PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kai Firanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Graham Van Leakenstien (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Graham Van Leakenstien will no doubt be trying to keep this one on the feet, where he has a distinct advantage.

Firanen
vs
Van Leakenstien

209 cm
18
205 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
20
210 lbs
4 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kai Firanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Graham Van Leakenstien!
The judges for this bout are James Glass, Richard Clark and James Atkins.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Firanen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Van Leakenstien postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Van Leakenstien wants to control from the top but Firanen keeps moving.
Van Leakenstien looks more muscular than last time we saw him. He must have been on the weights.
Firanen looking to control.
Firanen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Van Leakenstien trying to control the position from guard on top but Firanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Firanen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Firanen tries to get out of the position.
Firanen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Van Leakenstien wants to stand but Firanen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Firanen trying to control the position here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Leakenstien wants to control from the top but Firanen keeps moving.
Firanen seems keen to control Van Leakenstien's posture.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Leakenstien clinches.
Van Leakenstien working some nice short punches in the clinch.

It looks like Kai Firanen has been cut.

Firanen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Firanen jumps guard but Van Leakenstien stands there with Firanen around his waist. Firanen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.

Firanen gets control of Van Leakenstien's arms and successfully pulls guard. Firanen will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Van Leakenstien wants to get up but he can't break Firanen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Van Leakenstien postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Van Leakenstien lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Leakenstien trying to stand up but can't free himself from Firanen's guard.
Firanen wants to sweep here but Van Leakenstien controlling him for the moment.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Van Leakenstien tries to stand but Firanen is controlling from the bottom.

Firanen has his foot on Van Leakenstien's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Van Leakenstien works his way back into a safe position though.
Firanen 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.
Van Leakenstien won't allow Firanen to get back to his feet.
Van Leakenstien won't allow Firanen to sweep him here.
Van Leakenstien trying to control but Firanen is working from the bottom.
Firanen trying to control the position here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Van Leakenstien wants to stand but Firanen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Firanen fails miserably with a takedown attempt.

Van Leakenstien closes the distance and pushes Firanen back into the cage.

Van Leakenstien's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.

Van Leakenstien rushes Firanen and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Van Leakenstien softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Firanen really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Van Leakenstien is trying to break free.

Firanen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Firanen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Firanen is breathing heavily.
Van Leakenstien would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Van Leakenstien working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Firanen's head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Van Leakenstien throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Firanen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Van Leakenstien is aware though and is defending well.
Firanen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Van Leakenstien wants to stand but Firanen is controlling his posture from full guard.
Firanen keeping moving, preventing Van Leakenstien from controlling successfully.
Firanen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Van Leakenstien is controlling him.
Van Leakenstien postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Leakenstien wants to control from the top but Firanen keeps moving.
Firanen can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Van Leakenstien controls the pace.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Graham Van Leakenstien dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Kai Firanen's cut.
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.

Firanen fails with a takedown attempt.

Firanen gets tackled into the cage by Van Leakenstien. Van Leakenstien maintains the clinch.
A frustrated look appears on Van Leakenstien's face as he tries to break the clinch.

Firanen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Van Leakenstien has Firanen up against the cage in a clinch.

Van Leakenstien gets control of Firanen's arms and successfully pulls guard. Van Leakenstien will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Firanen landing some decent shots from guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Van Leakenstien has his feet on Firanen's hips. He pushes off and gets to his feet. Nice work.

Van Leakenstien moves into range and clinches up with Firanen.
Firanen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Van Leakenstien pulls him back up using the underhooks.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Van Leakenstien jumps guard.
Firanen works over Van Leakenstien with some ground and pound from guard.
Firanen looking to sit in guard and control but Van Leakenstien gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

Van Leakenstien must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Firanen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Van Leakenstien is trying to stand up here but Firanen is controlling him well.

Firanen is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Van Leakenstien has managed to free his arm - good work.
Van Leakenstien is trying to get back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Van Leakenstien wants to get back to his feet.
Firanen is keen to just control but Van Leakenstien is a slippery customer.
Van Leakenstien flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.

Firanen decides he's had enough of the ground and stands up.

Van Leakenstien clinches up with Firanen and pushes him back against the cage.
Firanen tries to land a knee to the head but Van Leakenstien blocks with his arms.
Firanen is looking to control Van Leakenstien's arms but Van Leakenstien gets an underhook and turns him. Now Firanen has his back to the cage.
Firanen tries to throw a body punch but Van Leakenstien avoids it by throwing Firanen back against the cage.
Firanen is looking for a takedown.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kai Firanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Firanen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Van Leakenstien misses with a jab, cross combination.

Van Leakenstien has closed the distance and engaged Firanen in a clinch.

Van Leakenstien breaks from the clinch.
Firanen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.

Van Leakenstien closes the distance and clinches.
Graham Van Leakenstien seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Van Leakenstien is trying to break the clinch but Firanen is controlling him.

Van Leakenstien breaks the clinch.
Firanen seems to be moving with more speed, compared to his last bout. He must have been working on that in the gym.

Van Leakenstien closes the distance and pushes Firanen back into the cage.

Van Leakenstien escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Firanen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Van Leakenstien throws a big elbow that misses.
Van Leakenstien would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Van Leakenstien content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Firanen looking for a sweep. Not yet Firanen, not yet.
Van Leakenstien has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Van Leakenstien is looking to stand up but Firanen won't let him.
Firanen trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
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!
Firanen trying to control the position here.
Van Leakenstien trying to control but Firanen is working from the bottom.
Van Leakenstien throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Firanen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Van Leakenstien gets to his feet - Firanen follows without any prompting.
Nice shot by Van Leakenstien.

Van Leakenstien gets in close and instigates a clinch.

Van Leakenstien decides to pull guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Graham Van Leakenstien showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Kai Firanen's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Van Leakenstien scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
Firanen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Van Leakenstien tries to advance to mount but can't.
Firanen is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Van Leakenstien asserts his dominance and retains side control.
Firanen is looking to regain half guard here but Van Leakenstien keeps moving and retains side control.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Van Leakenstien trying to control the position but Firanen is working away.

Van Leakenstien decides to stand up, so the ref orders Firanen to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Firanen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Van Leakenstien as he jumps to the side.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Van Leakenstien lands a two punch combo.

Van Leakenstien moves into the clinch.
Firanen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Van Leakenstien just stands there and leans against the cage.

Van Leakenstien pulls guard successfully.
Firanen wants to control from the top but Van Leakenstien keeps moving.
Van Leakenstien will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Van Leakenstien is looking to stand up but Firanen isn't so interested in that idea.
Firanen slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Van Leakenstien manages to wriggle out and sneak his way back up to his feet, so the fighters are now clinched up against the cage.

Van Leakenstien jumps guard.
Firanen engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

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

Van Leakenstien wanted to stand there but Firanen had control of the position.
Firanen is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Van Leakenstien postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Firanen is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Van Leakenstien would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Van Leakenstien is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Firanen wants to stand but Van Leakenstien is controlling the position.
Van Leakenstien works over Firanen with some ground and pound from guard.
Kai Firanen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Firanen keeping moving, preventing Van Leakenstien from controlling successfully.
Van Leakenstien distracts Firanen with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Graham Van Leakenstien is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Van Leakenstien trying to control the position from guard on top but Firanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Van Leakenstien gets to his feet - Firanen follows without any prompting.

And that's the end of the fight!
Graham Van Leakenstien comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Van Leakenstien has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 James Glass scores the fight 27:30
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 27:30
Judge James Atkins scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Graham Van Leakenstien!