PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Karl De Groot (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kimmo Kivipaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kivipaa has chosen Kivipää as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Kimmo Kivipaa told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

De Groot
vs
Kivipaa

170 cm
24
155 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

180 cm
25
158 lbs
16 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the featherweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Karl De Groot!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kimmo Kivipaa!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Tarja Halkonen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

De Groot rushes Kivipaa and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
De Groot lands a hook that snaps the head of Kivipaa backwards.
De Groot landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
De Groot cracks Kivipaa with a nice body shot.
De Groot looking to throw knees to the head but Kivipaa is blocking nicely.
Kivipaa misses with the head strike.
De Groot blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
De Groot goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Kivipaa throws a blind hook that connects with the side of De Groots head.
De Groot digs a right hand underneath Kivipaa's ribcage. Kivipaa let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Kivipaa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
De Groot lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
De Groot lands a nice shot to the body.
Kivipaa is leaning against De Groot and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
De Groot is trying to push Kivipaa away but Kivipaa has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
De Groot blocking some punches.
A short right from De Groot.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, De Groot creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Kivipaa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
De Groot stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Nice body punch from De Groot.
Kivipaa tries a body shot but De Groot blocks it.
De Groot's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
De Groot blocks a couple of punches on the inside.

De Groot's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

That's one minute gone in the round.
No joy there for Kivipaa, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
De Groot uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Kivipaa.
De Groot scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Kivipaa wants to clinch but De Groot slips to the side
and De Groot counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
De Groot circles away from the clinch attempt

and De Groot counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
De Groot lands a body shot.
Kivipaa misses with a hook to the ribs.
De Groot pressing his opponent against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by De Groot.
De Groot blocks a body shot from Kivipaa.
De Groot just leaning against Kivipaa, taking a breather.
De Groot taking a breather.
De Groot lands a body punch in the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kivipaa throws a head punch that misses.
A head punch blocked on the inside by De Groot.
De Groot works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Kivipaa tried to land a shot to the body but connects with De Groot's elbow.
Kivipaa lands a hook that snaps the head of De Groot backwards.
Kivipaa works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by De Groot as Kivipaa tries to tie him up.
De Groot will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Kivipaa up against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Kivipaa scores with a nice short uppercut.
De Groot lands with a right to the head.
De Groot works on Kivipaa's body with a couple of short punches.
Kivipaa looks gassed!
Kivipaa misses with a body punch.

De Groot pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
De Groot circles away from the clinch attempt
and De Groot counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kivipaa's knee momentarily.
De Groot misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Groot motions for Kivipaa to come forward. De Groot throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Kivipaa tries to clinch but De Groot moves away
and De Groot counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
De Groot bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Kivipaa's head.
Kivipaa misses with a leg kick
and De Groot counters with an outside leg kick.

Kivipaa takes the fight into the clinch.
Kivipaa swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Kivipaa lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
De Groot lands a body punch.
Kivipaa working aggressively here.
De Groot lands a body punch.
De Groot tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
De Groot lands with a right to the head.
Kivipaa misses with a short punch on the inside.
De Groot works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.

De Groot manages to break the clinch.
Kimmo Kivipaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
De Groot lunges at Kivipaa with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kivipaa's hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivipaa misses with a hook
letting De Groot counter with a right hand.
Kivipaa throws an off balance right hand
and De Groot counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
A slapping body kick lands there for Kivipaa.
De Groot fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Kivipaa checks it well.
De Groot fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Kivipaa throws a body punch but De Groot moves out of range.
De Groot takes a swing at Kivipaa's ribcage but misses.
De Groot misses with a low kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
De Groot connects with a solid leg kick.
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!
De Groot throws a head kick that misses.
Kivipaa looks to clinch
and De Groot counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl De Groot dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

De Groot bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Kivipaa's head backwards.
Kivipaa thumps De Groot with a low kick.
Kimmo Kivipaa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kivipaa closes the distance looking to clinch
and De Groot counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
De Groot throws out a loose jab but Kivipaa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kivipaa closes the distance looking to clinch
and De Groot counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
De Groot is looking to wear down Kivipaa with body shots, infact he's throwing more body shots than head shots at the moment.
Kivipaa throws a body kick the misses
and De Groot counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kivipaa's knee momentarily.
Kivipaa wants to clinch
and De Groot makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kivipaa is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivipaa tries to clinch

and De Groot holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
De Groot cracks Kivipaa with a nice body shot.
De Groot trying to control the position but instead, Kivipaa has worked for underhooks and has pushed De Groot into the cage.

De Groot manages to break the clinch.
Kivipaa moves to clinch but De Groot breaks away
and De Groot counters with an outside leg kick.
Kivipaa scoring well with a low kick there.
Kivipaa tries to clinch but fails miserably
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kivipaa looks to clinch
and De Groot counters with a left to the body.
De Groot circles away from the clinch attempt
and De Groot counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Groot digs a good body shot into Kivipaa's ribs.
De Groot lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
De Groot scores with a spinning back kick!
De Groot feints and then cracks Kivipaa's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Kivipaa down.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
That kick from De Groot tenderised Kivipaa's leg. Kivipaa is trying to keep his angry face on.
Decent striking displayed by De Groot there.

It looks like Kimmo Kivipaa has been cut.
De Groot misses with a leg kick.
De Groot digs a good body shot into Kivipaa's ribs.
Kivipaa wants to clinch
and De Groot counters with a low kick, right behind Kivipaa 's knee.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Groot fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kivipaa manages to avoid it.
Kivipaa tries to clinch but De Groot moves away
and De Groot counters with a left to the body.
De Groot throws a head kick but Kivipaa moves out of range.
De Groot tests Kivipaa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
De Groot chopping away at his opponent's legs.
De Groot tried to score with a low kick but Kivipaa checks it.
Kivipaa darts in trying to clinch
and De Groot counters with a left to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Groot lands a head kick. Kivipaa smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
De Groot is looking to slow Kivipaa down with leg kicks.
Kivipaa misses the body punch
and De Groot finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Karl De Groot is winning the standup battle so far.
De Groot thumps Kivipaa with a low kick.
De Groot scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Kivipaa doesn't seem bothered though.
Kivipaa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from De Groot.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kivipaa chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before De Groot can pounce on him.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
De Groot lunges at Kivipaa with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Kivipaa's hand.
De Groot connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl De Groot dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kimmo Kivipaa's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

De Groot misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kivipaa.
De Groot explodes with a nice body kick and back out of range. Nice work.
De Groot scores with a punch to the head.
De Groot fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Kivipaa has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
De Groot throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Kivipaa misses with a hook to the body
and De Groot counters with a lovely straight right hand!
De Groot works Kivipaa's body with a nice hook.
Kivipaa takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kivipaa's hands are dropping dangerously low here and De Groot connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kivipaa scrambles back to his feet.
De Groot scores with a jab to the body.
Kivipaa closes the distance looking to clinch
and De Groot connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivipaa buckles his opponent's knee momentarily with a nice leg kick.
Kivipaa's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

De Groot clinches with his opponent.
De Groot pushes Kivipaa back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
A right handed body shot lands from De Groot.
De Groot manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kivipaa.
De Groot stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
De Groot blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by De Groot as Kivipaa tries to tie him up.
Kivipaa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
De Groot is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kivipaa can do to turn this around?
De Groot pushes Kivipaa back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
De Groot lands a body punch in the clinch.
De Groot is stalling here.
De Groot connects with a nasty looking knee right to Kivipaa's face.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A left hand lands to the body for De Groot.
De Groot stalling.
De Groot works on Kivipaa's body with a couple of short punches.
De Groot holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kivipaa misses with some punches.
De Groot blocks a body shot from Kivipaa.
De Groot blocks an uppercut.
De Groot lands a nice shot to the body.
A right hand to the body from De Groot.
De Groot's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
De Groot lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Kivipaa.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as De Groot takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
De Groot blocking some punches.
Kivipaa misses with a hook to the ribs.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kivipaa throws a punch but it's blocked by De Groot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

De Groot breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
De Groot ducks under a wild hook from Kivipaa.
Kivipaa wants to clinch
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Kivipaa closes the distance but De Groot moves to the side
and De Groot makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kivipaa moves to clinch but De Groot breaks away
and De Groot counters with a body kick.
Kivipaa tries to clinch but fails miserably
and De Groot counters with a lovely straight right hand!
De Groot misses with a body shot.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Groot circles away from the clinch attempt
and De Groot counters with a slapping leg kick.
Kivipaa tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and De Groot counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Nice uppercut there from De Groot.
Kivipaa moves to clinch but De Groot breaks away
and De Groot counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Kivipaa tries to clinch but fails miserably
and De Groot counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl De Groot clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Kimmo Kivipaa's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

A low kick from Kivipaa is predictable there

and De Groot counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
De Groot misses with a punch to the body.
De Groot lands a left hand.
A short left from De Groot.
Kivipaa throws a head punch that misses.
De Groot is trying to break free.
De Groot lands a body punch in the clinch.
A right hook to the body lands for De Groot.
Kivipaa misses with the head strike.
Kivipaa working aggressively here.

De Groot escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
De Groot fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

De Groot moves into range and clinches up with Kivipaa.
A left hand lands to the body for De Groot.
Kivipaa throws a punch but it's blocked by De Groot.
De Groot works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
De Groot has Kivipaa pushed against the cage.
Kivipaa is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.

De Groot's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kivipaa looks to clinch
and De Groot makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Groot lands a nice leg kick that just misses Kivipaa's sensitive parts.
Kivipaa takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Nice body kick from De Groot.
Kivipaa has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from De Groot finds it's way round the side to connect with Kivipaa's head.
Kivipaa misses with a left hand
and De Groot counters with a left and a right that stings Kivipaa.
De Groot lands with a kick to the temple. Kivipaa shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"

Kivipaa is rocked!
The crowd cheers as De Groot lands an impressive looking overhand right. Kivipaa doesn't seem phased though.
Kivipaa is still on wobbly legs! Can De Groot finish him?
Kivipaa moves to clinch but De Groot breaks away

and De Groot counters by clinching up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Groot cracks Kivipaa with a nice body shot.
Kivipaa seems to have recovered his senses.
De Groot lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
De Groot stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
A short body shot lands from De Groot as the two fighters clinch.
A hook to the body from De Groot.
Karl De Groot has scored more points in the clinch so far.
De Groot displaying some good clinch control by pressing Kivipaa up against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from De Groot.
De Groot lands a shot to the body.

De Groot's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
De Groot misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kivipaa stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from De Groot.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
De Groot tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kivipaa was well out of range. Poor timing from De Groot.
De Groot swings and misses with a hook to the body.
De Groot circles away from the clinch attempt
and De Groot counters with an outside leg kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivipaa tries to clinch
and Kivipaa takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Kivipaa throws a right and a left that both miss.
De Groot tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
De Groot throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
De Groot blocks a head kick by Kivipaa.
Kivipaa tries to grapple but his opponent circles
enabling De Groot to counter with a crisp jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kivipaa tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and De Groot connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
De Groot with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kivipaa to score with a decent uppercut.
Kivipaa lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as De Groot backs up against the cage.
De Groot throws a quick inside leg kick.
Kivipaa lands a jab to the head.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kivipaa tries to clinch up
and De Groot counters with a low kick, right behind Kivipaa 's knee.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Karl De Groot had his way with Kimmo Kivipaa in that round.
The cut man is working on Kimmo Kivipaa's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Kivipaa throws a one two combo.
Kivipaa tries to clinch up
and De Groot makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kivipaa throws a left and a right that both miss
and De Groot counters with a thumping low kick.
De Groot tries to bum rush Kivipaa with a series of wild strikes but Kivipaa uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Kivipaa tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and De Groot counters by clinching up.
De Groot is struggling to control the position.
Kivipaa scores with a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Groot is working Kivipaa over against the cage.
Kivipaa letting De Groot take a breather here.

De Groot escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kivipaa throws a jab but it's blocked by De Groot.
Kivipaa tries to clinch
and De Groot counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Kivipaa takes a jab right on the kisser.
Kivipaa wants to clinch
and De Groot makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Kivipaa is wobbling all over the place through exhaustion. Will he make it to the final bell?
Kivipaa wants to clinch but De Groot slips to the side
and De Groot makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Kivipaa really felt that one!
Kivipaa wants to clinch
and De Groot counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kivipaa darts in trying to clinch
and De Groot counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Good leg kick by De Groot there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Kivipaa throws a leg kick that is checked
and De Groot counters with a thumping low kick.
Kivipaa keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kivipaa dances in quickly and lands a nice inside leg kick on De Groot. That did some damage!
Kivipaa tries to clinch up
and De Groot counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivipaa looks to clinch
and De Groot counters with a low kick, right behind Kivipaa 's knee.
Kivipaa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kivipaa tries to clinch but fails miserably
and De Groot counters with a low kick, right behind Kivipaa 's knee.
Kivipaa misses with an uppercut
and De Groot counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
De Groot fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
De Groot looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Kivipaa walks into a stiff left hand from De Groot.
Kivipaa tries to clinch
and De Groot counters with a good low kick that Kivipaa was not able to check.
Karl De Groot is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
De Groot thumps Kivipaa with a low kick.
Kivipaa throws a predictable looking body shot
and De Groot counters with a stiff right hand.
Kimmo Kivipaa has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Groot goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Kivipaa closes the distance but De Groot moves to the side
and De Groot makes the exchange count by landing a cracking kick to the body. Kivipaa really felt that one!
De Groot pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kivipaa tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kivipaa tries to clinch
and De Groot makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Nice body punch from De Groot.
Kivipaa tries to clinch
and De Groot counters with a nice low kick that buckles Kivipaa's knee momentarily.
Kivipaa wants to clinch but De Groot slips to the side
and De Groot counters with a left and a right that stings Kivipaa.
De Groot ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Karl De Groot showed his dominance in that final round.
Well De Groot has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 50:43
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 50:43
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 50:43

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Karl De Groot!
Karl De Groot is the new featherweight champion!