PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Michael Fybra (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arvo Itaniemi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Fybra
vs
Itaniemi

190 cm
19
196 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

172 cm
19
195 lbs
2 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Perkele!
M/S Paint Fightwear

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 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Fybra!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arvo Itaniemi!
The judges for this bout are Sergei Dronov, Vladimir Khabensky and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fybra goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Fybra throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.
Itaniemi has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Fybra.
Fybra throws a wild body kick that Itaniemi sees coming a mile off.
Fybra has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Itaniemi misses with a low kick.
Itaniemi misses with a low kick.
Fybra thows a leg kick but Itaniemi checks it
and Itaniemi counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Good work by Itaniemi as he checks the leg kick.
Fybra misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Fybra checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Fybra fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Itaniemi is out of range.
Fybra stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Itaniemi.
Itaniemi checks a leg kick nicely.
Itaniemi misses with a wild body shot.
Itaniemi on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Fybra. Fybra obviously looking to wear him down.
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!
Fybra throws a nice head kick!

It looks like Arvo Itaniemi has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Itaniemi darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Itaniemi throws a body punch but Fybra moves out of range.
Itaniemi throws a shot to the body.
Itaniemi with a hook.
Itaniemi checks a leg kick.
Fybra feints and then cracks Itaniemi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Itaniemi down.
Fybra misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Itaniemi looks to score with a jab to the body but Fybra is just out of range.
Fybra lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Itaniemi throws a leg kick but Fybra sees it coming and moves out of range.
A good leg kick by Fybra.
Itaniemi looks gassed!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Itaniemi moves out of range of the leg kick from Fybra.
Fybra with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Itaniemi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Fybra moves away.
Itaniemi throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fybra blocks a jab.
Itaniemi thows a body kick. Fybra tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Fybra misses with a low kick as Itaniemi jumps back.
Itaniemi tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Fybra misses with a low kick.
Fybra throws a low kick, looking for Itaniemi's leg but Itaniemi calmly moves out of range.
Fybra feints and then cracks Itaniemi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Itaniemi down.
Fybra throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Both fighters circling a little - Fybra finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Itaniemi keeps the fight on the outside.
Fybra tries a head kick but it misses.
Fybra lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Fybra tries to land a leg kick but Itaniemi saw it coming and moves away.
Fybra lands a leg kick that knocks Itaniemi off balance momentarily.
Fybra throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fybra feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Itaniemi's calf.
Itaniemi's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Itaniemi checks a leg kick.
Fybra avoids the head kick by Itaniemi.
Fybra scores with a leg kick.
A chopping leg kick lands by Fybra.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Fybra, right into the meat.
Good leg kick by Fybra there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A solid leg kick lands there for Fybra.
Itaniemi checks a leg kick.
Fybra lands with a slapping head kick.
Fybra lands a nice leg kick that just misses Itaniemi's sensitive parts.
An inside leg kick lands from Fybra.
Itaniemi on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Fybra lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fybra delivers a nice body kick.
Itaniemi goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A good leg kick by Fybra.
Nice body kick there by Fybra.
Good work by Itaniemi as he checks the leg kick.
Itaniemi is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Fybra rather than just go for the knockout.
Fybra lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Fybra feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Itaniemi's calf.
Fybra throws a push kick but Itaniemi slaps the foot to one side.
Fybra throws the kick towards the body but Itaniemi avoids it.
Fybra tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Fybra lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Fybra clinches.
Fybra dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Fybra dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Arvo Itaniemi's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Fybra scores with a spinning back kick!
Fybra misses with a low kick as Itaniemi jumps back.
Itaniemi should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Fybra cracks the inside of Itaniemi's front leg.
Fybra looks for the body kick but Itaniemi saw that one coming.
Itaniemi walks forward, straight into a front kick from Fybra.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Fybra throws a feint and then finishes with a kick to the body.
A nice leg kick lands there from Fybra.
Fybra throws a front kick that sends Itaniemi stumbling back into the ropes.
Good leg kick by Fybra there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Itaniemi checks the leg kick nicely there.
Itaniemi is breathing heavily.
Itaniemi keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Fybra.
Fybra fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Itaniemi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Michael Fybra is winning the standup battle so far.
A solid leg kick lands there for Fybra.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Fybra.
Fybra lands with a thumping leg kick.
Fybra fakes a jab and throws a low kick but Itaniemi checks it well.
Fybra thumps Itaniemi with a low 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!

Fybra lands a big head kick that sends Itaniemi tumbling to the mat! Fybra takes a step backwards and waves Itaniemi back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Fybra drives through and clinches with Itaniemi against the ropes.
Stalling in the clinch from Fybra.
A frustrated look appears on Itaniemi's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Itaniemi tries to break free but Fybra pushes him back against the ropes.
Itaniemi is trying to break the clinch but Fybra is controlling him.
Fybra is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Itaniemi's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Itaniemi throws a head kick that misses.
Fybra is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Itaniemi can do to turn this around?
Fybra misses with a kick to the body.
Fybra does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Fybra attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Itaniemi has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Fybra.
Fybra throws a chopping leg kick but Itaniemi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Fybra lands a leg kick that knocks Itaniemi off balance momentarily.
Good leg kick by Fybra there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Fybra misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Fybra, right into the meat.
Fybra lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.

Fybra closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the ropes.
Itaniemi is trying to break the clinch but Fybra is controlling him.
Itaniemi tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Fybra's elbow.

Fybra breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Fybra connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Fybra.

Fybra clinches.
Fybra keeps control of Itaniemi as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Fybra's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Good leg kick by Fybra there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Itaniemi takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Fybra.
Fybra is looking to slow Itaniemi down with leg kicks.
Fybra connects with a leg kick. Itaniemi looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Fybra finds nothing but air with that leg kick attempt.
Nice body kick there by Fybra.
Fybra throws out a leg kick but Itaniemi moves out of range and Fybra only half commits.
Fybra scoring well with a low kick there.
Fybra scores with a leg kick.
Fybra throws a low kick but Itaniemi avoids it.
Fybra throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fybra throws a nice inside leg kick.
Fybra goes for a high kick. It partially lands.

That has opened up Arvo Itaniemi's cut even more.
A bone on bone clash there as Itaniemi blocks the leg kick.
Fybra wants to clinch up but Itaniemi keeps it at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Fybra dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Arvo Itaniemi's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Fybra fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Itaniemi.
Itaniemi just misses with a punch to the body.
A slapping body kick lands there for Fybra.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Fybra.
Fybra throws a nice inside leg kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Fybra throws a leg kick but Itaniemi sees it coming and moves out of range.
Fybra is looking to slow Itaniemi down with leg kicks.
Fybra throws a leg kick that misses.
Fybra connects with an inside leg kick.
Fybra tries to clinch up.
Itaniemi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Fybra lands with a thumping leg kick.
That kick from Fybra tenderised Itaniemi's leg. Itaniemi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Fybra misses with a low kick.
Fybra tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fybra throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Itaniemi.

Fybra clinches up against the ropes.
Fybra dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the ropes.
Fybra seems to have come into the fight with the intention of avoiding any damage in the clinch, rather than actually showing any aggression.
A frustrated look appears on Itaniemi's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Itaniemi breaks from the clinch.
Fybra fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Fybra chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Fybra tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fybra moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Good leg kick by Fybra there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Fybra scores with a spinning back kick!
That kick from Fybra tenderised Itaniemi's leg. Itaniemi is trying to keep his angry face on.
Fybra throws a quick inside leg kick.
A solid leg kick lands there for Fybra.
Itaniemi moves out of range of the leg kick from Fybra.
Fybra scoring well with a low kick there.
Fybra thumps Itaniemi with a low kick.
Fybra with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
A chopping leg kick lands by Fybra.
Itaniemi blocks a head kick by Fybra.
Fybra misses with an attempted mid kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A low kick from Itaniemi misses
and Fybra counters with a nice low kick that buckles Itaniemi's knee momentarily.
Fybra throws a leg kick that misses.
Fybra connects with a solid leg kick.
Fybra throws a leg kick but Itaniemi sees it coming and moves out of range.
Fybra is looking to slow Itaniemi down with leg kicks.
Fybra tries to close the distance and clinch up but Itaniemi swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A thudding body kick lands there by Fybra!
Itaniemi blocks a head kick by Fybra.
Good work by Itaniemi as he checks the leg kick.
Fybra slips under a jab.
Fybra throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Fybra defending well as Itaniemi loads up on a big left hand.
Fybra fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Fybra fakes the leg kick and cracks Itaniemi in the body.
Fybra attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Fybra lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Fybra. Itaniemi shrugs it off though.
Itaniemi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Fybra manages to avoid it.
Fybra feints and then cracks Itaniemi's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Itaniemi down.
A solid body kick from Fybra.
Fybra throws a chopping leg kick but Itaniemi manages to avoid taking any serious damage.
Fybra throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
Michael Fybra is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

The cut above Arvo Itaniemi's eye is starting to cause him problems now.
Itaniemi takes a swing at Fybra's ribcage but misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Fybra throws a low kick but it's checked well by Itaniemi.
A chopping leg kick lands by Fybra.
Arvo Itaniemi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Itaniemi throws a leg kick but he was too far away and it doesn't land.

And that's the end of the fight!
Michael Fybra showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Fybra 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight for Michael Fybra!
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight for Michael Fybra!
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Michael Fybra!

Michael Fybra wins by unanimous decision!