PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sambo Rambo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Erkki Heimolainen (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.

Rambo
vs
Heimolainen

166 cm
23
166 lbs
7 - 4 - 0

180 cm
24
168 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Namunamu Clothing

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sambo Rambo!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Erkki Heimolainen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Arvi Lind.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rambo pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
As Rambo backs off Heimolainen throws a huge counter combo but Rambo manages to avoid it all.
Heimolainen throws a lazy right hand but Rambo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Heimolainen looks to throw the jab but Rambo is out of range.
Heimolainen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Rambo.
Jab by Heimolainen.
Heimolainen takes a body punch but keeps moving.
Heimolainen just misses with a punch to the body.
We've been hearing reports that Rambo has been drilling takedowns in recent sessions so let's see if that has an impact on the result of this fight.
Heimolainen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Heimolainen lands a right hook to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heimolainen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Heimolainen stalks Rambo and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rambo's face. Rambo staggers backwards, shaken.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Rambo closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Heimolainen did well to prevent Rambo getting side control.

Heimolainen actively working from the bottom here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heimolainen gets back to full guard.
Rambo sitting in guard, not really doing much.

Heimolainen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Rambo trying to control the position from guard on top but Heimolainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rambo postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Rambo is looking to work some ground and pound but Heimolainen has wrist control.
Rambo 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.
Rambo trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Heimolainen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Rambo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Rambo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Heimolainen is trying to keep Rambo in close.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Heimolainen keeping full guard, as Rambo tries to pass.
Rambo lands a couple of elbows.
Rambo connects with a couple of short punches.
Heimolainen utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Heimolainen wants to improve his position but instead Rambo has moved into half guard.
Heimolainen wants to improve his position but Rambo is controlling well.
Heimolainen wants to control but Rambo is keeping busy and won't allow it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rambo prevents Heimolainen from improving his position.
Heimolainen is looking to escape.
Heimolainen wants to control but Rambo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rambo thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Heimolainen actively working from the bottom here.
Heimolainen looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Rambo wants to take a breather but Heimolainen is having none of it.
Rambo trying to pass the guard but Heimolainen defending well.
Heimolainen wants to improve his position but Rambo is controlling well.
Rambo missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

Rambo is trying to work for a kimura but Heimolainen is defending well.
Heimolainen wants to improve his position but Rambo is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Rambo perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Heimolainen is looking to control Rambo's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Heimolainen avoid being mounted?

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Rambo lands a lovely overhand right.
Heimolainen throws a left and a right that both miss

and Rambo counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Rambo throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Heimolainen wants to get back to full guard.
Heimolainen is trying to maintain the position but Rambo is very close to passing his half guard.
Heimolainen wants to improve his position but Rambo is controlling well.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Heimolainen misses with a straight right.
Heimolainen misses with a series of wild punches.
Rambo slips under a jab.
Rambo is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Heimolainen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Heimolainen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heimolainen takes a swing at Rambo's ribcage but misses.
Rambo takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Heimolainen blocks a jab.
Heimolainen misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heimolainen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Heimolainen lands with a shot to the body.
Heimolainen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Rambo.
Rambo feinted with a counter takedown.
Heimolainen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Heimolainen throws a shot to the body.
Heimolainen throws a right hand that Rambo ducks under and follows up with a left that Rambo also avoids with ease.
Rambo shoots in for a double leg but Heimolainen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Heimolainen throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Rambo on the side of the head.
Heimolainen is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Rambo moves out of range of the strikes.
A combination from Heimolainen does no damage.
Rambo throws a jab but it's blocked by Heimolainen.
Heimolainen throws out a counter right but Rambo avoids it with no problem.
Heimolainen thows a left - swing and a miss!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rambo with a nice cross.
Heimolainen throws a lazy right hand but Rambo sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Rambo shoots for a double leg takedown but Heimolainen sprawls well. He's pushed Rambo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Rambo works the jab nicely.
Heimolainen throws a big shot that misses.
Rambo drops down looking for a counter takedown but Heimolainen sprawls and moves away.
Heimolainen lands a nice shot to the body.
Heimolainen lands a nice looking body shot.
Rambo jabs Heimolainen right on the nose. Heimolainen blinks but takes it well.
Heimolainen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Rambo.
Heimolainen throws a counter combo.
Nice cross by Rambo.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Heimolainen moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Rambo shoots for a double leg takedown but Heimolainen sprawls well. He's pushed Rambo's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Sambo Rambo. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Heimolainen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Rambo looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Heimolainen misses with a hook.
Heimolainen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Rambo connects with a jab.
Rambo fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Rambo shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Heimolainen as he jumps to the side.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Rambo looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Rambo might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Rambo accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Rambo works over Heimolainen with some ground and pound from guard.
Heimolainen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rambo keeping moving, preventing Heimolainen from controlling successfully.
Rambo controls Heimolainen momentarily but Heimolainen frees himself.
Rambo keeping moving, preventing Heimolainen from controlling successfully.
Rambo lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erkki Heimolainen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
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!

Heimolainen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Rambo missing with a left hand there. Heimolainen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Heimolainen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Heimolainen lands a powerful looking uppercut that connected with his opponent's jaw.
Heimolainen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Rambo appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Rambo misses with an uppercut. Heimolainen saw that one coming.
Heimolainen tests Rambo's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Heimolainen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Rambo circles away quickly and effectively.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heimolainen misses with a wild body shot.
Rambo keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Rambo feinted with a counter takedown.

Rambo scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Heimolainen is staying active underneath Rambo, who seems content to just control the action from this position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heimolainen is trying to get back to full guard.
Rambo content to control rather than advance.
Rambo lands with a punch from half guard.
Heimolainen is trying to stand.
Heimolainen wants to improve his position but Rambo is controlling well.
Rambo is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Heimolainen wants to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.

Rambo is working for submissions here but there's nothing on.

Heimolainen actively working from the bottom here.
Rambo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Heimolainen is looking to improve his position.
Heimolainen is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Rambo's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Rambo's back!
Heimolainen not allowing Rambo to control his hands.
Rambo tries to escape the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Rambo is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Rambo tries to escape but Heimolainen has the hooks in and won't let him break free.
Heimolainen is not going to allow Rambo to sit and survive in this position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
I really don't envy Rambo right now.

Heimolainen is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Rambo is displaying good submission defense - not really looking in danger of submitting to the rear naked choke at the moment. That could change in an instant of course if Heimolainen gets his way!

Heimolainen is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Rambo knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Rambo for a finish.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rambo wants to control his opponent's hands but Heimolainen gets his hands free.
Rambo tries to roll but Heimolainen sticks to his back.
Rambo is working hard here to advance position.
Rambo trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

Rambo defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Heimolainen's arms.

Rambo fending off the submission attempt from Heimolainen.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Heimolainen has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Rambo has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

And that's the end of the fight!
Erkki Heimolainen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Heimolainen 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Erkki Heimolainen!
A relieved looking Erkki Heimolainen thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.