PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Janne Itse (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Niko Abramovich (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Abramovich is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Mr Crowley. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Itse
vs
Abramovich

193 cm
18
208 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

188 cm
26
200 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Determined

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Janne Itse!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Abramovich!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Abramovich closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Itse wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Abramovich pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Itse circles away from the clinch attempt

and Itse counters with a takedown into side control.

Itse stands up and beckons Abramovich to his feet.
Abramovich tries to clinch but Itse moves away
and Itse counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

Abramovich shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Itse's guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Itse wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Abramovich is looking to stand up but Itse won't let him.
Itse on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Itse tries to get out of the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Abramovich shoots in and drives through. Itse sprawls well.
Abramovich darts in trying to clinch
and Abramovich takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Itse waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Abramovich.
Itse avoids the head kick by Abramovich.
Abramovich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Abramovich misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Abramovich looks gassed!
Abramovich tries for a takedown but Itse circles away easily
and Itse counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Janne Itse has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Niko Abramovich.
Abramovich staying out of range there.
Abramovich has his takedown stuffed

and Itse counters with a nice double leg into side control. Abramovich won't be happy with that.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Itse stands up.
Itse throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abramovich darts in trying to clinch
and Itse cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Itse takes a swing at Abramovich's ribcage but misses.
Abramovich keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Itse.
Abramovich has his takedown stuffed
and Itse counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Itse misses the shot to the body.
Abramovich takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
Abramovich takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
A telegraphed right hand from Itse misses the target.
Itse sizes up Abramovich with a pawing jab and scores with a straight right down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Itse lands a big uppercut and Abramovich crumbles to the floor! The ref thinks about stopping the fight but Abramovich looks OK. Itse waves Abramovich back to his feet!

Abramovich is rocked!

Itse drops Abramovich with a beautiful combination! Abramovich stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Itse is looking for the KO!
Abramovich is still on wobbly legs! Can Itse finish him?

Itse sends Abramovich crashing to the mat with a devastating uppercut! Itse is motioning to the referee to let Abramovich up. He wants to try and finish this one on the feet!
Itse misses with a hook.
Itse throws the left hand but Abramovich avoids the punch easily.
Abramovich seems to have recovered his senses.
Abramovich tries to clinch
and Abramovich takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Itse lands a jab to Abramovich's midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Itse misses with a wild body shot.
A swing and a miss from Itse.
Abramovich keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Itse thuds a left hand into Abramovich's body.
Abramovich fails with the takedown
and Itse counters with a two punch combo.
Itse scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Itse is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Itse throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Niko Abramovich seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Itse wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Abramovich takes one to the side of the head.
Abramovich throws a head kick that misses.
Abramovich tries to clinch but Itse moves away
and Itse counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Abramovich tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Abramovich doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Itse counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Itse just misses with a punch to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Itse thows a body shot but no joy.
Itse looks to land a left hand but Abramovich moved out of range nicely.

Itse closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Abramovich's guard.
Abramovich is looking to stand up but Itse isn't so interested in that idea.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janne Itse dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Itse misses with a straight right.
Abramovich throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Abramovich tries to clinch but Itse moves away
and Itse counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Itse thuds a left hand into Abramovich's body.
Itse is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Abramovich can do to turn this around?
Abramovich fails with the takedown

and Itse counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Itse decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Abramovich, up you get!
Itse throws a hook to the side of Abramovich's head but Abramovich sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Abramovich shoots and misses
and Abramovich takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Itse wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Abramovich darts in trying to clinch
and Itse counters with a right hand to the body.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abramovich avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Abramovich misses with a takedown attempt
and Itse counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Janne Itse has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Niko Abramovich.
Abramovich takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Itse throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Itse blocks a head kick by Abramovich.
Abramovich darts in trying to clinch
and Itse counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Abramovich thinking.
Itse misses with a jab, cross combination.
A punch lands to the side of Abramovich 's head but he takes it in his stride.
Abramovich takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Itse misses with an uppercut. Abramovich saw that one coming.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Abramovich tries to clinch up
and Itse counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Abramovich closes the distance but Itse moves to the side
enabling Itse to counter with a crisp jab.
Abramovich moves to clinch but Itse breaks away

so Itse counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Itse gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.

Itse darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Itse decides to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Abramovich tries to clinch but Itse moves away
and Itse cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Itse connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Abramovich looks to clinch
and Itse cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Itse works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Itse blocks a head kick by Abramovich.
Janne Itse is winning the standup battle so far.
Itse will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Abramovich doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Itse counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Abramovich thinking.
Abramovich tries to clinch but Itse moves away
and Itse counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Abramovich slips under a jab.
Itse misses with a wild body shot.
Itse throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Abramovich shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Itse sprawls well. Itse wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Abramovich gets slowly back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Itse swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Itse circles away from the clinch attempt
and Itse connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Abramovich moves to clinch but Itse breaks away
and Itse counters with a straight right hand.
Itse listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A head kick by Abramovich misses
and Itse connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Abramovich uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Itse.
Itse throws a hook to the side of Abramovich's head but Abramovich sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Janne Itse dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Abramovich tries a head kick but it misses.
Abramovich keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Abramovich wants to clinch
and Itse counters with a stiff right hand.
Abramovich tries to clinch up
and Itse counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Itse throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Abramovich has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Abramovich tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Itse counters with a straight right hand.
Itse lands with a shot to the body.
Itse lands with a straight right. Abramovich didn't see that one coming.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Abramovich tries a head kick but it misses.
Itse throws the left hand but Abramovich avoids the punch easily.
Abramovich doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Itse counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Itse loads up on a big right hand but Abramovich slips the punch.
Itse throws a hook but Abramovich avoids it easily.
Abramovich misses with a head kick.
Itse is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
A slow jab from Itse misses its intended target.
Itse paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Abramovich darts in trying to clinch
and Itse counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itse lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
A big left from Itse misses.
Abramovich tries to clinch but Itse moves away
and Itse counters with a stiff right hand.
Itse looks to throw the jab but Abramovich is out of range.
Abramovich moves to clinch but Itse breaks away
and Itse counters with a nice uppercut.
Itse throws a jab but it's blocked by Abramovich.
Good standup being displayed there by Itse as he connects with a hook.
Abramovich shoots and misses
and Itse counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Itse lands a really nice looking cross but Abramovich seems unphased.
Abramovich moves to clinch but Itse breaks away
and Itse counters with a right hand to the body.
Abramovich wants to clinch but Itse slips to the side
and Itse counters with a straight right hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itse fails with the takedown.
Itse misses with a hook.
Abramovich tries to clinch

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

Itse stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Abramovich tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Itse connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Abramovich shoots for a takedown but Itse saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Janne Itse has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Niko Abramovich.
Itse throws a lazy right hand but Abramovich sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Abramovich tries to clinch up
and Itse counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Janne Itse is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Itse bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Abramovich's head backwards.
Abramovich tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Itse counters with a nice double leg into guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!

Itse decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Abramovich, up you get!
Itse throws a series of punches but Abramovich moves out of range.
Itse blocks a head kick by Abramovich.
Abramovich misses with a takedown attempt
and Itse counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Abramovich blocks a jab.
Abramovich closes the distance but Itse moves to the side
and Itse counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

And that's the end of the fight!
Janne Itse showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Itse, 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 30:24
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:25
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:24

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Janne Itse!