PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tuomo Koivisto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rami Kivi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kivi has chosen Rammstein - Rammstein as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Koivisto
vs
Kivi

188 cm
23
205 lbs
2 - 7 - 0

180 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Experienced

Good takedowns
Brawler
Granite 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 2 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tuomo Koivisto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rami Kivi!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koivisto scores with a three punch combo!

It looks like Rami Kivi has been cut.
Kivi fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Koivisto lands with a shot to the body.
Kivi takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.
Kivi should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!

Koivisto closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.

Koivisto breaks the clinch.
Koivisto goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
Kivi looks gassed!

Koivisto rushes Kivi and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

Koivisto works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Koivisto slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Koivisto has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Koivisto tries to free his leg and advance position but Kivi is retaining full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivisto is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

Kivi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Koivisto gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Koivisto tries to free his leg and advance position but Kivi is retaining full guard.
Koivisto sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Kivi is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Kivi keeping full guard, as Koivisto tries to pass.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Koivisto stays in close to Kivi's body and controls the position.

Kivi working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Koivisto doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Koivisto manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Koivisto is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Koivisto stopping the sweep attempt from Kivi.
Kivi looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Koivisto puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivi is looking to improve his position.
Koivisto performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Kivi won't allow Koivisto to pass to mount.
Kivi wants to get back to full guard.
Koivisto is taking a breather. Kivi says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Tuomo Koivisto just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Koivisto instigates a clinch.

Koivisto has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kivi is trying to keep an underhook but Koivisto manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Kivi is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivi won't allow Koivisto to pass to mount.
Koivisto is working hard here to advance position.
Kivi trying to control here.

Kivi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Kivi trying to control from the bottom.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Koivisto looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koivisto wants to get back to his feet.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kivi closes this distance looking for a takedown but Koivisto circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tuomo Koivisto dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Rami Kivi's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Koivisto gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Koivisto has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kivi is trying to keep an underhook but Koivisto manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Koivisto is keen to just control but Kivi is a slippery customer.

Kivi looking for submissions off his back.
Koivisto wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kivi keeps working.
Koivisto seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kivi works his way to full guard. Good work.
Koivisto pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kivi is keeping the position for now.
Kivi keeping moving, preventing Koivisto from controlling successfully.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivi working a defensive guard here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kivi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Kivi keeping moving, preventing Koivisto from controlling successfully.

Kivi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kivi lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Koivisto!

Kivi looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Koivisto knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kivi on the ground.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto is working to get back to half guard.
Koivisto tries to hold on but Kivi pushes him away.
Koivisto keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Koivisto wants to control but Kivi is having none of it.

Kivi working for a guillotine from mount but Koivisto is in no mood to give up.

Kivi wants to finish this one by submission but Koivisto is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kivi.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivisto tries to hold on but Kivi postures up.

Kivi wants to finish this one by submission but Koivisto is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Kivi.

Kivi looking to secure an arm triangle but Koivisto defends it well.
Kivi prevents Koivisto from getting the reversal.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Koivisto wants to control but Kivi is having none of it.
Koivisto is looking to get to half guard.
Kivi sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Kivi tries to control but Koivisto wriggling away.
Kivi might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Koivisto kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Koivisto is looking to get to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rami Kivi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Rami Kivi's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Excellent takedown into side control there by Kivi.

Kivi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Koivisto has escaped the position, nice work there.
Kivi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Koivisto keeps working.

Kivi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Kivi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Koivisto has escaped the position, nice work there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivisto is looking to regain half guard here but Kivi keeps moving and retains side control.
Kivi tries to move into full mount but can't pass Koivisto's legs.
Koivisto is trying to improve his position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Koivisto moves into the clinch successfully.
Koivisto jumps guard but Kivi stands there with Koivisto around his waist. Koivisto gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Kivi has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Koivisto is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Koivisto wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Kivi has him pressed against the cage.

Koivisto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Koivisto throws a right and a left that Kivi avoids nicely.
Kivi misses with a takedown attempt - Koivisto sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Kivi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Tuomo Koivisto has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Rami Kivi.

Koivisto moves into the clinch successfully.
Koivisto is trying to break the clinch but Kivi has him pressed against the cage.
Koivisto trying to land knees to the body.
Kivi blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Koivisto taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivi looking for a takedown.
Kivi is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Koivisto has had enough of the clinch but Kivi keeps him there for the moment.
Koivisto stops a takedown attempt from Kivi.
Koivisto stops a takedown attempt from Kivi.

Koivisto tightens his grip and picks Kivi up, before dumping him to the ground. Kivi manages to land in guard.

Koivisto has a momentary lapse of concentration, allowing Kivi to throw up a leg and lock on what appears to be a pretty tight triangle! Koivisto is fighting it off but it's all too little too late - Kivi pulls down on the head and he's put Koivisto to sleep! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle). Rami Kivi!