PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Olavi Etuvainio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jalmari Sikanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Olavi Etuvainio has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Olavi Etuvainio seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Etuvainio
vs
Sikanen

190 cm
19
217 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

185 cm
18
215 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Granite chin

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Olavi Etuvainio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jalmari Sikanen!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Etuvainio tries for a takedown but Sikanen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Sikanen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Etuvainio throws a head kick that misses.
Sikanen looks to score with a jab to the body but Etuvainio is just out of range.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Etuvainio.
Sikanen blocks a head kick by Etuvainio.
Etuvainio misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Sikanen.
Etuvainio moves into range and lands a nice body kick.
Etuvainio throws a sloppy head kick and Sikanen moves out of range easily.
Etuvainio with a nice cross.
Etuvainio throws a right and a left that both miss.
Etuvainio throws a head kick but Sikanen moves out of range.
Etuvainio pulls out of a head kick attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sikanen tries to bum rush Etuvainio with a series of wild strikes but Etuvainio uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Etuvainio fakes the leg kick and cracks Sikanen in the body.
Etuvainio tries a head kick but it misses.

Etuvainio gets a takedown into half guard.
Etuvainio tries to pass the half guard into mount. Sikanen knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.

Etuvainio is trying to work for a kimura but Sikanen is defending well.
Sikanen is trying to control but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Etuvainio throwing shots but Sikanen is blocking nicely.
Etuvainio throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Sikanen is looking to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Sikanen is staying active underneath Etuvainio, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Etuvainio is looking to clinch but Sikanen is avoiding it.
Sikanen misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Etuvainio. That's going to slow Sikanen down.
Etuvainio misses with a double jab.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Etuvainio.
Sikanen throws a poor cross that misses

and Etuvainio counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Etuvainio with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Etuvainio is breathing heavily.
Etuvainio lands an elbow just above Sikanen 's eye.
Etuvainio stalls.
Sikanen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Sikanen wants to break the clinch but can't.

Etuvainio pulls Sikanen into guard.

Etuvainio looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Sikanen passes into side control.
Etuvainio struggling a bit here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sikanen decides to stand up, so the ref orders Etuvainio to his feet.
Sikanen misses with a double jab
and Etuvainio counters with a low kick, right behind Sikanen 's knee.
Sikanen avoids the head kick by Etuvainio.
Sikanen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Etuvainio circles away from the clinch attempt
and Etuvainio counters with an inside leg kick.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olavi Etuvainio dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Sikanen tries to clinch

so Etuvainio counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Sikanen keeping moving, preventing Etuvainio from controlling successfully.
Etuvainio throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Sikanen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Etuvainio trying to control but Sikanen is working from the bottom.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Sikanen is looking to stand up but Etuvainio isn't so interested in that idea.
Etuvainio trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Etuvainio is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Sikanen throws an off balance right hand
and Etuvainio counters with an inside leg kick.
Sikanen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Etuvainio lands a head kick!
Olavi Etuvainio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
A head kick misses from Etuvainio.
Etuvainio looks for a takedown but Sikanen sprawls well.
Sikanen lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.

Etuvainio fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Sikanen sprawls well initially but Etuvainio persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Etuvainio is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Sikanen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Etuvainio.
Etuvainio frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Sikanen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Etuvainio. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Etuvainio looking to control but Sikanen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Etuvainio lands with some strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Etuvainio is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Sikanen has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Etuvainio with shots to the head and body - Sikanen looks very uncomfortable down there.

Etuvainio is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Sikanen is surviving well by controlling Etuvainio's body position as best he can.
Sikanen tries to improve his position but instead Etuvainio has taken his back!

Sikanen 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 Etuvainio gets his way!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sikanen is really stuck here.

Sikanen showing good submission defense here.
Etuvainio missing with strikes from the back.
Sikanen covering up well under a barage of strikes.
Etuvainio keeps control of the position easily here as Sikanen tries to buck him off.

Sikanen fending off the submission attempt from Etuvainio.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Olavi Etuvainio dominated that second 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. This is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Etuvainio.
Etuvainio advances nicely into full mount.
Etuvainio 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.
Sikanen is squirming around, avoiding Etuvainio's attempts to control the action.
Etuvainio wants to take Sikanen's back but he can't do it this time.
Etuvainio wants to control but instead Sikanen manages to regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sikanen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Sikanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Etuvainio has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Etuvainio cracks Sikanen with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.

Etuvainio is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Sikanen can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Etuvainio can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sikanen is looking to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Olavi Etuvainio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sikanen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Etuvainio with good strikes from the mount here!
Etuvainio can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Sikanen is looking to escape.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Etuvainio cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sikanen is trying to escape the mount.

Etuvainio is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Sikanen has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Sikanen!
Etuvainio trying to strike off his back.
Etuvainio wants to sweep but no luck.
Sikanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Etuvainio is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Etuvainio has a closed guard, preventing Sikanen from standing up.
Jalmari Sikanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four 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.

Etuvainio working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Sikanen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Sikanen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Etuvainio is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Sikanen postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
Olavi Etuvainio showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Etuvainio 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Olavi Etuvainio!