PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Aapo Ik (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Billy O Brien (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.

Ik
vs
O Brien

184 cm
26
178 lbs
16 - 6 - 0

182 cm
26
185 lbs
10 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Lethal high kicks
Insanely flexible

Excellent grappler
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Arcticus University: London

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aapo Ik!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Billy O Brien!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Frank Antenori and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ik shoots in for a takedown but O Brien shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
No joy there for O Brien, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
O Brien misses with a hook. Ik ducked under it nicely.
O Brien misses with a left hand
and Ik counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
O Brien takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
O Brien throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ik keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from O Brien.
An attempted straight right counter from Ik misses the target.
Ik has been talking about how he's improved his wrestling in the run up to the fight so let's see if that's enough to sway the balance.
Ik with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
O Brien throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ik changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
Billy O Brien seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ik comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ik throws a hook but O Brien blocks it.
Ik cracks O Brien with an open hand slap.
O Brien has his takedown stuffed

and Ik counters with a single leg into guard. O Brien didn't expect that.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
O Brien is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ik trying to control but O Brien is working from the bottom.
Ik throwing strikes from guard but O Brien blocks nicely.
Ik throws a big right hand that misses.

Ik is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Ik trying to control the position from guard on top but O Brien is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ik throwing strikes from guard but O Brien blocks nicely.
Ik trying to control but O Brien is working from the bottom.
Ik postures up in O Brien's guard and throws a big left but O Brien blocks it.
Ik landing with the ground and pound.
Ik 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.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ik trying to control but O Brien is working from the bottom.

Ik got a little sloppy there for a moment and O Brien has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Ik has managed to get both his arms back between O Brien's legs - danger averted.

O Brien looking for a guillotine here but Ik defends easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

O Brien looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ik working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ik landing with the ground and pound.
Ik postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Ik wants to control from the top but O Brien keeps moving.

Ik drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Ik jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

O Brien had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ik defends it easily.
Ik scoring with some ground and pound.

O Brien is working for submissions here. He's thrown up his legs looking for a triangle but Ik frees his head nicely. Oh but O Brien has switched to an armbar! Ik is tapping furiously! Lovely submission there!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:37 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Armbar). Billy O Brien!
Billy O Brien decided to thank the fans in attendance for making a great atmosphere. It seemed to go down pretty well.