PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Keijo Kerjalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Atlas Kivi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Atlas Kivi has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kerjalainen
vs
Kivi

179 cm
25
168 lbs
12 - 4 - 0

175 cm
24
160 lbs
11 - 4 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Olympic wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Keijo Kerjalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Atlas Kivi!
The judges for this bout are Konstantin Menshow, Viktor Lagutenko and Dmitry Maklakov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Kivi drives through with a takedown into Kerjalainen's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
The referee wants the fighters to be more active or he's going to reset them on the feet.
Kivi 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.
Kivi looking to sit in guard and control but Kerjalainen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Kivi pulls Kerjalainen in close to prevent any damage.
Kivi not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Kerjalainen won't allow Kivi to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerjalainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Kivi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kerjalainen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kerjalainen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kivi moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kerjalainen tries to clinch up but Kivi circles away and keeps his distance.
Kerjalainen tries to clinch but Kivi is having none of it.
Nice body punch from Kivi.
Kivi ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kerjalainen moves away.
Kivi blocks the body kick.
Kerjalainen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kivi circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kerjalainen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kivi.
Kerjalainen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

It looks like Atlas Kivi has been cut.

Kerjalainen moves into the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kerjalainen tries to land knees in the clinch but Kivi avoids the damage to the body.
Kerjalainen looks to throw an elbow but misses.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kivi.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kerjalainen misses with a punch to the body.
Kerjalainen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Kerjalainen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kivi.
Kerjalainen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Kivi can't break the clinch.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kerjalainen is trying to stall.
Kivi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivi lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kerjalainen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Kivi wants to get back to striking at distance but Kerjalainen won't allow it.
Kerjalainen lands an elbow that stopped Kivi in his tracks for a moment.
Kivi takes an elbow to the temple.
Kivi misses with a punch on the inside.
Kerjalainen landing knees to the body.
Kivi wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Kerjalainen struggles to land a body shot inside as Kivi controls his hands.
Kerjalainen is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the ropes.
Kerjalainen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kivi is defending well for now.
Kerjalainen is looking to control Kivi's arms but Kivi gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kerjalainen has his back to the ropes.

Kivi breaks from the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerjalainen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kerjalainen is pinned up against the ropes taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Keijo Kerjalainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kerjalainen closes the distance but Kivi moves to the side

and Kivi counters with a single leg into guard. Kerjalainen didn't expect that.
Kerjalainen keeping moving, preventing Kivi from controlling successfully.
Kerjalainen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kivi wants to control from the top but Kerjalainen keeps moving.
Kivi tries to free his leg and advance position but Kerjalainen is retaining full guard.
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 Keijo Kerjalainen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Atlas Kivi'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.

Kerjalainen throws a lazy right hand but Kivi sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Kerjalainen gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Kivi misses with a body punch
and Kerjalainen counters with a solid body kick.
Kerjalainen walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.

It looks like Keijo Kerjalainen has been cut.

Kivi feints and as Kerjalainen raises his hands in defense, Kivi changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kivi trying to control but Kerjalainen is working from the bottom.
Kivi throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kerjalainen is trying to keep Kivi in close.
Kivi trying to control but Kerjalainen is working from the bottom.
Kerjalainen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Kivi drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Kerjalainen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Kivi has Kerjalainen in his guard.
Kerjalainen trying to control the position from guard on top but Kivi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Keijo Kerjalainen just wasn't active enough.
Sloppy strikes from Kerjalainen. Those never looked like landing.
Kerjalainen throws a head kick but Kivi moves out of range.
Kerjalainen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kivi fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kerjalainen manages to avoid it.
Kerjalainen throws a leg kick but Kivi sees it coming and moves out of range.

Kerjalainen drives through and clinches with Kivi against the ropes.
Kivi avoiding damage as Kerjalainen throws knees to the body.
Kivi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kivi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kerjalainen crunches a lovely knee into Kivi's ribcage.
Kivi misses with the head strike.
Kerjalainen tries to work over Kivi's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Kivi is trying to stall.
Kivi lands a nice uppercut.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Kivi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kerjalainen trying to land knees to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerjalainen tries to throw a body punch but Kivi avoids it by throwing Kerjalainen back against the ropes.
Kerjalainen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kivi is defending well for now.
Kerjalainen lands a nice elbow.
Kerjalainen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kivi.
Kerjalainen lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Kivi or not.
Kerjalainen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Kivi.
Kivi tries to stall but Kerjalainen uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Kerjalainen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Kivi is defending well for now.
Kivi managing to block the knees to the body from Kerjalainen.
Kivi dodges an elbow strike from Kerjalainen.
Kerjalainen trying to land knees to the body.

Kivi escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kivi misses with a body shot.

Kivi throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Kerjalainen was covering up waiting for the punch and Kivi finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Kivi scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerjalainen keeping moving, preventing Kivi from controlling successfully.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kivi tries to free his leg and advance position but Kerjalainen is retaining full guard.

Kivi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Kerjalainen is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Kivi, into his guard.
Kerjalainen wants to control from the top but Kivi keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Atlas Kivi will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kerjalainen has managed to clinch.
Kivi on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Kerjalainen tries to land knees in the clinch but Kivi avoids the damage to the body.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Kerjalainen as Kivi tries to tie him up.
Kivi blocks an uppercut.
Come on Kerjalainen - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Kivi throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Kerjalainens head.
Kivi is looking to control Kerjalainen's arms but Kerjalainen gets an underhook and turns him. Now Kivi has his back to the ropes.
Kerjalainen wants to get back to striking at distance but Kivi won't allow it.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kivi.
Kerjalainen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Kivi avoids it.
Kivi lands with a right to the head.
Kerjalainen tries to land knees in the clinch but Kivi avoids the damage to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kerjalainen taking a breather.
Kerjalainen gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Kivi throws a head punch that misses.
Kerjalainen misses with a punch to the body.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Kivi.

Kivi breaks from the clinch.
Kerjalainen connects with an inside leg kick.
Kerjalainen lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.
Kerjalainen thumps Kivi with a low kick.
Kerjalainen is looking to clinch but Kivi is avoiding it.
Kerjalainen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Kerjalainen lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
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!
Kerjalainen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kerjalainen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Kivi.
Kerjalainen wants to clinch
and Kivi cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kerjalainen misses with a looping right.
Kivi is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Kerjalainen rather than just go for the knockout.
Kivi works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Nice sprawl there from Kerjalainen as Kivi shoots in.
Kerjalainen moves in looking to clinch but Kivi pushes him off.
Kerjalainen throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kivi keeps the fight on the outside.
Kerjalainen moves into range and lands a nice body kick.

Kerjalainen rushes Kivi and presses him up against the ropes.
Kerjalainen tries to land knees in the clinch but Kivi avoids the damage to the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kerjalainen misses with a hook to the ribs.
A bit of stalling here from Kivi.
Kerjalainen missing with knees to the body.
Kerjalainen tries to land knees in the clinch but Kivi avoids the damage to the body.

Kivi pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kivi takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Kivi checks a leg kick.
Kivi throws a big shot that misses.
Keijo Kerjalainen is winning the standup battle so far.
Kivi shoots in but Kerjalainen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Kerjalainen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Kerjalainen throws a leg kick but Kivi sees it coming and checks it nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kerjalainen swinging wildly here.

Kerjalainen gets caught napping as Kivi dives in and scores a takedown. Kerjalainen manages to retain guard.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Kerjalainen trying to control the position.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Kivi trying to control but Kerjalainen is working from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kerjalainen wants to sweep but no luck.

And that's the end of the fight!
Keijo Kerjalainen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Kerjalainen has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Konstantin Menshow scores the fight for Keijo Kerjalainen!
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight for Keijo Kerjalainen!
Judge Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight for Keijo Kerjalainen!

Keijo Kerjalainen wins by unanimous decision!
Keijo Kerjalainen seemed lost for words in his post fight interview but he remembered to thank his fans and directed everyone to his website.