PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jari Litmanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Big Bad King Bong (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Litmanen
vs
Bad King Bong

190 cm
25
225 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

175 cm
25
240 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Solid 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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jari Litmanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Big Bad King Bong !
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A combination from King Bong does no damage.

King Bong dives in and scores a takedown into Litmanen's guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Litmanen trying to control the position.
Litmanen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from King Bong .
Litmanen looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.

Litmanen is looking for a triangle but King Bong pushes his legs off easily.
Litmanen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
King Bong trying to control the position from guard on top but Litmanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Big Bad King Bong wasn't active enough on the ground.
Litmanen fails with an attempt to clinch.

King Bong drives through with a takedown into Litmanen's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Litmanen controls King Bong momentarily but King Bong frees himself.
King Bong trying to control but Litmanen is working from the bottom.
Litmanen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
King Bong won't allow Litmanen to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King Bong trying to control the position from guard on top but Litmanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Litmanen looking for a sweep. Not yet Litmanen, not yet.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Big Bad King Bong wasn't active enough on the ground.
King Bong tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Litmanen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches King Bong napping and manages to drive through into side control!
King Bong is looking to regain half guard here but Litmanen keeps moving and retains side control.
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!
King Bong is trying to get back to his feet.

Litmanen stands up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Litmanen stuffs the takedown.

Litmanen takes the fight into the clinch.
King Bong tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Litmanen just stands there and leans against the cage.
King Bong tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Litmanen just stands there and leans against the cage.
Jari Litmanen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Big Bad King Bong .
King Bong wants to break the clinch but can't.
Litmanen jumps guard but King Bong stands there with Litmanen around his waist. Litmanen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Litmanen works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Litmanen looking to sit in guard and control but King Bong gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King Bong preventing the sweep.
King Bong wants to stand and escape but instead Litmanen has hit a sweep and he's now on top in guard.
Litmanen won't allow King Bong to sweep him here.
King Bong can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Litmanen controls the pace.
King Bong is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Litmanen controlling from the top position.
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 Jari Litmanen will probably get the nod.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

King Bong tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Litmanen paws at him with a jab and circles away.

Litmanen takes the fight into the clinch.

Litmanen breaks from the clinch.
King Bong misses with a body shot.
Litmanen shoots in looking for a takedown but King Bong manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Litmanen's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Litmanen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. King Bong tries to avoid it but Litmanen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag King Bong to the ground. King Bong escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
King Bong keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jari Litmanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Litmanen fails to land the takedown.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

King Bong dives in and scores a takedown into Litmanen's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
King Bong won't allow Litmanen to sweep him here.
King Bong trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
King Bong trying to control the position from guard on top but Litmanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

King Bong stands and steps away. Litmanen gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Litmanen stuffs the takedown.

King Bong closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Litmanen to the mat! Litmanen manages to get full guard.
King Bong passes easily into side control. Nice work.
King Bong trying to control the position but Litmanen is working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King Bong tries to advance to mount but can't.
Litmanen is not content to let King Bong control the position.
King Bong lands some shots froms side control.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
King Bong connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Litmanen some visible discomfort.
Litmanen struggling a bit here.
King Bong remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Big Bad King Bong has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Litmanen tries to bench press King Bong off him but King Bong keeps the position.

King Bong decides to stand back up.
Nice body punch from King Bong .
King Bong tries to clinch up.
Good work by Litmanen as he checks the leg kick.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Litmanen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Litmanen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from King Bong .

Litmanen fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging King Bong to the ground. Litmanen is now in King Bong 's guard.
King Bong is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Litmanen is looking to work some ground and pound but King Bong has wrist control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Litmanen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

King Bong is looking for a triangle but Litmanen pushes his legs off easily.
Litmanen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. King Bong is keeping the position for now.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Big Bad King Bong showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Litmanen misses with a takedown
and King Bong counters with a head kick.
Litmanen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. King Bong tries to avoid it but Litmanen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag King Bong to the ground. King Bong escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

King Bong darts in and clinches Litmanen up against the cage.
King Bong is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Litmanen is trying to break the clinch but King Bong is controlling him.

Litmanen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
King Bong throws a right hand that Litmanen ducks under and follows up with a left that Litmanen also avoids with ease.
King Bong defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Litmanen.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jari Litmanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
King Bong tries for a takedown but Litmanen sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
King Bong darts in looking for a takedown but Litmanen gets double underhooks and turns King Bong into the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Litmanen with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Litmanen looking for a takedown.

King Bong has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Litmanen regains guard immediately.
King Bong sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells King Bong 's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Litmanen has control of King Bong 's left arm, preventing King Bong from doing any damage.

The fighters are working up against the cage. Litmanen manages to wriggle his way back to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
King Bong on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
King Bong is working for takedown but Litmanen is calmly controlling the position for now.

King Bong has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Litmanen uses from the top position.

Litmanen stands up from guard. Let's bang!
Jari Litmanen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
King Bong gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Litmanen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Litmanen slaps away a takedown attempt from King Bong , before circling back to the center of the mat.
Litmanen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Litmanen throws a sloppy head kick and King Bong moves out of range easily.
King Bong shoots and misses
and Litmanen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Some wild striking there from Litmanen.
King Bong keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
King Bong tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Litmanen defends well and King Bong ends up having to push Litmanen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

Litmanen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Litmanen fails in his attempt to clinch.
King Bong closes the distance and clinches up with Litmanen, looking for a takedown. King Bong pushes Litmanen against the cage but Litmanen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Litmanen throws a head kick that connects with a bit of head and a bit of hand.
King Bong shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Litmanen tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but King Bong defends well and Litmanen ends up having to push King Bong into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
King Bong tries to pull guard but Litmanen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Litmanen.

Litmanen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

King Bong decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Litmanen wants to control but King Bong is keeping busy and won't allow it.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Litmanen tries to roll over but King Bong keeps him under control.
Litmanen wants to get back to his feet.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
King Bong wants to pass to mount but Litmanen is defending the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Big Bad King Bong .
I think King Bong 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by majority decision... Big Bad King Bong !