PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Leevi Lataaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Hiki Konda (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lataaja
vs
Konda

180 cm
21
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
19
207 lbs
0 - 4 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Leevi Lataaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hiki Konda!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Konda fails to land the takedown.
Lataaja circles away from the clinch attempt
and Lataaja counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Konda is looking to clinch but Lataaja is avoiding it.

Konda closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.

Konda tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Konda has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

Konda tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lataaja tries to buck Konda off but Konda is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.

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

Konda working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Lataaja tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Konda wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Konda is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Lataaja is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.

Konda tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Konda has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Konda thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Lataaja tries to buck Konda off but Konda is having none of it.

Konda wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lataaja, who protects the arm well.
Lataaja throwing some weak shots from the bottom that do no damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Konda wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Lataaja, who protects the arm well.
Lataaja is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Konda's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Konda looks gassed!
Lataaja flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Lataaja works his way to full guard. Good work.
Lataaja lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Konda!
Lataaja wants to control the action but instead Konda gets a body lock and reverses into Lataaja's guard! Nice work!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lataaja working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Konda doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Konda manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Konda stops Lataaja from standing up.
Lataaja working a defensive guard here.
Lataaja looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Hiki Konda dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Lataaja tries to clinch up.
Lataaja looks to throw a body kick

and Konda counters with a nice double leg into side control. Lataaja won't be happy with that.

Konda is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lataaja knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Lataaja tries to improve position but can't.

Konda tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Lataaja looking for a sweep but Konda has passed into full mount! Oh no!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lataaja tries to hold on but Konda pushes him away.

Konda with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Lataaja can't escape the position.
Lataaja tries to improve his position but instead Konda has taken his back!

Konda is looking for the choke from the back position but Lataaja is controlling his hands well.
Konda is breathing heavily.

Lataaja showing good submission defense here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Konda is not going to allow Lataaja to sit and survive in this position.
Lataaja knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Konda on the ground.
Lataaja is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Konda is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Lataaja is defending well though. Konda let's go of the attempt for now.
Konda keeps control of the position as Lataaja tries to break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Konda gets back to his feet - a bit of a stange decision given the position he was in.
Lataaja works over Konda's head and body with a nice combination.
Leevi Lataaja is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lataaja tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lataaja pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Konda back to the cage. Lataaja follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.

Lataaja feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Lataaja wants to control from the top but Konda keeps moving.
Konda has a closed guard, preventing Lataaja from standing up.
Lataaja trying to control but Konda is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lataaja tries to stand but Konda is controlling from the bottom.
Lataaja tries to free his leg and advance position but Konda is retaining full guard.
Lataaja controlling from the top position.

Leevi Lataaja has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Lataaja shoots in and drives through. Konda sprawls well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Hiki Konda will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Lataaja.
Konda fails with the takedown.

Lataaja scores a takedown into full mount!
Konda tries to hold on but Lataaja pushes him away.
Konda sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Konda has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Lataaja is working away from the top position though.
Konda takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lataaja trying to control from half guard but Konda is working away.
Hiki Konda has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lataaja wants to stand up but Konda is controlling the position.
Lataaja trying to pass the guard but Konda defending well.
Konda trying to control from the bottom.
Lataaja is looking to take a break and control but Konda is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Well, if Lataaja 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.

We're going to have a standup here because Leevi Lataaja wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Lataaja throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Konda tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Lataaja is in Konda's guard.
Lataaja would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Lataaja trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Lataaja wants to control from the top but Konda keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lataaja stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Konda swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Lataaja has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Lataaja trying to control but Konda is working from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Leevi Lataaja.
Lataaja stuns Konda with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lataaja fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Konda avoids it really well and circles away.
Konda takes a shot to the body in his stride.

Lataaja clinches.
Konda tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Lataaja just stands there and leans against the cage.
Lataaja lands a right hand that snaps the head of Konda backwards.

Lataaja breaks the clinch.
Lataaja throws a head kick that misses.
Lataaja misses with an attempted mid kick.
Lataaja lands with a shot to the body.

Lataaja closes the distance and clinches.
Leevi Lataaja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Hiki Konda is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lataaja pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.

And that's the end of the fight!
Leevi Lataaja showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Konda has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Hiki Konda!