PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kamil Koltun (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ari Kantola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kamil Koltun has a significant reach advantage - let's see if he can make it count.

Koltun
vs
Kantola

198 cm
23
259 lbs
7 - 1 - 0

185 cm
27
250 lbs
17 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Lethal high kicks
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Dangerous knees
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kamil Koltun!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ari Kantola!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koltun avoids the head kick by Kantola.
Kantola tries a head kick but it misses.
Kantola fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Kantola looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kantola throws a sloppy head kick
and Koltun counters with a lovely straight right hand!

It looks like Ari Kantola has been cut.
Kantola lands a nice hook to Koltun's body. Koltun takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Koltun misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Kantola.
Nice shot by Koltun.
Koltun on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Kantola. Kantola obviously looking to wear him down.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koltun misses with a low kick.
Koltun misses with a straight left.

Kantola scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koltun keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Kantola is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Koltun is just riding it out for now. Kantola eventually gives up the hold.
Kantola wants to pass to mount but Koltun is defending the position.
Koltun regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Kantola.
Kantola trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kantola drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Koltun dives on top into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

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

Kantola is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
We've been hearing good reports from Koltun's training camp. Apparently he has been rolling around with some good quality BJJ practitioners and has been sharpening his skills. Let's see if that has an impact on the fight today.
Koltun postures up.
Kantola pulls Koltun in close to his closed guard and prevents Koltun from doing any damage or advancing position.
Koltun will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Koltun stays in close to Kantola's body and controls the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koltun trying to control the position from guard on top but Kantola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Koltun gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Kantola in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kantola in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Kantola connects with a couple of short punches.
Kantola trying to control but Koltun is working from the bottom.
Kantola has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Kantola tries to stand but Koltun is controlling from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kantola throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Koltun works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Koltun keeping moving, preventing Kantola from controlling successfully.
Kantola is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Kantola throws a big right hand that misses.

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

Kantola shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Koltun napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Kantola has had enough of the ground for now and decides to stand.
Kantola looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Kantola dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Ari Kantola's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Kantola misses with the combination.
Kantola attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
Kantola shoots in for a takedown but Koltun shows good takedown defense.
Kantola dives in for a single leg takedown but Koltun sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Koltun blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Koltun misses with a short punch on the inside.

Koltun breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No luck for Kantola with that takedown attempt.
Kamil Koltun has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Ari Kantola.
Koltun checks the leg kick nicely there.
Koltun blocks a jab.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koltun throws a hook but Kantola blocks it.
Kantola throws a head kick that misses.
Kantola throws out a leg kick but Koltun moves out of range and Kantola only half commits.
Kantola is looking to clinch but Koltun is avoiding it.
Kantola on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Koltun blocks a head kick by Kantola.
Kantola is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kantola lands a jab.
Kantola misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kantola fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ari Kantola is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kantola pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kantola misses with a two punch combination.
A swing and a miss from Kantola.
Kantola misses with a head kick.
Kantola takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.
Kantola shoots in but no luck this time.
Kantola lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Kantola.

It looks like Kamil Koltun has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koltun connects with an inside leg kick.
Koltun tries to score with a low kick but Kantola moves his leg out of the way.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koltun scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Ari Kantola seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Kantola lands three nice shots there - that looked like it hurt!
Nice straight punches there by Kantola. You know Roy Jones Jr respects the hands of Kantola.
Kantola moves out of range as Koltun strikes.
Kantola tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Koltun tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Kantola falls off balance throwing a combination

and Koltun counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.

Kantola manages to break the clinch.
Kantola tries for a takedown but Koltun sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koltun lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kantola throws a big shot that misses.
A punch combination from Kantola misses.
Good standup being displayed there by Koltun as he connects with a hook.
Kamil Koltun is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Koltun with a jab.
Kantola takes a thudding leg kick, right into the meat of the thigh.

Kantola moves into range and clinches up with Koltun.
Koltun lands a right hand that snaps the head of Kantola backwards.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kantola throws a knee to the head but misses.
Koltun is stalling here.
Koltun lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Kantola throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kamil Koltun will probably get the nod.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

Kantola throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Kantola lands a high kick!
Kantola misses with a kick to the body
and Koltun cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kantola misses with a head kick.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kantola looks like he's thinking about clinching though.

Kantola decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Koltun is not content to let Kantola control the position.
Koltun keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Kantola not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koltun is trying is best to control the position here.
Koltun wants to control but Kantola is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Koltun regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kantola distracts Koltun with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Koltun preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kantola postures up.
Koltun keeping moving, preventing Kantola from controlling successfully.
Kantola throws a big elbow that misses.
Kantola throws a strike but Koltun rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koltun stopping the sweep attempt from Kantola.
Kantola is looking to stand up but Koltun isn't so interested in that idea.

Koltun avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Koltun stops Kantola from standing up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koltun wants to stand but Kantola is controlling his posture from full guard.
Koltun won't allow Kantola to sweep him here.
Koltun trying to control the position from guard on top but Kantola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kantola is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kantola connects with a nice short shot to Koltun's temple.

Kantola is trying to work for a kimura but Koltun is defending well.
Kantola lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Koltun is defending against the submission attempts here by Kantola.
Koltun is trying to maintain the position but Kantola is very close to passing his half guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
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!

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Kantola comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kantola 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 Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ari Kantola!
Ari Kantola thanked the fans post fight for their support.