PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alistair Blackwood (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alpo Suhonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Suhonen has chosen Gers Pardoel - Ik Neem Je Mee as his entrance music. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Blackwood
vs
Suhonen

195 cm
32
265 lbs
22 - 12 - 0

205 cm
35
265 lbs
20 - 13 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

BJJ Red Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Bad Man Clothing (Nothing Over $40)

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 22 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Hilo, Alistair Blackwood!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 20 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Alpo Suhonen!
The judges for this bout are Ryoma Takatsuka, Paul Gruel and Colin Fray.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Suhonen tries to clinch but Blackwood moves away
and Blackwood makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Suhonen tries to clinch up.
Blackwood displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Suhonen throws out the jab.
Blackwood throws a leg kick but Suhonen moved away.

Suhonen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Suhonen looking for a takedown.
A head punch on the inside from Blackwood fails to land.
Blackwood gets underhooks to prevent Suhonen's takedown attempt.

Suhonen lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Blackwood is trying is best to control the position here.
Suhonen trying to control from half guard but Blackwood is working away.
Suhonen uses his free foot to push down on Blackwood's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Blackwood.
Blackwood wants to hold on but Suhonen pushes him away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackwood is looking to improve his position but Suhonen isn't that keen on the idea.
Suhonen tries to control but Blackwood wriggling away.

Suhonen moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Blackwood has worked his arm free - good work by Blackwood!
Suhonen is looking to take a break and control but Blackwood is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

Suhonen working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Blackwood is trying to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Blackwood is not content to let Suhonen control the position.
Blackwood wants to get back to his feet but Suhonen drags him back down.
You can see the frustration on Blackwood's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
My spies in Main Event Gym inform me that Suhonen has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A control attempt from Blackwood but he's now mounted!
Blackwood tries to hold on but Suhonen postures up.
Blackwood is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at Strong like Butterfly, so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Blackwood is squirming around, avoiding Suhonen's attempts to control the action.
Blackwood tries to hold on but Suhonen pushes him away.

Suhonen jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Blackwood manages to avoid the submission attempt.

Suhonen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Blackwood knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Suhonen content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.
Suhonen wants to control but Blackwood is keeping him busy.
Blackwood gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Blackwood tries to get to full guard but Suhonen has control of the leg.

Suhonen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Blackwood doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Suhonen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alpo Suhonen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Suhonen with a lazy takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Suhonen is looking to clinch.
Blackwood throws a wild body kick that Suhonen sees coming a mile off.
Suhonen ducks right into an uppercut from Blackwood.
Suhonen on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Blackwood. Blackwood obviously looking to wear him down.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Blackwood, right into the meat.
Blackwood fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Suhonen takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Alpo Suhonen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Blackwood looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
The fight stays on the outside here - Suhonen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Suhonen misses with a jab, cross combination.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Suhonen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Blackwood counters with a nice low kick that buckles Suhonen's knee momentarily.
Blackwood with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Suhonen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Blackwood half committed to a counter leg kick.
Alistair Blackwood has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alpo Suhonen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackwood tries a low kick but Suhonen avoids it.

Suhonen scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Suhonen prevents Blackwood from escaping the position.
Blackwood is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Blackwood is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Suhonen asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Suhonen tries to advance to mount but Blackwood denies him.
Suhonen trying to control the action but Blackwood is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Blackwood wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Suhonen is looking to take a break and control but Blackwood is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Blackwood stops Suhonen from passing to mount.

Suhonen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Blackwood is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Suhonen wants to control for a moment but Blackwood uses the opportunity to move back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Suhonen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Suhonen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Blackwood keeps working.

Suhonen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Blackwood has managed to free his arm - good work.

Suhonen is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Blackwood defends it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Blackwood is trying to control but can't.
Suhonen content to control rather than advance.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Suhonen tries to move into range but Blackwood moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Blackwood connects with a solid leg kick.
Suhonen shoots in for a takedown but Blackwood shows good takedown defense.
Blackwood lands a high kick!
Good work by Suhonen as he checks the leg kick.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Blackwood misses with a looping left.

Suhonen drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.

Suhonen is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Blackwood has escaped the position, nice work there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Alistair Blackwood dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Blackwood.
Suhonen tries for a takedown but Blackwood circles away easily
and Blackwood makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Suhonen shoots in for a double leg but Blackwood sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Blackwood lands a nice leg kick that just misses Suhonen's sensitive parts.
Blackwood slaps away a takedown attempt from Suhonen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Alistair Blackwood has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Alpo Suhonen.

Suhonen shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Blackwood is trying to defend but Suhonen finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Blackwood trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Suhonen manages to pass to mount!
Suhonen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Blackwood is looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Blackwood is trying desperately to improve position.

Suhonen working for a submission but Blackwood is keeping him at bay.
Blackwood slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.
Suhonen is taking a breather. Blackwood says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Blackwood is looking to improve his position.
Suhonen is looking to stall here but Blackwood recovers full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Suhonen tries to free his leg and advance position but Blackwood is retaining full guard.
Blackwood lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Blackwood throwing strikes from guard but Suhonen blocks nicely.

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

Suhonen working for a triangle but Blackwood defends it easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Suhonen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Alpo Suhonen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Blackwood wants to stand but Suhonen is controlling the position.
Suhonen forces his way into half guard.
Blackwood is trying to control but can't.
Blackwood is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Suhonen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

Suhonen is looking for a kimura but Blackwood is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Suhonen to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Suhonen is looking for a kimura here.
Blackwood tries to roll over but Suhonen keeps him under control.
Blackwood is trying to stand.
Suhonen trying to control the action but Blackwood is working from the bottom.
Blackwood wants to get back to full guard but Suhonen has passed into side control.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Suhonen moving around in side mount but really he's just happy to control for now.

And that's the end of the fight!
Alpo Suhonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Suhonen 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 Ryoma Takatsuka scores the fight 28:29
Judge Paul Gruel scores the fight 28:29
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Alpo Suhonen!
Alpo Suhonen took to the mic after the fight and begged the organizational hierarchy for a shot at the title.