PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Jermey Hritzkowin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toimi Liikanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Toimi Liikanen is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Hritzkowin
vs
Liikanen

170 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
150 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very strong

Good wrestler
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Jermey Hritzkowin!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Toimi Liikanen!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, James Ackerman and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hritzkowin misses with a left hand
and Liikanen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Hritzkowin thinking.
Liikanen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Hritzkowin throws out the jab.
Hritzkowin slips a straight right by Liikanen.
Hritzkowin misses with a body shot
and Hritzkowin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

It looks like Jermey Hritzkowin has been cut.
Liikanen lands a slapping body shot.
Liikanen misses with a hook.
Liikanen lunges at Hritzkowin with a hook that half lands and is half blocked by Hritzkowin's hand.
Liikanen lands a nice shot to the body.
Hritzkowin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Liikanen fails to land with a series of punches.
Liikanen has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
Liikanen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Liikanen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Hritzkowin scores with a body shot.
Liikanen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A counter left hand to the body from Hritzkowin misses its target.
Liikanen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Hritzkowin is looking to clinch but Liikanen is avoiding it.
Liikanen swinging wildly here.
Hritzkowin tries to close the distance and clinch but Liikanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Liikanen digs a good hook to Hritzkowin's body.
Liikanen lands a glancing blow to the side of Hritzkowin's head.
Hritzkowin slips under a jab from Liikanen.
Hritzkowin looks to land a left hand but Liikanen moved out of range nicely.
A jab from Hritzkowin misses.
Liikanen keeps the fight on the outside.
Hritzkowin misses with a jab, cross combination.
A shot to the body from Hritzkowin misses
and Liikanen counters with a straight right hand.
Hritzkowin takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hritzkowin just misses with a punch to the body.
Liikanen blocks a jab.
A shot to the liver by Liikanen. Beautiful body shot.
Hritzkowin throws a right hand that misses
and Liikanen counters with a nice uppercut.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Liikanen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Hritzkowin.
Hritzkowin's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Liikanen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Hritzkowin scrambles back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Liikanen ducks under a wild hook from Hritzkowin.
Liikanen looks to land a right hand but Hritzkowin moved out of range.
Liikanen works Hritzkowin's body with a nice hook.
Hritzkowin throws a hook to the side of Liikanen's head but Liikanen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
A decent looking cross lands there for Liikanen.
Hritzkowin scores with a nice head shot.
Liikanen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Jermey Hritzkowin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hritzkowin takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Hritzkowin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Hritzkowin tries to close the distance and clinch but Liikanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Liikanen is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Hritzkowin had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.
Liikanen throws out a loose jab but Hritzkowin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hritzkowin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Liikanen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hritzkowin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Liikanen moves away.
Liikanen misses with a hook.
Liikanen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hritzkowin circles away quickly and effectively.
Nice defenses there by Hritzkowin.
Hritzkowin works Liikanen's body with a nice hook.
Hritzkowin blocks a jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hritzkowin displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Liikanen throws out the jab.
Hritzkowin throws a hook but Liikanen blocks it.
Liikanen looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.
Hritzkowin avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Hritzkowin clobbers Liikanen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Liikanen looks to land a left hand but Hritzkowin moved out of range nicely.
Hritzkowin is looking light on his feet compared to last time was saw him fight.
Hritzkowin takes one on the button.
Hritzkowin bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.

Hritzkowin closes the distance and clinches.
Hritzkowin pushes Liikanen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Hritzkowin blocks an uppercut.
Hritzkowin working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Liikanen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hritzkowin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hritzkowin scores with a shoulder strike.
Liikanen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Hritzkowin gets through Liikanen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hritzkowin working aggressively here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Liikanen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Liikanen.
Hritzkowin throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Liikanens head.
Hritzkowin misses with some punches.
Hritzkowin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hritzkowin working aggressively here.
Hritzkowin looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Liikanen lands with a short shot to the head.
Hritzkowin misses with a punch on the inside.
Hritzkowin can't find room to land a body shot as Liikanen controls the action.
Hritzkowin misses with a punch on the inside.
Hritzkowin misses with a body punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Liikanen takes a shot to the head.
Liikanen is looking to break free of the clinch but Hritzkowin has double underhooks.
Hritzkowin working aggressively here.
Hritzkowin misses with an elbow over the top.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toimi Liikanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Jermey Hritzkowin's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Hritzkowin tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Hritzkowin tries to close the distance and clinch but Liikanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Liikanen slips under a jab.
Liikanen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Liikanen misses with a straight left.
Liikanen misses with a body shot.
Hritzkowin misses with a straight right.
The fighters circling - Hritzkowin throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Liikanen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Liikanen misses with a looping left.
It looked like Hritzkowin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Liikanen lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Liikanen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Liikanen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Toimi Liikanen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Liikanen's corner calls for a 1-2. Liikanen obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Hritzkowin wants to clinch but Liikanen slips to the side
and Liikanen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Liikanen cracks Hritzkowin with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Hritzkowin lands with a nice body punch.
Liikanen throws a looping overhand right but Hritzkowin ducks down to avoid it.
Hritzkowin misses with a wild body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hritzkowin looks to land a left hand but Liikanen moved out of range nicely.
The crowd cheers as Liikanen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hritzkowin doesn't seem phased though.
Hritzkowin misses with a hook to the body
enabling Liikanen to counter with a crisp jab.
A big right from Liikanen misses.
Hritzkowin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Liikanen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Hritzkowin looks to score with a jab to the body but Liikanen is just out of range.
Hritzkowin tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Liikanen manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
A swing and a miss from Liikanen.
Liikanen throws a big shot that misses.
Liikanen looks to land a left hand but Hritzkowin moved out of range nicely.
Hritzkowin misses with a body shot.
Liikanen misses with a hook.
A big left from Hritzkowin misses.
Liikanen takes a swing at Hritzkowin's ribcage but misses.
Hritzkowin lands with an uppercut that bounces Liikanen off the cage and back into range.
Liikanen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Liikanen counters with a straight right hand.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The fighters circling - Liikanen throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
A punch combination from Hritzkowin misses.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nice jab there from Liikanen.
Hritzkowin misses with a body shot.
Liikanen throws a hook to the side of Hritzkowin's head but Hritzkowin sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Hritzkowin is looking for a counter combo.
Hritzkowin moves in looking to clinch but Liikanen pushes him off.
Liikanen throws a jab when Hritzkowin was well out of range.
Hritzkowin was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
The crowd cheers as Liikanen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Hritzkowin doesn't seem phased though.
Donk. Liikanen catches Hritzkowin right on the button with a cross.
Hritzkowin throws a body punch but Liikanen moves out of range.
Liikanen loads up on a big right hand but Hritzkowin slips the punch.
Hritzkowin looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Hritzkowin connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hritzkowin takes one to the side of the head.
Hritzkowin on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Hritzkowin uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Liikanen.
A little feinted left hand from Hritzkowin on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Liikanen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hritzkowin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hritzkowin throws a right hand that misses
and Liikanen counters with a nice uppercut.
Hritzkowin takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Liikanen throws out a loose jab but Hritzkowin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Liikanen slips a straight right by Hritzkowin.
Liikanen is clearly trying to counter these attacks from Hritzkowin with a body shot.
Liikanen looks to land a right hand but Hritzkowin moved out of range.
It looked like Hritzkowin wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Hritzkowin throws a body punch but Liikanen moves out of range.
Liikanen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Liikanen is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Hritzkowin.
Hritzkowin's jab looks to have found its range, popping Liikanen under the eye.
Hritzkowin throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Liikanen throws a jab but it's blocked by Hritzkowin.
Liikanen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Hritzkowin slips a straight right by Liikanen.
Liikanen slips under a jab.
Hritzkowin misses with a lunging right hand
and Liikanen counters with a straight right hand.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Hritzkowin slips a jab from Liikanen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed right hand from Liikanen misses the target.
Hritzkowin moves away from the strike by Liikanen.
Hritzkowin steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Liikanen.
Liikanen misses with a looping right.
Hritzkowin closes the distance but Liikanen moves to the side
and Liikanen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Hritzkowin doesn't manage to clinch there - Liikanen circles away.
Hritzkowin just misses with a punch to the body.
Hritzkowin fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Liikanen manages to avoid it.
Hritzkowin moves out of range of the strikes.
Hritzkowin is looking to clinch.
A slow jab from Liikanen misses its intended target.
Liikanen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
A telegraphed right hand from Hritzkowin misses the target.
A cross from Hritzkowin lands.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hritzkowin closes the distance but Liikanen moves to the side
and Liikanen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Sloppy strikes from Liikanen. Those never looked like landing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toimi Liikanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Jermey Hritzkowin's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Liikanen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Hritzkowin misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hritzkowin takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Liikanen throws a hook but Hritzkowin avoids it easily.
Liikanen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Hritzkowin circles away quickly and effectively.
Hritzkowin is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Hritzkowin stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.
Hritzkowin misses with an uppercut
and Liikanen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Hritzkowin misses with a lunging right hand
and Liikanen counters with a lovely straight right hand!

Hritzkowin forces Liikanen back against the cage and clinches.
Hritzkowin working aggressively here.
Liikanen lands a hook to the side of the head.
Liikanen misses with a punch on the inside.
Hritzkowin has Liikanen pressed against the cage, preventing Liikanen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Liikanen tries to break the clinch but Hritzkowin is controlling the position.
Hritzkowin stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Hritzkowin lands a left hand that snaps the head of Liikanen backwards.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Hritzkowin has a couple of punches blocked by Liikanen.
Hritzkowin misses with a short punch on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Hritzkowin.
Hritzkowin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Liikanen lands with a right to the head.
Liikanen working aggressively here.
Hritzkowin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Liikanen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hritzkowin lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Liikanen backwards.
Hritzkowin misses with a punch to the body.
Liikanen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hritzkowin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A head punch on the inside from Liikanen fails to land.
A short right from Liikanen.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hritzkowin.
Liikanen is trying to break free.
Hritzkowin tries to work over Liikanen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hritzkowin.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hritzkowin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hritzkowin misses with an elbow strike.
A body shot lands from Hritzkowin.
Hritzkowin fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Hritzkowin lands with a short shot to the head.
Liikanen blocking some punches.
Liikanen lands a hook to the side of the head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A head punch blocked on the inside by Liikanen.
Hritzkowin swings wildly with an uppercut but Liikanen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jermey Hritzkowin has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Hritzkowin tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Hritzkowin tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Hritzkowin can't find room to land a body shot as Liikanen controls the action.
Liikanen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Hritzkowin.
Liikanen can't find room to land a body shot as Hritzkowin controls the action.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hritzkowin lands with a right to the head.
Liikanen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Hritzkowin.
Liikanen blocks an uppercut.
Hritzkowin lands with a right to the head.
A short right from Hritzkowin.
Hritzkowin blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Hritzkowin throws a head punch that misses.
Liikanen tries to circle away but Hritzkowin has him pinned against the cage.
Hritzkowin swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Hritzkowin misses with a punch on the inside.
A frustrated look appears on Liikanen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Liikanen swings wildly with an uppercut but Hritzkowin uses good head movement to avoid it.
Liikanen wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Hritzkowin has him pressed against the cage.
Liikanen tries to break free but Hritzkowin pushes him back against the cage.
Jermey Hritzkowin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hritzkowin tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Liikanen's elbow.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hritzkowin.
Hritzkowin lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Hritzkowin pushes off and fires off an elbow that misses, before clinching up again, against the cage.
A head punch on the inside from Hritzkowin fails to land.
Hritzkowin lands with a left to the head.
Hritzkowin lands an elbow just above Liikanen 's eye.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Hritzkowin lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Liikanen can't break the clinch.
Hritzkowin misses with a hook from the clinch.
Hritzkowin digs a right hand into Liikanen's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Liikanen's gas tank.
Hritzkowin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Liikanen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Hritzkowin misses with some punches.
Hritzkowin misses with a short punch on the inside.
Hritzkowin is leaning against Liikanen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jermey Hritzkowin showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Liikanen 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 28:29
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toimi Liikanen!