PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Terry Black (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilya Koivinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Black
vs
Koivinen

225 cm
24
178 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

180 cm
25
175 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Terry Black!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilya Koivinen!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koivinen tries to bum rush Black with a series of wild strikes but Black uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Koivinen is looking to clinch.
Koivinen throws a right and a left that Black avoids nicely.
Koivinen misses with a double jab
and Black connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Koivinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Black moves away.
Black really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Black throws a body kick that misses.
The fight stays on the outside here - Koivinen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Koivinen has managed to clinch.
Koivinen tries to pull guard but Black holds him up against the cage and eventually Koivinen drops back down to his feet.

Koivinen manages to pull guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Black trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Koivinen is looking to stand back up but Black counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Koivinen.

Black stands, ready to strike. The ref makes him back up and allows Koivinen to get to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Black shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Koivinen throws a quick inside leg kick.

Koivinen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Black is trying to defend but Koivinen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Black is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Koivinen's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Koivinen's back!
You can see the frustration on Koivinen's face… He knows he is in trouble unless he improves his position sooner rather than later.
Koivinen trying to get back to his feet but Black is in full control for now.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koivinen looking very determined here, making life difficult for Black.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Black throwing sloppy strikes.

Black has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Koivinen has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!
Black missing with strikes from the back.

Black is looking for the choke from the back position but Koivinen is controlling his hands well.
Koivinen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Black. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Black looking for the choke but no joy.

Koivinen is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivinen tries to escape but Black has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Koivinen trying to get back to his feet but Black is in full control for now.
Black trying to control.
Koivinen covering up well under a series of strikes from Black.
Black has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Black tries to get the hooks in deep but Koivinen pushed the leg off.
Koivinen is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Black's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

Black is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Koivinen is defending well though. Black let's go of the attempt for now.
Black is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Black working for a choke but Koivinen is defending well.
Black misses with punches from the back.
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 Terry Black will probably get the nod.
That's time! Black's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Black keeps the fight on the outside.
Black throws a leg kick that is checked
and Koivinen counters with a low kick, right behind Black 's knee.
Black misses with a takedown
and Koivinen counters with an outside leg kick.
Terry Black is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Koivinen wants to clinch up but Black keeps it at a distance.
Koivinen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Black's calf.
Koivinen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Black paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Black closes the distance and pushes Koivinen back into the cage.

Koivinen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Koivinen moves into range and clinches up with Black.
Black takes an elbow to the temple.

It looks like Terry Black has been cut.
Koivinen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Black takes a shot to the head.
Koivinen lands an elbow just above Black 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivinen stalling against the cage.
Koivinen lands a nice uppercut.
Black drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Koivinen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Koivinen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Terry Black has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ilya Koivinen.
Koivinen has dropped down and is looking to force the takedown but it's defended by Black after a bit of a struggle.
Black looking for a takedown.

Koivinen gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Koivinen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Black defending well though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well, if Koivinen is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Koivinen is looking to take a break and control but Black is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Black pushes Koivinen off and gets back to his feet.
Black misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Black fails with the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Koivinen tries to keep at a distance but Black has taken the fight into the clinch.
Black jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Koivinen walks away with a smile on his face. Black gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivinen tries to clinch up but Black circles away and keeps his distance.
Black fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Koivinen moves into the clinch.
Black looking to slow down the pace here.

Black ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Black no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.

Koivinen stands and steps away. Black gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Koivinen doesn't manage to clinch there - Black circles away.
Ilya Koivinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Black shoots in but Koivinen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Koivinen is looking to clinch but Black is avoiding it.
Black defending well as Koivinen loads up on a big left hand.
Black shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Koivinen but Koivinen pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koivinen works over Black's head and body with a nice combination.

Black is rocked!
Black is holding his hands too far apart here. Koivinen throws a hard, straight punch right down the pipe and BOOM! Black is out! That punch landed square on the jaw - what a shot!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:18 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Punch). Ilya Koivinen!