PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Osmo Keinanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rolf Spicer (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I can't wait for this one - let's get the fighter introductions out of the way and get this one started!

Keinanen
vs
Spicer

181 cm
19
190 lbs
1 - 4 - 1

185 cm
19
190 lbs
0 - 5 - 1

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Osmo Keinanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 1, fighting out of St Petersburg, Rolf Spicer!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Spicer misses with a two punch combination.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Keinanen is pressed up against the cage. Spicer has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Keinanen down to the mat. Keinanen avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Spicer is looking to land body kicks.

Keinanen has managed to clinch.
Keinanen changes levels and goes for a takedown here. Spicer fights it off and pushes away nicely.
Keinanen will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Spicer clinches but Keinanen breaks the clinch

and Keinanen counters with a takedown into side control.
Spicer pushes Keinanen away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Keinanen gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Keinanen working the ground and pound.
Spicer is not content to let Keinanen control the position.
Spicer is working to avoid the ground and pound but Keinanen connects with a decent elbow.

Keinanen goes for an armbar here - this could be all over! But no, Spicer has escaped beautifully and is now on top in side control! Oh, that's unlucky for Keinanen but great work by Spicer.
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!
Keinanen sneaks back into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Keinanen looking for submissions off his back.
Keinanen is breathing heavily.
Keinanen trying to control from the bottom.
Spicer tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Keinanen.
Spicer is thwarting Keinanen's attempts to control the position.
Keinanen is looking to improve his position.
Keinanen moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.
Keinanen controls Spicer momentarily but Spicer frees himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Keinanen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Keinanen fails with a takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Osmo Keinanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Keinanen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Spicer closes this distance looking for a takedown but Keinanen circles away.
Spicer looks to throw the jab but Keinanen is out of range.
Keinanen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Spicer counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

Keinanen is looking for a triangle but Spicer pushes his legs off easily.
Keinanen controls Spicer momentarily but Spicer frees himself.
Spicer stopping the sweep attempt from Keinanen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keinanen has Spicer pulled in close to control his posture.
Keinanen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Spicer must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Spicer is looking to stand up but Keinanen won't let him.
Keinanen striking from his own guard.
Keinanen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Well, if Keinanen 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.
Spicer is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Keinanen scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Keinanen is taking a breather. Spicer says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Keinanen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

Spicer is defending against the submission attempts here by Keinanen.
Keinanen prevents Spicer from standing back up.
Keinanen lands strikes from half guard.
Keinanen has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Keinanen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Spicer is looking to escape.
Keinanen thows a huge punch but Spicer dodges it nicely.
Keinanen passes the guard and advances to mount!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Keinanen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Keinanen shoots in for a takedown but Spicer shows good takedown defense.
Spicer misses with a leg kick
and Keinanen counters with a series of strikes. Spicer will be more careful next time no doubt.
Spicer scores with a three punch combo!
Spicer throws a leg kick

and Keinanen counters by moving into the clinch.
Spicer is pressed up against the cage. Keinanen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Spicer down to the mat. Spicer avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Osmo Keinanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Spicer tries to clinch but Keinanen is having none of it.
Keinanen fails with the takedown.
Spicer closes the distance looking to clinch

and Keinanen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Keinanen makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Spicer utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Spicer is breathing heavily.
Spicer keeping moving, preventing Keinanen from controlling successfully.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Keinanen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Keinanen is pushing down on Spicer's leg trying to pass to half guard. Spicer is fighting to maintain full guard but Keinanen has managed to sneak the leg through.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Keinanen working Spicer over with strikes.

Keinanen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Keinanen moves nicely into side control.
Keinanen fails to land a wild elbow strike.
Keinanen working the head with strikes.
Keinanen grinds an elbow into Spicer's temple.

Keinanen tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Keinanen looking to punish the body of his opponent here but Spicer is avoiding damage well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Keinanen lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.

Keinanen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Spicer sneaks out the side door and pushes Keinanen away - he's back to his feet. The crowd show their appreciation for the escape.
Keinanen drops his hands momentarily and Spicer takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Keinanen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Spicer as he avoids it easily.
Keinanen misses with a takedown attempt
and Spicer counters with a three punch combo that has Keinanen backing up. Keinanen nods at Spicer to acknowledge the strikes.
Keinanen with a lazy takedown attempt

and Spicer counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Keinanen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Spicer manages to get himself to full guard.
Spicer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Keinanen is controlling him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keinanen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Spicer is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Keinanen is controlling him.
Keinanen looking to sit in guard and control but Spicer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Spicer wants to stand but Keinanen is controlling his posture from full guard.
Keinanen working a defensive guard but Spicer passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Keinanen wants to get back to full guard.
Keinanen trying to control but Spicer postures up.
Spicer wants to stand up but Keinanen is controlling the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Spicer lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Spicer.
A combination from Keinanen does no damage.
Spicer looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Spicer throws a push kick but Keinanen slaps the foot to one side.
Keinanen fails to land the takedown.
Spicer moves into range and connects with a jab.

Keinanen scores with a takedown into Spicer's guard.
Spicer keeping moving, preventing Keinanen from controlling successfully.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Osmo Keinanen dominated that second round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Keinanen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Spicer wants to stand but Keinanen is controlling the position.
Keinanen distracts Spicer with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Keinanen lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Keinanen postures up in Spicer's guard and throws a big left but Spicer blocks it.
Spicer keeping full guard, as Keinanen tries to pass.
Keinanen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Keinanen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Spicer works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Keinanen lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Keinanen 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.
Keinanen looking to sit in guard and control but Spicer gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Keinanen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Spicer manages to get himself to full guard.
Keinanen slips nicely into half guard.
Spicer pushes Keinanen off looking to stand but Keinanen dives back in and keeps control.
Osmo Keinanen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Keinanen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Spicer defending well though.
Spicer is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Keinanen connects with a nice short shot to Spicer's temple.
Keinanen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Spicer misses with a two punch combination.
Keinanen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Rolf Spicer seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Spicer is looking to chop away at Keinanen's legs.

Keinanen fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Spicer sprawls well initially but Keinanen persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Spicer is trying to stand up here but Keinanen is controlling him well.
Ground and pound from Keinanen.
Spicer is refusing to be controlled, as Keinanen sits in half guard.
Keinanen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Spicer with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Spicer is trying to stand back up but Keinanen is controlling him

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Keinanen is tying to control. Spicer wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Spicer wants to get back to his feet.
Keinanen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Keinanen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Keinanen 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.
Keinanen with a nice head shot there.
Spicer keeping moving, preventing Keinanen from controlling successfully.

Keinanen has gone for a leg lock! Spicer slips out almost immediately though and dives into Keinanen's guard.
Rolf Spicer has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Spicer connects with a couple of short punches.
Spicer would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Keinanen had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Spicer is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Keinanen Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Spicer's back instead.
Spicer takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Keinanen has Spicer flattened out and is raining down punches.
Keinanen throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.

Spicer is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Keinanen gets his way!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Keinanen wants to control but Spicer is keeping busy.

And that's the end of the fight!
Osmo Keinanen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Keinanen, 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Osmo Keinanen!