PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Eero Finnila (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mukhtar Ibrahim (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Finnila
vs
Ibrahim

200 cm
27
225 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

199 cm
27
226 lbs
3 - 6 - 0

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Counter fighter
Granite chin

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 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Eero Finnila!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mukhtar Ibrahim!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Finnila connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Finnila seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.
Finnila ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ibrahim moves away.
A lazy left from Ibrahim finds it's target.
Ibrahim tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Finnila was well out of range. Poor timing from Ibrahim.
Finnila avoids the body shot from Ibrahim.
Finnila misses the shot to the body.
Ibrahim throws a hook but Finnila blocks it.
Ibrahim throws a good cross that connects.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Ibrahim is defended easily by Finnila.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finnila slips under a jab.
Ibrahim misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Finnila.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A big left from Ibrahim misses.
Finnila swung with a counter punch to the body but it didn't connect.

Ibrahim shoots in and bounces Finnila off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Finnila is trying to control the position but Ibrahim postures up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ibrahim accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ibrahim throws an elbow that misses. Finnila uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ibrahim's guard. Nice move by Finnila!

Finnila is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ibrahim trying to control the position.
Finnila wants to control from the top but Ibrahim keeps moving.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahim keeping full guard, as Finnila tries to pass.
Finnila throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ibrahim works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Finnila throwing strikes but missing.
Ibrahim working a defensive guard here.
Ibrahim utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Finnila passes into half guard.
Finnila wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ibrahim keeps working.
Finnila throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Ibrahim to regain full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahim looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ibrahim is trying to control the position but Finnila postures up.
Ibrahim is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Finnila slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Finnila wants to control but Ibrahim is keeping him busy.
Ibrahim tries to buck Finnila off but Finnila is having none of it.

Finnila working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ibrahim is looking to regain half guard here but Finnila keeps moving and retains side control.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Ibrahim can do anything to dispel that myth.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Finnila thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Finnila cracks Ibrahim with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Finnila tries to move into full mount but can't pass Ibrahim's legs.
Ibrahim takes a couple of big shots there - the referee warns him that he has to defend himself better.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ibrahim is looking to reverse the position.
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 Eero Finnila will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ibrahim looks to score with a jab to the body but Finnila is just out of range.
Finnila swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ibrahim tries to score a power double leg takedown but Finnila sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Ibrahim somewhat.
Finnila drops his hands momentarily and Ibrahim takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ibrahim loads up on a big right hand but Finnila slips the punch.
A quick step to the side and Finnila tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Ibrahim throws an overhand right that lands on Finnila's shoulder, as Finnila tries to avoid the shot.
Ibrahim takes one on the chin but keeps coming.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Finnila tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ibrahim was well out of range. Poor timing from Finnila.

Ibrahim looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Ibrahim stands and throws Finnila's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Ibrahim wants to work for a kimura but he's foiled early by Finnila, who protects the arm well.
Ibrahim wants to lay and pray for a moment but Finnila keeps working.
Finnila sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Ibrahim wants to lay and pray for a moment but Finnila keeps working.
Finnila is looking to control Ibrahim's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Finnila avoid being mounted?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Finnila keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Ibrahim is keen to just control but Finnila is a slippery customer.
Finnila wants to control but Ibrahim is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Ibrahim throwing shots but Finnila is blocking nicely.
Ibrahim missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Finnila is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Ibrahim scores with a couple of nice shots.
Finnila makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Finnila.
Ibrahim won't allow Finnila to sweep him here.
Mukhtar Ibrahim has got the better of the ground game so far.
Finnila keeping full guard, as Ibrahim tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahim throwing strikes but missing.
Ibrahim slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Ibrahim with the ground and pound but Finnila regains half guard under the barage of strikes.
Ibrahim is trying to control the action in half guard but Finnila is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Ibrahim is working for a kimura but Finnila is defending it quite comfortably.
Ibrahim takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahim wants to pass to mount but Finnila is defending the position.
Ibrahim lands strikes from half guard.
Ibrahim is nestled in close to Finnila, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Ibrahim is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Ibrahim has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Finnila avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ibrahim.
Finnila taking some punishment here, with Ibrahim in his half guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ibrahim missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Finnila is looking to improve his position.
Finnila is working hard here to advance position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mukhtar Ibrahim 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 cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Finnila misses with a body punch

so Ibrahim counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Ibrahim wants to pass the guard but Finnila is keeping the position.
Ibrahim scoring with some ground and pound.
Finnila is pulling down on Ibrahim's head to control his posture.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Finnila is on top in guard.

Ibrahim wants to hit a switch here but Finnila passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ibrahim there!
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Finnila scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Ibrahim?
Ibrahim slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ibrahim on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Finnila trying to control from half guard but Ibrahim is working away.
Ibrahim is trying to get back to full guard.
Ibrahim has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Finnila working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Ibrahim's thigh. Ibrahim counters though and makes it back to full guard.

Finnila has gone for a leg lock! Ibrahim slips out almost immediately though and dives into Finnila's guard.

Ibrahim avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Ibrahim drops back, looking for a kneebar! Finnila looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Finnila looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Finnila!

Finnila swings around for an armbar but Ibrahim sees it coming a mile off and turns beautifully into Finnila's guard.

Ibrahim is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Finnila is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Finnila has escaped and now he's on top!

Ibrahim working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Finnila.
Finnila wants to control from the top but Ibrahim keeps moving.

Ibrahim looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Finnila passes into side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ibrahim has one of Finnila's arms on lockdown, trying to prevent him from doing any damage.

Finnila looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Ibrahim is trying to get back to half guard. He's pushing on Finnila's leg. He's managed it. Nice work.
Finnila is looking to take a break and control but Ibrahim is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ground and pound from Finnila.

Ibrahim is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Finnila pulls his head out easily.
Finnila winds up and cracks Ibrahim with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Finnila connects with a nice short shot to Ibrahim's temple.
Finnila trying to mount his opponent but Ibrahim defends it.
Ibrahim makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Ibrahim.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

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

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

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 Eero Finnila.
I think Finnila 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Eero Finnila!