PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jaakko Lahomaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Fine (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Lahomaki
vs
Fine

177 cm
22
186 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

192 cm
22
193 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jaakko Lahomaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Joe Fine !
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Mauricio Rocha and Alexandre Firmino.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Fine tries for a takedown but Lahomaki sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

Lahomaki instigates a clinch.

Fine is fighting off a takedown attempt but Lahomaki is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Fine to the mat. Fine regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Lahomaki preventing the sweep.
Lahomaki with a nice head shot there.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Lahomaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Fine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fine wants to sweep here but Lahomaki controlling him for the moment.
Lahomaki wants to control from the top but Fine keeps moving.
Lahomaki with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lahomaki might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

Fine is looking for a triangle but Lahomaki pushes his legs off easily.
Lahomaki is looking to work some ground and pound but Fine has wrist control.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Fine tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Lahomaki blocks a head kick by Fine .

Lahomaki gets caught flat footed, as Fine shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Lahomaki has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Fine can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Lahomaki trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Fine would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Lahomaki pushes Fine off and gets back to his feet.

Lahomaki drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Lahomaki content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Fine is on top in guard.
Fine throws a big right hand that misses.
Fine looks gassed!
Fine pushes down on Lahomaki's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Lahomaki is looking for a sweep. Fine is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Lahomaki is positioning himself well to prevent Fine advancing to mount.

Fine is looking for a kimura here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Fine wants to work for an arm triangle but Lahomaki is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Lahomaki landing a few short strikes.
Fine is looking to pass the guard... He's managed it - he's now in full mount!
Fine throws some wild stikes that Lahomaki manages to avoid easily.
Lahomaki tries to lock up and control but Fine gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Lahomaki keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Lahomaki is working hard here to advance position.
Fine lands a big elbow.
Lahomaki in a bad spot here, taking shots to the head.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lahomaki flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
A nice elbow there by Fine .
Lahomaki wants to hold on but Fine pushes him away.
Lahomaki is trying desperately to improve position.

Fine looking to secure an arm triangle but Lahomaki defends it well.
Lahomaki slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Lahomaki 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.
Lahomaki avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Fine .
The fighters are battling for position here. Lahomaki manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lahomaki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Fine manages to get himself to full guard.
Fine wants to sweep but no luck.

Fine is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lahomaki drops back looking for a leg! Fine is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Fine manages to kick Lahomaki off! Lahomaki jumps back into Fine 's guard.
Lahomaki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Fine will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Fine keeping moving, preventing Lahomaki from controlling successfully.
Fine wants to stand but Lahomaki is controlling the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fine thows a body shot but no joy.
Fine with a poor takedown

and Lahomaki counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Fine !
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Lahomaki dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Fine tries for a takedown but Lahomaki circles away easily

and Lahomaki counters with a takedown into side control.
Lahomaki in side control, just content to control the action for now.

Lahomaki stands up and we're back to a striking position.

Lahomaki drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Fine tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Lahomaki working the body and head with strikes.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Fine gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Lahomaki working Fine over with strikes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lahomaki seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Lahomaki tries to pass the half guard into mount. Fine knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Lahomaki passes the guard and advances to mount!
Fine 's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Lahomaki working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Fine tries to buck Lahomaki off but he can't manage it.
Lahomaki with a couple of short strikes.
Lahomaki is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Fine throwing hammer fists to the chest of Lahomaki. What's that going to do exactly?
Jaakko Lahomaki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Fine is trying to escape the mount.
Lahomaki pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Lahomaki trying to control but Fine is having none of it.
Lahomaki cracks Fine with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Fine blocking the ground and pound.
Fine manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Fine kicks off Lahomaki and gets to his feet.
Jaakko Lahomaki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Fine looks to throw a body kick

and Lahomaki counters with a single leg into guard. Fine didn't expect that.
Lahomaki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Fine trying to keep a closed guard but Lahomaki is proving a slippery customer.
Lahomaki scoring with punches to the head and body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fine bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Lahomaki's guard.
Lahomaki looking to control.
Fine pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lahomaki is keeping the position for now.

Lahomaki pushes Fine off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.
Fine throws a leg kick

and Lahomaki counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Fine wants to get back to his feet but Lahomaki is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Lahomaki lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lahomaki wants to control from the top but Fine keeps moving.
Lahomaki makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Fine wants to stand up but Lahomaki is controlling him.

Fine is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lahomaki working some strikes from top position.
Lahomaki with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Fine .
Lahomaki shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Fine as he avoids it easily.
Fine misses with a few strikes there.
Fine stuffs the takedown.
Lahomaki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jaakko Lahomaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Fine closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lahomaki missing with punches from the bottom.
Fine moves into full mount! Lahomaki won't be happy about that!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Fine has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Lahomaki's face.
Lahomaki is trying desperately to improve position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Lahomaki dominated that second round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Lahomaki slips a jab from Fine .
Fine misses with a leg kick

so Lahomaki counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Fine wants to stand and escape but Lahomaki is having none of it.
Lahomaki showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Fine keeping moving, preventing Lahomaki from controlling successfully.
Lahomaki prevents Fine from getting back to his feet.
Lahomaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Fine is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Fine looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lahomaki is one step ahead there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Fine looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lahomaki lands a couple of decent looking shots.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Lahomaki shoots in and drives through. Fine sprawls well.
Fine throws and low kick but Lahomaki moves out of range easily.
Fine throws a combination that misses

and Lahomaki counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Lahomaki.
Lahomaki postures up and lands a big shot to Fine 's brow.
Lahomaki with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lahomaki won't allow Fine to sweep him here.
Lahomaki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Lahomaki trying to control but Fine is working from the bottom.
Lahomaki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lahomaki throwing strikes but missing.
Fine looking to hit a scissor sweep but Lahomaki is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Fine throws a sloppy head kick and Lahomaki moves out of range easily.

Lahomaki shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Lahomaki is keen to just control but Fine is a slippery customer.
Lahomaki is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Fine is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
Lahomaki missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Lahomaki thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Fine 's head.

Fine kicks Lahomaki off and gets back to his feet.
Lahomaki tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.

Lahomaki shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.
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!

Fine working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lahomaki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lahomaki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Fine has momentary wrist control but Lahomaki slips an elbow through the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Fine manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Lahomaki manages to get himself to full guard.
Fine trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Fine is looking to advance position but Lahomaki has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Fine wants to control but Lahomaki is having none of it.

Lahomaki working for a guillotine from mount but Fine is in no mood to give up.
Fine slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Fine is trying to get back to full guard.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Lahomaki lands a nice short elbow.
Jaakko Lahomaki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lahomaki content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Fine is trying to get back to full guard.
Lahomaki passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Fine !
Fine is looking to get to half guard.
Lahomaki with good strikes from the mount here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Fine is looking to get to half guard.
Lahomaki takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Joe Fine has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Fine is looking to improve his position but Lahomaki isn't that keen on the idea.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jaakko Lahomaki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Lahomaki, 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Mauricio Rocha scores the fight 30:27
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jaakko Lahomaki!