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PBP Commentary |
Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Avila Alvarez (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reino Kanki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kanki has chosen I'm Shipping Up To Boston as his entrance music. 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.
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| 190 cm
25
218 lbs
5 - 10 - 0 |
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216 cm
26
256 lbs
4 - 2 - 0 |
Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick |
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Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Good gas tank |
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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
5 - 10 - 0, fighting out of London, Avila Alvarez!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of
4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reino Kanki!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.
The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Alvarez decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Alvarez passes into side control, despite Kanki's attempt to control the position.
Kanki takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Alvarez throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Kanki tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kanki looking for a sweep but Alvarez has passed into full mount! Oh no!
Kanki keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Alvarez lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kanki gets back to half guard.
Alvarez missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Alvarez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez working over Kanki with some ground and pound. Kanki looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kanki trying to control here.
Kanki is looking for a sweep. Alvarez is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Alvarez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kanki is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Kanki actively working from the bottom here.
Alvarez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Alvarez throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Alvarez throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Kanki controlling the position well.
Alvarez not landing any meaningful shots this time.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kanki has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Alvarez is working away from the top position though.
Kanki pushes Alvarez off looking to stand but Alvarez dives back in and keeps control.
Alvarez prevents Kanki from improving his position.
Kanki avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Alvarez.
Alvarez lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Alvarez is nestled in close to Kanki, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Alvarez scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Kanki trying to control from the bottom.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kanki has hold of Alvarez's hands but Alvarez slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kanki trying to control here.
Alvarez stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
Kanki throws a mid kick that lands with a slap.
Kanki throws a head kick that misses.
Kanki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Kanki throws a right hand that Alvarez ducks under and follows up with a left that Alvarez also avoids with ease.
Wow, both these guys are really going for it!
Kanki is looking to clinch but Alvarez is avoiding it.
Alvarez misses with a double jab.
Alvarez stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Alvarez wants it to stay on the feet.
Kanki closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Alvarez's guard.
Alvarez pushes Kanki off and gets back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Alvarez looks to land a combination but Kanki avoids it well.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Kanki tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Alvarez is in Kanki's guard.
Alvarez is breathing heavily.
Alvarez is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Kanki trying to keep a closed guard but Alvarez is proving a slippery customer.
Alvarez throwing strikes but missing.
Alvarez distracts Kanki with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Alvarez working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kanki is looking to stand up but Alvarez isn't so interested in that idea.
Alvarez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Alvarez won't allow Kanki to sweep him here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Avila Alvarez dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.
Kanki closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Kanki lands in his opponent's guard.
Alvarez wants to stand but Kanki is controlling the position.
My spies in Helsinki Fight Club inform me that Kanki has been getting involved in the gym's BJJ sparring sessions. Let's see whether that pays dividends!
Alvarez wants to get back to his feet but he's too absorbed in his own little project and Kanki manages to pass to side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kanki prevents Alvarez from standing back up.
Alvarez is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kanki can do to turn this around?
Kanki wants to take a breather but Alvarez is having none of it.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Kanki wants to stand up but Alvarez is controlling the position.
Kanki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Alvarez keeps working.
Kanki lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kanki is keen to just control but Alvarez is a slippery customer.
Kanki stops Alvarez from getting back to his feet.
Kanki trying to control the action but Alvarez is working from the bottom.
Kanki not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Kanki content to control rather than advance.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Alvarez kicks off Kanki and gets to his feet.
Alvarez throws a right hand that Kanki ducks under and follows up with a left that Kanki also avoids with ease.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez shoots and misses
and Kanki counters with a stiff right hand.
Alvarez stuffs the takedown attempt from Kanki. Kanki gets slowly back to his feet.
Kanki tries to clinch but Alvarez is having none of it.
Kanki drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Alvarez tries to wriggle free to get back to his feet but he's given up his back! Oops.
Kanki really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Alvarez. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Kanki is working hard for the rear naked choke here.
Kanki punches the canvas rather than the man.
Alvarez takes a big shot to the side of the head.
Kanki working for the choke.
Alvarez is trying to stand back up.
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Avila Alvarez overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Will Kanki go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
The referee is taking a good look at Alvarez as he is on the wrong end of some big shots from Kanki!
Alvarez is trying to stand back up.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kanki is looking for the choke from the back position but Alvarez is controlling his hands well.
Kanki biding his time, controlling Alvarez.
Alvarez is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
Alvarez defends a rear naked choke attempt by controlling one of Kanki's arms.
Alvarez is trying to stand back up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Kanki's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.
Reino Kanki showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!
Kanki defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Alvarez.
Kanki will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Alvarez closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Alvarez lands in his opponent's guard.
Kanki will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Alvarez gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Kanki misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Alvarez shoots for a double leg takedown but Kanki sprawls well. He's pushed Alvarez's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Alvarez needs to keep his hands up - Kanki had a free shot at his head there.
Alvarez tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Alvarez shoots in but no luck this time.
Kanki lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Avila Alvarez. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Alvarez blocks a head kick by Kanki.
Nice sprawl there from Kanki as Alvarez shoots in.
Kanki tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Alvarez paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kanki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kanki gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
That's one minute gone in the round.
Alvarez throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kanki controls Alvarez momentarily but Alvarez frees himself.
Alvarez content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Alvarez is working Kanki over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kanki can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kanki working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Alvarez.
Alvarez is looking to work some ground and pound but Kanki has wrist control.
Kanki working a defensive guard here.
Alvarez drops back, looking for a kneebar! Kanki looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Kanki looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Kanki!
Kanki prevents Alvarez from escaping the position.
That's two minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez is not content to let Kanki control the position.
Alvarez is trying to buck Kanki off.
Kanki tries to move into full mount but can't pass Alvarez's legs.
Alvarez wants to get back to his feet but Kanki is dominant here and he's now got Alvarez's back!
That's three minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kanki throwing lazy shots from the back mount that aren't doing any damage.
Alvarez is trying to stand back up.
Alvarez trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Kanki punches the canvas rather than the man.
That's four minutes gone in the round.
Alvarez staying busy and making it hard for Kanki to control.
Even with his hooks in, Kanki manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Alvarez is trying to stand back up.
Alvarez is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Alvarez is looking to stand back up. He's having to work hard to escape but eventually he manages it.
Horrible takedown attempt by Alvarez or perhaps it was just good defense by Kanki, which made it look bad.
And that's the end of the fight!
Reino Kanki comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Kanki 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29
In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reino Kanki!
After winning the bout, Reino Kanki thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.
Avila Alvarez was interviewed post fight and said 'That's dude...that dude right there is a beast. Much respect.'.
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| S |
C
A |
G |
S |
C
B |
G |
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S |
C |
G |
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energy
A | B |
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hype
A | B |
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pop
A | B |
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mgr
A | B |
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FIGHT
RATING
42% |
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