PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between First King (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jari Litmanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

King
vs
Litmanen

190 cm
20
275 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

190 cm
25
225 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, First King!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jari Litmanen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Litmanen tries to clinch but King moves out of range.
King tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Litmanen is able to avoid easily.
King closes this distance looking for a takedown but Litmanen circles away.
King could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Nice takedown defense from King. No joy for Litmanen on that attempt.
Litmanen bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.

King feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Litmanen keeping full guard, as King tries to pass.
Litmanen looking to hit a scissor sweep but King is one step ahead there.
Litmanen controlling the position.
Litmanen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Litmanen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
King keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Litmanen's head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Litmanen trying to control the position here.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jari Litmanen was stalling too much, according to the referee.
A low kick from King misses
and Litmanen counters with a good low kick that King was not able to check.
Litmanen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and King counters with a nice double leg into guard.
King knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Litmanen on the ground.
King is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Litmanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
King throws a strike but Litmanen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
King wants to stand but Litmanen is controlling the position.

Litmanen stands up and waves to King to follow him.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Litmanen looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? King is fending him off so far but Litmanen persists. Nope, King circles away and we're back to standing.
First King has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jari Litmanen.
Litmanen lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
First King seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
King connects with a good right hand that stumbles Litmanen. Litmanen circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Litmanen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
King throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Litmanen.
King misses with a straight left.
No luck for Litmanen with that takedown attempt.

King shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. King showed some decent athleticism there.
Litmanen trying to control but King postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Litmanen works his way to full guard. Good work.
King is looking to pass into half guard but Litmanen pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Litmanen is in guard.
Litmanen preventing the sweep.
King is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Litmanen is controlling him.
King keeping moving, preventing Litmanen from controlling successfully.
King has his hands on Litmanen's head, controlling the position.

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

The ref stands the fighters back up. Jari Litmanen was stalling too much, according to the referee.
King misses with the body kick
and Litmanen counters with a thumping low kick.
Litmanen blocks a head kick by King.
Litmanen connects with a body shot that sends King's belly button to the back.
King is breathing heavily.

Litmanen gets in close and instigates a clinch.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Litmanen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Litmanen jumps guard but King stands there with Litmanen around his waist. Litmanen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

First King dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Litmanen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. King tries to avoid it but Litmanen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag King to the ground. King escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
King tries to close the distance and clinch but Litmanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Litmanen shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Litmanen was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Litmanen is looking to take a break and control but King is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Litmanen working away.
King on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if King tries to get out of the position.
King is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Litmanen asserts his dominance and retains side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Litmanen stalling.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Litmanen wants to lay and pray for a moment but King keeps working.

Litmanen escapes and gets back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Litmanen circles away quickly and effectively.

King gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Litmanen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Litmanen is pushing down on King's leg trying to pass to half guard. King is fighting to maintain full guard but Litmanen has managed to sneak the leg through.
King wants to get back to full guard.
Litmanen trying to mount his opponent but King defends it.
Litmanen controlling the action here.
Litmanen with the ground and pound but King uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
King is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Litmanen is controlling him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
King keeping moving, preventing Litmanen from controlling successfully.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jari Litmanen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Litmanen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as King backs up against the cage.

It looks like First King has been cut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King tries to close the distance and clinch up but Litmanen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
A head kick misses from Litmanen.

King shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Litmanen napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Litmanen is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Litmanen tries to strike from the bottom but misses.
King wants to control but Litmanen is keeping him busy.
King postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Litmanen wants to control but King postures up.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
King throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Check out the look on King's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jari Litmanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on First King's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Litmanen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from King.
Litmanen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and King counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Litmanen's guard now.
Litmanen keeping moving, preventing King from controlling successfully.
King landing some decent shots from guard.
Litmanen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from King.
King trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Litmanen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
King with a nice head shot there.
First King overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King is looking to work some ground and pound but Litmanen has wrist control.
King postures up.
King is looking to work some ground and pound but Litmanen has wrist control.
Litmanen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Litmanen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.

Jari Litmanen has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.

King shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
King wants to take a breather but Litmanen is having none of it.
King lands strikes from half guard.
King is looking to advance position but Litmanen won't allow it.

Litmanen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King wants to lay and pray for a moment but Litmanen keeps working.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
King is thwarting Litmanen's attempts to control the position.
King seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Litmanen does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Litmanen won't allow King to pass to mount.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Litmanen is trying to stand up here but King is controlling him well.
King missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
King throwing shots but Litmanen is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Litmanen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Litmanen working a defensive guard here.
King postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
King lands a couple of decent looking shots.
King throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Litmanen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
King missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
King trying to control the position from guard on top but Litmanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
King tries to free his leg and advance position but Litmanen is retaining full guard.
Litmanen pulls King in to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Litmanen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Jari Litmanen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Litmanen misses with a two punch combination.

King clinches with his opponent.

Litmanen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Litmanen tries to close the distance and clinch but King swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Litmanen lands a head kick!
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

King scores with a takedown into Litmanen's guard.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
King sitting in guard here, content to control.
Litmanen trying to keep a closed guard but King is proving a slippery customer.

And that's the end of the fight!
First King showed his dominance in that final round.
I think King has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... First King!