PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Urp Olsson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Eemil Ponkalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Olsson
vs
Ponkalainen

188 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

195 cm
18
210 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Great elbows
Big heart

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Urp Olsson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eemil Ponkalainen!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ponkalainen moves in looking to clinch but Olsson pushes him off.

Olsson has closed the distance and engaged Ponkalainen in a clinch.

Olsson decides to pull guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.
Olsson wants to stand up but Ponkalainen is controlling him.
Olsson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Ponkalainen stands up and waves to Olsson to follow him.
Ponkalainen closes the distance but Olsson moves to the side

and Olsson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Olsson.
Ponkalainen lands a knee to the body.
Ponkalainen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Ponkalainen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Olsson avoids a wild elbow strike from Ponkalainen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Olsson avoiding damage as Ponkalainen throws knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Ponkalainen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Olsson dictating the pace here, as the fighters clinch against the cage.
Ponkalainen fails to pull guard.
Ponkalainen lands a nice elbow.

Olsson gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Ponkalainen regains guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Olsson wants to control from the top but Ponkalainen keeps moving.
Ponkalainen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Olsson is controlling him.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Olsson trying to control but Ponkalainen is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Urp Olsson.
Ponkalainen dodges the punch combination from Olsson.
Ponkalainen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ponkalainen wants to clinch

and Olsson counters by moving into the clinch.

Olsson manages to pull guard.

Olsson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Ponkalainen trying to stand up but can't free himself from Olsson's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Olsson is trying to control the position from the bottom.

Ponkalainen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Ponkalainen moves in looking to clinch but Olsson pushes him off.
Olsson shoots in for a takedown but Ponkalainen shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ponkalainen avoids the head kick by Olsson.
Ponkalainen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Olsson swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ponkalainen slaps away a takedown attempt from Olsson, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ponkalainen tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Olsson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Olsson.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Olsson unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ponkalainen lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Olsson has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Ponkalainen avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urp Olsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Olsson jumps guard but Ponkalainen stands there with Olsson around his waist. Olsson gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Olsson.
Ponkalainen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Olsson's defenses.
Ponkalainen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.

Olsson breaks the clinch.
Ponkalainen connects with an inside leg 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!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Olsson clinches.
Ponkalainen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Olsson pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Ponkalainen has had enough of the clinch but Olsson keeps him there for the moment.
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 Urp Olsson will probably get the nod.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Ponkalainen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.

Olsson instigates a clinch.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Olsson looking for a takedown.
Ponkalainen is looking to break free of the clinch but Olsson has double underhooks.
Olsson wants to break the clinch but can't.
Ponkalainen lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Ponkalainen comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Olsson slows down the pace here.
Ponkalainen blocks a body shot from Olsson.
Ponkalainen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Ponkalainen is trying to break free.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Olsson is trying to pull guard but Ponkalainen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Olsson is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Urp Olsson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Olsson is looking to take this one to the mat.
Ponkalainen scores a nice knee to the body.
Ponkalainen wants to get back to striking at distance but Olsson won't allow it.
Olsson blocks an elbow strike.
Ponkalainen misses with an elbow over the top.
Olsson is trying to break the clinch but Ponkalainen has him pressed against the cage.

Olsson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ponkalainen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Olsson takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Olsson has a takedown stuffed.
Ponkalainen closes the distance looking to clinch

and Olsson counters by moving into the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Olsson looking for a takedown.
Olsson takes an elbow to the forehead.

Olsson manages to break the clinch.

Ponkalainen closes the distance and clinches.
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!
Olsson prevents the takedown attempt.
Olsson is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Ponkalainen is defending well.
Olsson will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ponkalainen up against the cage.
Olsson wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Ponkalainen has him pressed against the cage.
Olsson is trying to break the clinch but Ponkalainen has him pressed against the cage.
Ponkalainen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Olsson's defenses.
Ponkalainen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Olsson managing to block the knees to the body from Ponkalainen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ponkalainen wants a takedown but no success here.
Ponkalainen is breathing heavily.
Ponkalainen stops a takedown attempt from Olsson.
Ponkalainen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ponkalainen tries to circle away but Olsson has him pinned against the cage.

Olsson pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ponkalainen moves to clinch but Olsson breaks away

and Olsson counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Ponkalainen is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Olsson to keep the fight standing.
Olsson has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Ponkalainen after a bit of a struggle.
Ponkalainen lands a good knee to the midsection. Olsson won't want to take too many of those.
Ponkalainen tries to break the clinch but Olsson is controlling the position.
Olsson is pushing Ponkalainen up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Olsson tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Ponkalainen smiles and moves away.
Ponkalainen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Eemil Ponkalainen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Olsson fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Ponkalainen avoids it really well and circles away.
Olsson thows a leg kick but Ponkalainen checks it
and Ponkalainen makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Left hook, right uppercut from Ponkalainen.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ponkalainen tries to close the distance and clinch but Olsson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Ponkalainen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Ponkalainen tries to close the distance and clinch but Olsson swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ponkalainen closes the distance but Olsson moves to the side

and Olsson counters by moving into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Eemil Ponkalainen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Olsson misses with an attempted mid kick.
Good leg kick by Ponkalainen there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Ponkalainen is looking to clinch.
Olsson misses with a takedown attempt - Ponkalainen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Olsson falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ponkalainen makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Ponkalainen tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Olsson counters by moving into the clinch.

Ponkalainen decides to pull guard.
Olsson looking to sit in guard and control but Ponkalainen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Olsson on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Olsson tries to get out of the position.
Olsson has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Ponkalainen has passed into side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Olsson is looking to reverse the position.
Olsson trying to control but Ponkalainen flips him over like a cheap hooker and has his back!
Ponkalainen keeps control of the position as Olsson tries to break free.

Ponkalainen has decided that he can't make progress quickly enough from the back position and has rather unusually decided to stand up from the dominant position. Obviously he's going to be looking for the knockout on the feet here!
Olsson circles away from the clinch attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Ponkalainen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Urp Olsson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Olsson fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Olsson circles away from the clinch attempt

and Olsson counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Olsson.

Olsson pulls guard successfully.

Olsson escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ponkalainen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Olsson is trying to hold Ponkalainen in close to prevent damage but Ponkalainen has managed to pass into half guard.
Ponkalainen tries to stand but can't do so whilst Olsson controls his leg.
Ponkalainen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Olsson has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Ponkalainen is working away from the top position though.
Olsson gets full guard.
Olsson is trying to control the position but Ponkalainen postures up.

Olsson throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Olsson is trying to keep Ponkalainen in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Ponkalainen wants to stand but Olsson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Ponkalainen postures up.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Urp Olsson.
I think Olsson 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Urp Olsson!