PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Carl Gustav (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilmari Rannikko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Carl Gustav has the edge in experience - let's see if he can make that count tonight.

Gustav
vs
Rannikko

188 cm
25
217 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

187 cm
26
210 lbs
3 - 3 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Carl Gustav!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 3 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Ilmari Rannikko!
The judges for this bout are Winston Alpacca, Michael Johnstone and Peter Branson.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Gustav takes one to the side of the head.
Rannikko throws a lazy uppercut
and Gustav counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Gustav tries to clinch up.
Ilmari Rannikko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rannikko looks to land a left hand but Gustav moved out of range nicely.
Rannikko fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Gustav looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Rannikko needs to keep his hands up - Gustav had a free shot at his head there.
Rannikko looks to land a left hand but Gustav moved out of range nicely.
Rannikko walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Gustav checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A telegraphed right hand from Rannikko misses the target.
An attempted straight right counter from Gustav misses the target.

Gustav closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gustav has a couple of punches blocked by Rannikko.
Gustav tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Rannikko tries to work over Gustav's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A shot in the inside from Gustav.
Gustav lands a right hand that snaps the head of Rannikko backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Rannikko swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Rannikko is looking to control Gustav's arms but Gustav gets an underhook and turns him. Now Rannikko has his back to the cage.
Rannikko gets through Gustav's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Gustav misses with some punches.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Gustav as Rannikko tries to tie him up.
Rannikko seems frustrated at his inability to get double underhooks.
Gustav tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Gustav misses with a short punch on the inside.
Gustav swings wildly with an uppercut but Rannikko uses good head movement to avoid it.
Rannikko is pushing Gustav up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.

Rannikko manages to break the clinch.
Nice shot by Rannikko.
A low kick from Rannikko is predictable there
and Gustav counters with a stiff right hand.
Rannikko dodges the punch combination from Gustav.
Rannikko was about to counter that last move with a leg kick but changes his mind.
Gustav seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Gustav blocks a head kick by Rannikko.
Rannikko looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Gustav avoids the body shot from Rannikko.
Rannikko connects with a jab.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rannikko darts in and out, connecting with a jab.

Gustav is rocked!
Rannikko throws a lazy uppercut
enabling Gustav to counter with a crisp jab.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rannikko misses with a wild body shot.
Rannikko throws a body shot but no joy.
Good exchange - Gustav coming out on top.
Gustav has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rannikko finds it's way round the side to connect with Gustav's head.
Rannikko throws a sloppy head kick and Gustav moves out of range easily.
An attempted straight right counter from Gustav misses the target.
Rannikko uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Gustav.
Rannikko throws a nice inside leg kick.
Rannikko throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gustav sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A little feinted left hand from Gustav on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
A good leg kick by Rannikko.
Nice cross by Rannikko.
Gustav walks straight into a right hand from Rannikko - that's dropped him! Rannikko jumps into mount and starts pounding away - can he finish?! More strikes go undefended and the referee has to dive in to save Gustav from any more punishment! Gustav complains about the stoppage but falls over as he tries to stand back up, so it was clearly a good stoppage.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:53 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Punches). Ilmari Rannikko!
A very excited looking Ilmari Rannikko made sure he remembered to thank all the fans both in the arena and on the internet. He said all the coolest people spend all day on MMA websites, which got a big reaction.