PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jim Jones (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ville Laitinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ville Laitinen acknowledges the crowd's support as he enters the cage.

Jones
vs
Laitinen

190 cm
21
192 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

175 cm
27
187 lbs
5 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Basic striking
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Powerful

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, Jim Jones!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ville Laitinen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laitinen thows a body shot but no joy.
A telegraphed right hand from Jones misses the target.
Jim Jones seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Jones throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Laitinen was covering up waiting for the punch and Jones finishes the takedown easily into guard.
Laitinen keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.
Laitinen is controlling Jones's posture.
Laitinen keeping full guard, as Jones tries to pass.
Laitinen pulls Jones in to control the position.

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

Jones has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Laitinen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jones is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Laitinen defends well.
Jones wants to sweep but no luck.

Jones is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Laitinen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Jones looking to hit a scissor sweep but Laitinen is one step ahead there.
Laitinen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Laitinen lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Jones is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Laitinen defends well.
Laitinen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Jones looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Jones has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Laitinen has passed into side control.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Jones is looking to reverse the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Jones is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Laitinen is one step ahead and moves to full mount!
Jones really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Laitinen controlling from mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Laitinen is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Laitinen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Jones is looking to improve his position but Laitinen isn't that keen on the idea.
Laitinen trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jones is in all sorts of trouble here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen controlling from the full mount.
Jones regains half guard.
Laitinen not doing much here.
Jones has a hand on Laitinen's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Laitinen takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jones tries to reverse the position but Laitinen maintains control.
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 Jim Jones will probably get the nod.
That's time! Jones's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Jones gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Laitinen dodges an elbow strike from Jones.
Laitinen trying to control the position but instead, Jones has worked for underhooks and has pushed Laitinen into the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Laitinen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Jones trying to stall but Laitinen improves his position.
Laitinen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Jones creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Laitinen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.

Jones pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Jones closes the distance and clinches.
Jones pushes off an throws an elbow but Laitinen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Laitinen is trying to break the clinch but Jones has him pressed against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laitinen blocks the elbow strike.
Jones pushes off an throws an elbow but Laitinen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Jones looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A short left from Laitinen.

Jones manages to pull guard.
Jones 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.
Jones will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Jones is working hard here to advance position.

Jones is looking for a triangle but Laitinen pushes his legs off easily.
Laitinen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Laitinen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Jones is keeping the position for now.
Laitinen pushing down on Jones's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones wants to get back to full guard.
Laitinen is trying to control the action in half guard but Jones is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Laitinen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Jones is refusing to be controlled, as Laitinen sits in half guard.
Jones tries to roll over but Laitinen keeps him under control.
Laitinen not doing much here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Laitinen is looking to take a break and control but Jones is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Ville Laitinen wasn't active enough on the ground.

Laitinen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Laitinen wants to stall.
Laitinen scores with a shoulder strike.
Jones has Laitinen pressed against the cage, preventing Laitinen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Jones is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Jones is trying to stall.

Jones drags the fight down to the ground.

Jones working away from the bottom but not quite defensive enough there because Laitinen has passed into half guard!
Jones is looking to improve his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen is pressing down on Jones's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jones is holding on for now.
Laitinen content to control rather than advance.
Laitinen is pressing down on Jones's thigh, looking to free his foot. Jones is holding on for now.
Jones is looking to improve his position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Jones blocking the ground and pound attempt from Laitinen.
Jones has a hand on Laitinen's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Laitinen takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ville Laitinen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! And we move into the final round!

Laitinen tries a low kick but Jones avoids it.

Laitinen shoots in and gets a takedown into Jones's guard.

Laitinen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Jones is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Laitinen is aware though and is defending well.

Jones working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Laitinen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Laitinen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Jones wants to improve his position but instead Laitinen has moved into half guard.
Still in half guard, Laitinen seems content to control.
Laitinen uses his free foot to push down on Jones's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Jones.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laitinen controlling the position easily from mount.
Laitinen lands a couple of good shots and Jones has given up his back, trying to escape the position!
Jones is defending well here and trying to improve his position.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Ville Laitinen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Jones rolls, trying to escape but Laitinen keeps control of the position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Jones is keeping busy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Jones tries to escape but Laitinen has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Laitinen tries to get the hooks in deep but Jones pushed the leg off.
Jones can't escape the position.
Laitinen biding his time, looking for the opening.
Jones can't escape the position.
Laitinen controlling the position well here. Jones rolled but Laitinen kept the hooks locked in and stayed in the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jones can't escape the position.
Laitinen just keeping the dominant position. He can't wait too long though, otherwise the referee will stand them back up.
Laitinen is hanging on to Jones's back as he tries to escape.
Laitinen has good solid back control here.
Laitinen looking to soften up his opponent with punches.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
I would not like to be Jones right now.
Jones rolls, trying to escape but Laitinen keeps control of the position.
Can Jones hold on?! Laitinen is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
I really don't envy Jones right now.
Jones is keeping busy.
Laitinen might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Jones haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laitinen keeps control of the position easily here as Jones tries to buck him off.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ville Laitinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Laitinen 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:29
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Ville Laitinen!
After the fight, Ville Laitinen was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.