PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Urho Itaniemi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rip James (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Itaniemi comes to the cage accompanied by Volbeat - Still Counting. James has chosen The Ultimatum as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Itaniemi
vs
James

190 cm
26
214 lbs
24 - 7 - 1

194 cm
30
266 lbs
36 - 24 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Perkele!
Bushido Clothing

•‡• LION Clothing •‡• [CBK]

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 24 - 7 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Urho Itaniemi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 36 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Rip James!
The judges for this bout are , and .

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Itaniemi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Good exchange - James coming out on top.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Itaniemi as he avoids it easily.
James shoots in and drives through. Itaniemi sprawls well.
James blocks a jab.
James throws a looping overhand right but Itaniemi ducks down to avoid it.
James shoots and misses

and Itaniemi counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Itaniemi.
Urho Itaniemi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rip James.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Itaniemi.
James fails to pull guard.
James doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
James misses with a punch on the inside.
James misses with a short punch on the inside.

James pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Itaniemi misses with a head kick.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Itaniemi as he avoids it easily.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
James fails to land the takedown.
James blocks a head kick by Itaniemi.
A slow jab from James misses its intended target.

James scores a takedown into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

James goes for an armbar but Itaniemi turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Itaniemi.
James looking for a sweep. Not yet James, not yet.

James has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Itaniemi can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Itaniemi seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.

James looking for a guillotine here but Itaniemi defends easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itaniemi showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Itaniemi postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
James looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

James is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Itaniemi content to stall in guard here.
Itaniemi preventing the sweep.
Itaniemi stays in close to James's body and controls the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Urho Itaniemi.
James shoots in but no luck this time.
Itaniemi throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.
Good leg kick by Itaniemi there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Itaniemi takes a swing at James's ribcage but misses.
James with a lazy takedown attempt
and Itaniemi counters with a nice low kick that buckles James's knee momentarily.

Itaniemi moves into range and clinches up with James.
James misses with some punches.
Itaniemi stalling.
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!
Itaniemi lands a shoulder strike.
Itaniemi cracks James with a nice body shot.
James's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Itaniemi lands with a short shot to the head.
James misses with a body punch.
James has a couple of punches blocked by Itaniemi.
James tries to throw a body punch but Itaniemi avoids it by throwing James back against the cage.
Itaniemi lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Itaniemi creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Itaniemi just leaning against James, taking a breather.

James manages to break the clinch.
James dips to his left and cracks Itaniemi with an uppercut!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Itaniemi lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Rip James seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
James looks gassed!
Itaniemi throws a quick inside leg kick.
James shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Itaniemi as he avoids it easily.
That kick from Itaniemi tenderised James's leg. James is trying to keep his angry face on.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Urho Itaniemi 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.

Itaniemi lands a hook that stumbles James back into the cage. Itaniemi follows up with a straight and another hook that land right on the button, dropping James to the canvas! Itaniemi pounces and lands several unanswered shots - James has had enough and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:05 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Strikes). Urho Itaniemi!