PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Helsingin Sanomat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juha Koivikorpi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the ring.

Sanomat
vs
Koivikorpi

195 cm
22
275 lbs
3 - 0 - 0

195 cm
23
240 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Basic striking
Determined

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 3 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Helsingin Sanomat!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juha Koivikorpi!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Arvi Lind and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koivikorpi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Sanomat's waist but Sanomat gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Koivikorpi off to one side.

Koivikorpi feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.

Sanomat is looking for a triangle but Koivikorpi pushes his legs off easily.
Sanomat tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Koivikorpi drops back looking for a leg! Sanomat is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Sanomat manages to kick Koivikorpi off! Koivikorpi jumps back into Sanomat's guard.

Koivikorpi drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Koivikorpi jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Koivikorpi wants to pass the guard but Sanomat is keeping the position.
Sanomat trying to keep a closed guard but Koivikorpi is proving a slippery customer.

Sanomat escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Koivikorpi gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Sanomat wants to stand up but Koivikorpi is controlling him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koivikorpi stands and throws Sanomat's legs to the side, diving into side control.

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

Koivikorpi tries for a kimura but Sanomat is defending well.

Koivikorpi wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Sanomat, who protects the arm well.
Sanomat can't do much from the bottom here.

The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Koivikorpi thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Sanomat is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Koivikorpi's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.

Koivikorpi seems to be working for a kimura but Sanomat defends the submission attempt.
Koivikorpi looks gassed!
Sanomat gets full guard.

Koivikorpi drops back, looking for a kneebar! Sanomat looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Sanomat looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Sanomat!
Sanomat is working Koivikorpi over with some ground and pound from side control.

Sanomat is trying to get an arm triangle but Koivikorpi is defending well.
Sanomat scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Koivikorpi to see if he's OK.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koivikorpi manages to get back to half guard.

Koivikorpi actively working from the bottom here.
Sanomat passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Koivikorpi!
Sanomat lands a big elbow.
Koivikorpi is working to get back to half guard.

Sanomat has control of Koivikorpi's right arm, working for a kimura. It's a bit of a token attempt though and Koivikorpi regains control of the situation pretty easily.
Koivikorpi regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sanomat working Koivikorpi over with strikes.

Sanomat is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Koivikorpi moves into full guard.
Sanomat has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

Koivikorpi looking for a guillotine here but Sanomat defends easily.

Koivikorpi escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Sanomat gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Helsingin Sanomat will probably get the nod.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

An inside leg kick lands from Sanomat.
No luck for Koivikorpi with that takedown attempt.
Horrible takedown by Koivikorpi or perhaps it was just good defense by Sanomat which made him look bad.
Koivikorpi shoots in for a double leg but Sanomat sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Helsingin Sanomat has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juha Koivikorpi.

Sanomat gets caught flat footed, as Koivikorpi shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Sanomat striking from the bottom here.
Sanomat looking to control.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koivikorpi has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Sanomat can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Sanomat 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.
Sanomat would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

Sanomat avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sanomat pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Koivikorpi is keeping the position for now.

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.
Sanomat trying to control but Koivikorpi is working from the bottom.
Sanomat has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Koivikorpi is proving hard to escape from.
Sanomat tries to free his leg and advance position but Koivikorpi is retaining full guard.

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

Sanomat changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Koivikorpi looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Koivikorpi is trying to get back to half guard.
Koivikorpi gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.

Koivikorpi actively working from the bottom here.
Koivikorpi manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Koivikorpi has his foot on Sanomat's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Sanomat works his way back into a safe position though.
Sanomat working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Sanomat lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Koivikorpi wants to sweep here but Sanomat controlling him for the moment.

Sanomat drops back looking for a leg! Koivikorpi is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Koivikorpi manages to kick Sanomat off! Sanomat jumps back into Koivikorpi's guard.

Koivikorpi working for a triangle but Sanomat defends it easily.

Koivikorpi looking for a guillotine here but Sanomat defends easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Koivikorpi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Koivikorpi keeping moving, preventing Sanomat from controlling successfully.

Koivikorpi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Sanomat lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juha Koivikorpi showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the ring so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Sanomat misses with a takedown

and Koivikorpi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Sanomat's guard now.
Koivikorpi preventing the sweep.

Koivikorpi 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.
Sanomat scores with a short punch from the bottom.

Koivikorpi postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Sanomat is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Koivikorpi, into his guard.
Sanomat pushing down on Koivikorpi's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Sanomat working the head and body with strikes.
Koivikorpi wants to get back to full guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Koivikorpi looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Koivikorpi is looking to get back to full guard here but Sanomat has managed to pass to side control instead.
Koivikorpi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sanomat lands a heavy elbow.
Koivikorpi keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Sanomat lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Koivikorpi really trying hard to get back to half guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koivikorpi taking shots to the head.

Sanomat is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Koivikorpi is surviving well by controlling Sanomat's body position as best he can.
Sanomat prevents Koivikorpi from getting the reversal.
Sanomat lands a big elbow.
Koivikorpi looking to escape from mount but he's given up his back!
Koivikorpi covers up after taking a massive shot to the side of the head.
Sanomat is trying to stick to Koivikorpi's back but Koivikorpi is turning into Sanomat. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Sanomat's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Koivikorpi.
Koivikorpi advances position into side control!

Koivikorpi is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Sanomat has escaped the position, nice work there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Koivikorpi is trying to get an arm triangle but Sanomat is defending well.
Sanomat tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Koivikorpi wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Koivikorpi is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Sanomat knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Sanomat regains half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koivikorpi is looking to advance position but Sanomat won't allow it.

Sanomat is defending against the submission attempts here by Koivikorpi.
Sanomat works his way to full guard. Good work.
Sanomat bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Koivikorpi's guard.
Sanomat won't allow Koivikorpi to sweep him here.

Koivikorpi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Koivikorpi keeping moving, preventing Sanomat from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Helsingin Sanomat.
I think Sanomat has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:30

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Helsingin Sanomat!