PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Thirsty Thurston (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rami Kivi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kivi has chosen Rammstein - Rammstein as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Thurston
vs
Kivi

190 cm
22
212 lbs
3 - 0 - 2

180 cm
18
205 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Good chin

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Granite chin

Alpha-Omega

Coffee Shop

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 0 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Thirsty Thurston!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rami Kivi!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kivi looks for a takedown but Thurston sprawls well.
Thurston throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kivi tries to close the distance and clinch but Thurston swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Kivi looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Thurston!
Kivi tries to control but Thurston wriggling away.

Kivi jumps to the side looking to secure the arm triangle…. Ooooh, that looks tight… Thurston is gargling but he's managed to escape! Nice work there by Thurston and Kivi has given up the dominant position trying to land that submission.
Thurston is trying to get back to his feet.

Kivi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Kivi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Thurston has escaped the position, nice work there.
Thurston is trying to get back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivi is pausing for a moment. What's he doing? It looks like he's clearing his nose. Oh dude! He's shot a load of snot all down Thurston's shoulder. That is not cool.
Thurston can't do much from the bottom here.
Thurston is positioning himself to get back to half guard.

Kivi tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Kivi has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Thurston is pushing Kivi's head away, looking to escape. Kivi manages to hold on to the position though.
Thurston is trying to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
You can see the frustration on Thurston's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Kivi working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Thurston parries the strikes from Kivi easily there. Kivi is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Thurston to escape.
Thurston struggling a bit here.
Thurston is trying to improve his position.
Thurston wants to get back to his feet but Kivi drags him back down.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.

Thurston scores with a takedown into Kivi's guard.

Thurston 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.
Thurston won't allow Kivi to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thurston wanted to stand there but Kivi had control of the position.
Thurston has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Thurston is breathing heavily.
Thurston slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Thurston tries to get to his feet but he's trapped momentarily.
Kivi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thurston's best efforts.
Kivi trying to control here.
Kivi gets full guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Kivi is on top in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivi advances position into side control!
Thurston defending against the ground and pound.
Kivi wants to lay and pray for a moment but Thurston keeps working.

Kivi looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.

Kivi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Thurston regains half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rami Kivi dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Thurston drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kivi avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Thurston knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Kivi on the ground.
Thurston won't allow Kivi to sweep him here.
Thurston wanted to stand there but Kivi had control of the position.
Thurston is stalling in the full guard.
Kivi wants to sweep but no luck.
Kivi is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Thurston tries to stand but Kivi is controlling from the bottom.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kivi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Thurston counters with a right hand to the body.
Kivi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Thurston is fending him off so far but Kivi persists. Nope, Thurston circles away and we're back to standing.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Thurston has closed the distance and engaged Kivi in a clinch.

Thurston manages to pull guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kivi stops Thurston from standing up.
Kivi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Thurston tries to buck Kivi off but Kivi is having none of it.
Thurston is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Kivi works to advance to full mount. Thurston defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

Kivi looking to secure an arm triangle but Thurston defends it well.
Thurston is desperately trying to improve his position but Kivi has a good base and remains in mount.
Kivi wants to take his opponent's back but he's not managed it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kivi goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Thurston is on top in guard.
Thurston is looking to stand up but Kivi won't let him.
Kivi has momentary wrist control but Thurston slips an elbow through the middle.

Kivi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Thurston is working Kivi over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Rami Kivi has got the better of the ground game so far.

Kivi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Kivi looking for a guillotine here but Thurston defends easily.
Thurston won't allow Kivi to sweep him here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thurston slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Kivi is trying to control Thurston's posture but Thurston avoids it.

Thurston is trying to get an arm triangle but Kivi is defending well.
Thurston throws a strike aimed at the side of Kivi's head but Kivi avoids it well.
Kivi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Thurston's best efforts.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Thurston not landing any meaningful shots this time.

That's four 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.

Kivi is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Thurston pulls his head out easily.
Kivi is trying to control but can't.
Thurston prevents Kivi from improving his position.
Nice strikes from Thurston there.
Kivi has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Thurston is working away from the top position though.
Kivi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thurston's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thurston's back!
Thurston tries to escape the position.
Well, with Kivi on his back, surely it's only a matter of time before Thurston is tapping out... Can he escape the position?
Thurston is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Thirsty Thurston dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Thurston gets caught flat footed, as Kivi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.

Thurston looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Thurston is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Kivi trying to hold on to Thurston's head to control him but Thurston postures up.
Kivi is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Thurston's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Thurston's back!

Kivi is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
Kivi doesn't have the hooks in and Thurston manages to turn into his guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Kivi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Thurston would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

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

Kivi looking for subs off his back but Thurston has passed one foot through into half guard.
Kivi is trying to maintain the position but Thurston is very close to passing his half guard.

Thurston looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Kivi moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's two 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.

Kivi is actively looking for submissions from his back. He's worked himself a little space on the bottom and seems to be going for a triangle. No, he's switched into an armbar! That was slick! Thurston rolls with it to try and escape but Kivi cranks on the arm and Thurston is forced to tap out! This one is aaaaaaaaall over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:38 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Rami Kivi!
Rami Kivi is the new light heavyweight champion!