Licha off to one side.
A combination from Licha does no damage.

Flaherty clinches with his opponent.
Licha tries to pull guard but Flaherty won't allow it.
Licha tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Flaherty throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Licha blocks it with crossed arms.
Flaherty pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
Flaherty leaning his opponent against the cage.
Flaherty connects with a nasty looking knee right to Licha's face.
Flaherty tries a knee to the head but Licha blocks it.
Licha is trying to drag Flaherty to the mat but Flaherty just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Flaherty has Licha pressed against the cage, preventing Licha from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Flaherty takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Licha tries to pull guard but Flaherty won't allow it.
Licha takes an elbow to the forehead.
Flaherty taking a break, stalling in the clinch.

Licha successfully pulls guard.

Flaherty gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Flaherty tries to clinch up.
Flaherty wants to clinch up but Licha keeps it at a distance.
Licha shoots in for a takedown but Flaherty shows good takedown defense.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Flaherty is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Licha shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Flaherty but Flaherty pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Licha shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Flaherty takes the fight into the clinch.
Flaherty is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Licha is defending well for now.
Flaherty misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Licha.
Licha managing to block the knees to the body from Flaherty.
Flaherty creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Flaherty lands a knee to the head.
Flaherty tries a knee to the head but Licha blocks it.

Licha drags the fight down to the ground.
Flaherty trying to control but Licha is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kevin Flaherty showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Licha has a takedown stuffed.
Licha tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Flaherty swivels and escapes.
Lisandro Licha is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Flaherty moves into the clinch successfully.
Flaherty lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Flaherty utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Licha is trying to break free.
Licha avoids the elbow strike from Flaherty, against the cage.
Flaherty just leaning against Licha, taking a breather.
Flaherty landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Flaherty connects with a knee to the head.
Licha takes an elbow to the temple.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Flaherty tries a knee to the head but Licha blocks it.
Flaherty displaying some good clinch control by pressing Licha up against the cage.
Licha blocks an elbow strike.
Licha tries to score a body lock takedown but Flaherty shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Lisandro Licha. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Flaherty missing with knees to the body.
Flaherty looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Come on Flaherty - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Flaherty tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Licha avoids it.
Licha changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Flaherty fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Flaherty tries to clinch but Licha moves out of range.
Licha smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Licha tries to score a power double leg takedown but Flaherty sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Licha somewhat.
Licha fails to land with a series of punches.
Licha throws a nice looking combination but Flaherty bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Licha shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Flaherty sprawls well. Flaherty wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Licha gets slowly back to his feet.
Flaherty tries to clinch there but Licha circles away.

Flaherty has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Flaherty using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Licha has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Licha is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Flaherty pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Flaherty lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Licha tries to pull guard but Flaherty won't allow it.
Licha takes a knee to the side of the body.
Knees in the clinch landing for Flaherty.
Flaherty utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Flaherty avoiding damage.
Licha fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Flaherty with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Licha has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Flaherty avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Licha tries to pull guard but Flaherty holds him up against the cage and eventually Licha drops back down to his feet.
A knee to the head by Flaherty.
Flaherty looks to throw an elbow but misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Licha fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Flaherty with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Licha can't break the clinch.
Licha wants a takedown but no success here.
Flaherty tries a knee to the head but Licha blocks it.
Licha blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Licha has Flaherty pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Flaherty manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Flaherty throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Licha blocks it with crossed arms.
Licha wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Flaherty has him pressed against the cage.
Flaherty lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Licha has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Flaherty is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Flaherty creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Licha's defenses.
Licha drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Flaherty gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Flaherty unloads a knee to the mid-section. Licha lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Flaherty throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Licha dodges an elbow strike from Flaherty.
Licha looking for a takedown.
Flaherty landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Flaherty tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kevin Flaherty is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.
Licha managing to block the knees to the body from Flaherty.
Flaherty throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Licha tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Flaherty smiles and moves away.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Licha.
Lisandro Licha has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

Flaherty gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Licha tries to pull guard but Flaherty won't allow it.
Flaherty is stalling here.
Flaherty connects with a nasty looking knee right to Licha's face.
Licha is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Flaherty pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Flaherty prevents the takedown attempt.
Licha is trying to drag Flaherty to the mat but Flaherty just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
The referee is keeping an eye on Flaherty - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kevin Flaherty comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Flaherty winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 26:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 26:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 26:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kevin Flaherty!