PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Matto Monni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Saku Sikaniska (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Monni comes into the arena with Quiet Riot - Metal Health blaring out of the sound system. The crowd seem to be enjoying Sikaniska's choice of entrance music: Doom unit - Killing time. We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Monni
vs
Sikaniska

188 cm
21
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

189 cm
19
236 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matto Monni!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Saku Sikaniska!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Monni shoots for a double leg takedown but Sikaniska sprawls well. He's pushed Monni's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Monni clinches with his opponent.
Monni tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Sikaniska smiles and moves away.
Monni on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Sikaniska. Sikaniska obviously looking to wear him down.

Sikaniska gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Sikaniska is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Monni is controlling him.
Monni working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Sikaniska's head.
Monni is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Sikaniska avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Monni trying to control but Sikaniska is working from the bottom.

Sikaniska kicks Monni off and gets to his feet.
Monni shoots in but no luck this time.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Matto Monni. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monni bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Sikaniska's head.

Monni closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Sikaniska is trying to stand back up but Monni is controlling him
Sikaniska is looking to get back to is feet but Monni passes into side control.
A lull in the action here as Monni stalls from top position.

Sikaniska explodes and escapes back to his feet! Nice escape there!
Monni is breathing heavily.
Sikaniska circles away from the clinch attempt.
A shot to de liver by Monni. Beautiful body shot.
Sikaniska is looking to slow Monni down with leg kicks.
Sikaniska tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Monni counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Monni.
Sikaniska gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Sikaniska is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Monni pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Sikaniska tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Monni is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sikaniska gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
A bit of stalling here from Monni.

Sikaniska manages to break the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Monni throws the kick towards the body but Sikaniska avoids it.
Monni shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Sikaniska as he jumps to the side.
Monni shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Sikaniska lands a nice hook to Monni's body. Monni takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Monni has a takedown stuffed.

Monni closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Monni is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sikaniska knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Monni in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Monni lands a decent elbow from side control.
Monni working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.

Monni tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Monni trying to control the position but Sikaniska is working away.

Monni wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sikaniska, who protects the arm well.
Sikaniska tries to escape but Monni is in control.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Monni stands up.
Sikaniska misses with a takedown

and Monni counters with a nice double leg into side control. Sikaniska won't be happy with that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Monni works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.

Sikaniska throws Monni to one side and escapes!
Monni swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Sikaniska scores a takedown into full mount!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sikaniska looking to control but Monni is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sikaniska is standing up, even though he is in mount.

Sikaniska looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Monni!
Sikaniska wants to control the pace but Monni is squirming around nicely.

Sikaniska stands up from the dominant position. He obviously fancies his chances standing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Sikaniska gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Monni counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Sikaniska preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Monni thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Matto Monni dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Sikaniska tries to close the distance and clinch up but Monni swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Monni tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Monni closes the distance and clinches.
Sikaniska stalling in the clinch but Monni improves position.
Monni has had enough of the clinch but Sikaniska keeps him there for the moment.
Monni prevents a body shot from Sikaniska.
Monni is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Sikaniska gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Monni fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Monni blocks a body shot from Sikaniska.
Sikaniska goes for a takedown attempt but Monni pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Matto Monni is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Monni is looking to clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Monni lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Saku Sikaniska seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Monni changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Sikaniska looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Sikaniska is breathing heavily.

Monni decides to stand back up. Monni steps back and let's Sikaniska get back to his feet.
Monni wants to clinch.

Monni drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Monni stands up.
Sikaniska tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Monni decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Sikaniska's guard.
Sikaniska wants to stand up but Monni is controlling him.
Monni trying to control the position from guard on top but Sikaniska is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sikaniska is looking to stand up but Monni isn't so interested in that idea.
Sikaniska keeping moving, preventing Monni from controlling successfully.
Sikaniska is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.

Monni thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sikaniska wants to get back to his feet but Monni is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Monni passes into half guard.
Monni lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Monni trying to pass the guard but Sikaniska defending well.
Sikaniska is looking to escape.
Matto Monni overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Monni is nestled in close to Sikaniska, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Monni works his way into side control.

Monni is in a dominant position here, looking for a kimura. Sikaniska looks calm but he's in trouble here. Monni gets his leg over his opponent's head and yanks on the arm. Sikaniska is tapping like a morse code operator on the titanic! SOS! SOS! Monni lets go of the hold and Sikaniska can pop his arm back in it's socket.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:03 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Matto Monni!