PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Erik Lehnsherr (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juhani Kontiovaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lehnsherr comes into the arena with PURE EVIL! blaring out of the sound system. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lehnsherr
vs
Kontiovaara

210 cm
28
278 lbs
10 - 10 - 1

193 cm
31
267 lbs
13 - 15 - 0

Decent wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 10 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Erik Lehnsherr!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 15 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juhani Kontiovaara!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lehnsherr throws a right and a left that Kontiovaara avoids nicely.
Lehnsherr throws a leg kick but Kontiovaara checks it.
Lehnsherr misses with the combination.
Nice defenses there by Lehnsherr.
Lehnsherr lands a two punch combo.

It looks like Juhani Kontiovaara has been cut.
Kontiovaara takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
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!
Lehnsherr scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kontiovaara rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Lehnsherr moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kontiovaara tries to clinch but Lehnsherr is having none of it.
Lehnsherr defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Kontiovaara.
Lehnsherr shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Kontiovaara throws a jab but it's blocked by Lehnsherr.
Erik Lehnsherr seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Kontiovaara closes the distance and pushes Lehnsherr back into the cage.
Lehnsherr is trying to break free.
Kontiovaara prevents Lehnsherr from breaking the clinch.

Lehnsherr escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lehnsherr throws the kick towards the body but Kontiovaara avoids it.
Lehnsherr leaves Kontiovaara with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lehnsherr looks to land a combination but Kontiovaara avoids it well.
Lehnsherr throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kontiovaara.
Kontiovaara tries to clinch there but Lehnsherr circles away.
Kontiovaara misses with a looping left.
Kontiovaara tries to clinch but Lehnsherr moves out of range.
Kontiovaara avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lehnsherr misses with a double jab.
Kontiovaara shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Lehnsherr eats them both and turns towards Kontiovaara to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Lehnsherr pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lehnsherr connects with the punch.
Kontiovaara shoots in for a double leg but Lehnsherr sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Erik Lehnsherr has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juhani Kontiovaara.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Lehnsherr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Kontiovaara slips a jab and a cross from Lehnsherr.

Kontiovaara forces Lehnsherr back against the cage and clinches.
Lehnsherr tries to circle away but Kontiovaara has him pinned against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lehnsherr breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kontiovaara fails with a takedown attempt.
Lehnsherr throws a series of punches but Kontiovaara moves out of range.
Kontiovaara throws a hook but Lehnsherr blocks it.
Lehnsherr misses with a double jab
and Kontiovaara counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kontiovaara slips a jab and a cross from Lehnsherr.
Lehnsherr stuns Kontiovaara with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Kontiovaara moves in looking to clinch but Lehnsherr pushes him off.

Kontiovaara is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Lehnsherr's half guard.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Kontiovaara throws a strike but Lehnsherr avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kontiovaara working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kontiovaara loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lehnsherr utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kontiovaara has gone for a leg lock! Lehnsherr slips out almost immediately though and dives into Kontiovaara's guard.

Kontiovaara looking for a guillotine here but Lehnsherr defends easily.

Kontiovaara has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Lehnsherr can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kontiovaara looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Kontiovaara looking for a guillotine here but Lehnsherr defends easily.

The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Kontiovaara had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Lehnsherr defends it easily.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!

Kontiovaara is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Erik Lehnsherr will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Juhani Kontiovaara'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.

Lehnsherr looks to land a combination but Kontiovaara avoids it well.
Kontiovaara missing with a left hand there. Lehnsherr was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kontiovaara gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Lehnsherr.
Lehnsherr will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Lehnsherr misses with a head kick.

Kontiovaara closes the distance and clinches.
Lehnsherr wants to get back to striking at distance but Kontiovaara won't allow it.
Kontiovaara is really struggling to land any decent head shots against his taller opponent.

Lehnsherr breaks from the clinch.
Lehnsherr tries a head kick but it misses.
Kontiovaara fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Erik Lehnsherr is winning the standup battle so far.
Lehnsherr wants to land a leg kick but Kontiovaara is out of range.
Lehnsherr looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kontiovaara throws a body kick that misses.
Kontiovaara looks to land a combination but Lehnsherr avoids it well.
Lehnsherr throws a nice looking combination but Kontiovaara bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kontiovaara throws a combination. Lehnsherr tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Lehnsherr looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Lehnsherr's jab looks to have found its range, popping Kontiovaara under the eye.
Kontiovaara fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kontiovaara keeping at a good range here, avoiding a leg kick.
Kontiovaara swings for the body but Lehnsherr moves out of range.
Lehnsherr closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Erik Lehnsherr is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lehnsherr tries to bum rush Kontiovaara with a series of wild strikes but Kontiovaara uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lehnsherr misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lehnsherr throws a head kick but Kontiovaara moves out of range.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Lehnsherr lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Kontiovaara stalks Lehnsherr and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Lehnsherr's face. Lehnsherr staggers backwards, shaken.
Kontiovaara uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lehnsherr.
Kontiovaara misses with a wild combination.
Lehnsherr is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Lehnsherr stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Lehnsherr wants it to stay on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kontiovaara fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Lehnsherr throws a left and a right that both miss

and Kontiovaara counters with a single leg into guard. Lehnsherr didn't expect that.
Lehnsherr looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lehnsherr knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kontiovaara on the ground.
Kontiovaara loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kontiovaara tries to free his leg and advance position but Lehnsherr is retaining full guard.
Kontiovaara trying to move into half guard but instead Lehnsherr has managed to sweep!

Kontiovaara escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Lehnsherr gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Kontiovaara has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Lehnsherr is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Kontiovaara.
Juhani Kontiovaara has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kontiovaara is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Lehnsherr controlling the action here.
Lehnsherr will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Kontiovaara is looking for a sweep. Lehnsherr is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

Kontiovaara looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

Kontiovaara is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Lehnsherr pulls his head out easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kontiovaara has guillotine here! It looks pretty tight! Could this be all over! No, Lehnsherr escapes and passes into side control at the same time. Nice work there by Lehnsherr!
Kontiovaara is trying to get back to half guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kontiovaara can't do much from the bottom here.
Lehnsherr taking a breather here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Juhani Kontiovaara will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Juhani Kontiovaara's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lehnsherr fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kontiovaara looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Lehnsherr throws a half hearted mid kick.
Lehnsherr pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Kontiovaara back to the cage. Lehnsherr follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Kontiovaara uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lehnsherr.
Kontiovaara avoids a punch combination nicely.
Lehnsherr misses with a head kick.
Kontiovaara throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kontiovaara shoots in looking for a takedown. Lehnsherr tries to sprawl out of it but Kontiovaara keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Lehnsherr manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

Kontiovaara manages to get an easy takedown there - catching Lehnsherr on his heels. He'll look to pass Lehnsherr's guard now, I'm sure.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Kontiovaara drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lehnsherr dives on top into guard.

Lehnsherr avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kontiovaara is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Kontiovaara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Kontiovaara has his foot on Lehnsherr's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Lehnsherr works his way back into a safe position though.

Kontiovaara working for a triangle but Lehnsherr defends it easily.

Kontiovaara is looking for a triangle here but Lehnsherr uses the submission attempt to pass into side control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lehnsherr happy to just control the position for now.
Kontiovaara is looking to regain half guard here but Lehnsherr keeps moving and retains side control.
Lehnsherr tries to advance to mount but Kontiovaara denies him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kontiovaara is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Kontiovaara sneaks back into half guard.
Kontiovaara tries to get to full guard but Lehnsherr has control of the leg.

Kontiovaara looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kontiovaara wants to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lehnsherr passes the guard and advances to mount!
Kontiovaara is wriggling around trying to escape.
Lehnsherr takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Lehnsherr prevents Kontiovaara from getting the reversal.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lehnsherr controlling his opponent.
Kontiovaara can't escape the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Juhani Kontiovaara.
I think Kontiovaara has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a draw!