PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kalevi Koivu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Marcus Elviks (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Koivu
vs
Elviks

209 cm
25
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

186 cm
18
180 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of London, Kalevi Koivu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Marcus Elviks!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Steven Brown and Colin Fotheringham.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Koivu fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Elviks, pushing him back against the cage.
Elviks stalls.
Koivu goes for a takedown attempt but Elviks pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Elviks throws a leg kick but Koivu sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Koivu shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Koivu was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
A lull in the action here.
Elviks is looking to reverse the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivu throws a strike aimed at the side of Elviks's head but Elviks avoids it well.

Koivu stands up.
Koivu fails to land the takedown.
Elviks throws a sloppy head kick and Koivu moves out of range easily.

Koivu closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Elviks tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Koivu wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Elviks is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koivu postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Elviks is not content to let Koivu control the position.
Koivu controlling the position.

Koivu tries for a kimura but Elviks is defending well.
A lull in the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koivu thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Koivu tries to advance to mount but Elviks denies him.
Elviks trying to remain calm as Koivu controls from the top position.
Koivu throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Elviks tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elviks manages to work his way to half guard, despite Koivu's best efforts.
Koivu wants to stand up but Elviks is controlling the position.
Koivu stalling away here and it's allowed Elviks to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Elviks not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Koivu throws a strike but Elviks rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Koivu looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalevi Koivu dominated that 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.

Koivu closes the distance and clinches.
Koivu fails to pull guard.

Koivu pulls guard.
Elviks 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.
Elviks would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Koivu tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Elviks is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Elviks postures up.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Marcus Elviks was stalling too much, according to the referee.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Elviks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A slapping leg kick lands for Elviks.
Koivu tries for a takedown but Elviks sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Koivu changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Elviks tries to avoid it but Koivu manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Elviks to the ground. Elviks escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kalevi Koivu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Elviks lands with a kick to the ribs.
Koivu fails to land the takedown.
Koivu really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Koivu shoots for a takedown but Elviks saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Elviks closes this distance looking for a takedown but Koivu circles away.
Koivu on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.
Koivu tries to score a power double leg takedown but Elviks sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Koivu somewhat.
Elviks fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Elviks.
Koivu shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Elviks pinned against the cage. Elviks gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Koivu tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Elviks manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.

Koivu throws the overhand right but ducks down into a quick takedown attempt. Elviks was covering up waiting for the punch and Koivu finishes the takedown easily into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Elviks wants to sweep here but Koivu controlling him for the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivu working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Elviks's head.
Koivu prevents Elviks from getting back to his feet.
Koivu pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Elviks is keeping the position for now.
Elviks working a defensive guard here.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

Elviks isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Koivu stacks Elviks on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Koivu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Koivu decides to stand back up.

Koivu scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Elviks is being controlled here.
Koivu tries to cartwheel into mount but he doesn't manage it.

Koivu tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Koivu has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalevi Koivu dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Elviks feints and then cracks Koivu's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Koivu down.
Elviks throws an overhand right that lands on Koivu's shoulder, as Koivu tries to avoid the shot.
Kalevi Koivu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Koivu thumps Elviks with a low kick.
A solid body kick from Elviks.
Elviks leaves Koivu with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
The fight stays on the outside here - Koivu looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Koivu moves out of range as Elviks throws a body kick.
Elviks shoots in but Koivu avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Koivu throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Elviks's waist but Elviks gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Koivu off to one side.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koivu drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Koivu looking to sit in guard and control but Elviks gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Elviks passes into half guard.
Elviks wants to pass the guard but Koivu is defending well.

Koivu looking for submissions off his back.

Elviks stands up and beckons Koivu to join him on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koivu shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Elviks sprawls well. Elviks wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Koivu gets slowly back to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kalevi Koivu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koivu shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Elviks as he jumps to the side.
Koivu defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Elviks.
Koivu looks to score with a jab to the body but Elviks is just out of range.
Elviks throws a nice outside leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Koivu will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Elviks wants to clinch up but Koivu keeps it at a distance.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Elviks lands a nice shot to the body.
Elviks tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Koivu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Elviks throws a sloppy head kick and Koivu moves out of range easily.
Elviks looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Elviks throws a sloppy head kick and Koivu moves out of range easily.
Koivu throws a wild body kick that Elviks sees coming a mile off.
Nice takedown defense from Elviks. No joy for Koivu on that attempt.
Koivu connects with a good right hand that stumbles Elviks. Elviks circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Koivu misses with a takedown attempt - Elviks sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
A nice combination there by Elviks.
Koivu misses with a few strikes there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Elviks throws a body kick that misses.
Elviks pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Marcus Elviks seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Koivu clinches up against the cage.
Elviks is trying to break the clinch but Koivu has him pressed against the cage.
Koivu has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Koivu wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Elviks has him pressed against the cage.

Koivu manages to pull guard.
Marcus Elviks has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Elviks tries to free his leg and advance position but Koivu is retaining full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Elviks postures up.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kalevi Koivu is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Koivu will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Koivu wants to sweep but no luck.

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 Kalevi Koivu.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Koivu, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 29:28
Judge Steven Brown scores the fight 29:28
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kalevi Koivu!