PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Gregg Willis (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tarzan Kivimaki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Willis
vs
Kivimaki

191 cm
24
140 lbs
2 - 6 - 0

175 cm
25
130 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gregg Willis!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tarzan Kivimaki!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kivimaki tries a head kick but it misses.
Kivimaki misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Willis throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Willis forces Kivimaki back against the cage and clinches.
Kivimaki is trying to break the clinch but Willis is controlling him.
Kivimaki wants to get back to striking at distance but Willis won't allow it.

Kivimaki pulls guard effortlessly.

Willis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Willis seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Willis lands a couple of digs.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Willis scoring with punches to the head and body.
Willis content to stall in guard here.
Willis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willis throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Kivimaki throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.

Willis got a little sloppy there for a moment and Kivimaki has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Willis has managed to get both his arms back between Kivimaki's legs - danger averted.
Willis has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kivimaki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Willis 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.
Willis 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.

Kivimaki has scooted to the edge of the canvas and used the cage to get back to his feet. Willis has stuck on his opponent and is forcing him back against the cage.
Still in the clinch, Willis scores with a nice short uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Willis is fighting off a takedown attempt but Kivimaki is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Willis to the mat. Willis regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Willis is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Willis lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Willis stands up from Kivimaki's guard - Willis perhaps looking for a knockout.
Kivimaki swinging wildly here.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kivimaki lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Willis circles away quickly and effectively.

Willis drives through and clinches with Kivimaki against the cage.

Willis escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Kivimaki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Willis shoots in looking for a takedown. Kivimaki tries to sprawl out of it but Willis keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Kivimaki manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivimaki pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Willis went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Kivimaki looks winded!
Kivimaki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Willis keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kivimaki throws a nice inside leg kick.
Willis lands a jab-cross combination.
Kivimaki lands with a nice combination. Willis backs away looking to recover.
Tarzan Kivimaki is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Willis has managed to clinch.
Willis tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Kivimaki smiles and moves away.
Kivimaki throws a head kick but Willis moves out of range.
Kivimaki throws a right and a left that both miss.
Willis scores with a one two! Kivimaki had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kivimaki throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
No luck for Willis with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gregg Willis. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck with that takedown attempt from Willis.
Kivimaki throws a sloppy head kick and Willis moves out of range easily.

Willis looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

Kivimaki is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Willis pulls his head out easily.
Willis winds up and cracks Kivimaki with a swinging punch to the side of the head.

Willis is working for a submission of some sort.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Willis is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Kivimaki has managed to free his arm - good work.
Willis keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Tarzan Kivimaki 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.

Nice sprawl there from Kivimaki as Willis shoots in.
Willis blocks a head kick by Kivimaki.
Willis half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.

Kivimaki gets tackled into the cage by Willis. Willis maintains the clinch.

Willis pulls guard effortlessly.
Kivimaki prevents Willis from getting back to his feet.
Kivimaki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Willis had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Kivimaki defends it easily.
Willis utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Willis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kivimaki manages to get himself to full guard.

Willis prevents Kivimaki from getting back to his feet.

Kivimaki has his foot on Willis's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Willis works his way back into a safe position though.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willis's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kivimaki is breathing heavily.

Willis decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Kivimaki throws a head kick that misses
and Willis counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.

Willis shoots in and gets a takedown into Kivimaki's guard.
Willis postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Willis postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Kivimaki is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Willis scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

Willis thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Willis lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kivimaki is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Willis chips away with some ground and pound.

Kivimaki is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Willis's corner is telling him to maintain position.

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

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Willis shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kivimaki's guard.

Willis drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Willis jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Kivimaki throwing strikes off his back to little effect.

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

Kivimaki is looking for a triangle but Willis pushes his legs off easily.
Willis controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Gregg Willis overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

Willis decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Kivimaki, up you get!
Kivimaki tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Willis throws a quick counter head kick but Kivimaki was just out of range.
Willis looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Gregg Willis is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Willis shoots for a double leg takedown but Kivimaki sprawls well. He's pushed Willis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Gregg Willis. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Willis shoots for a double leg takedown but Kivimaki sprawls well. He's pushed Willis's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Kivimaki now looks to counter with a shot at the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Gregg Willis dominated that second round.
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. This is the final round!

Kivimaki throws a sloppy head kick and Willis moves out of range easily.
Willis throws a right and a left that both miss.
Kivimaki looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Kivimaki fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Willis avoids the head kick by Kivimaki.
Kivimaki throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Willis wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
Kivimaki takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

Kivimaki gets caught flat footed, as Willis shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Willis content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Willis stopping the sweep attempt from Kivimaki.
Willis will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Willis makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Kivimaki takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Willis is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Willis won't allow Kivimaki to get back to his feet.
Willis postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Willis drops back looking for a leg! Kivimaki is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Kivimaki manages to kick Willis off! Willis jumps back into Kivimaki's guard.
Willis controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Willis has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.

Kivimaki is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Willis is aware though and is defending well.

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.
Willis with a nice head shot there.
Kivimaki being controlled here, momentarily.
Willis working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Willis sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Willis really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
Willis misses with a double jab.
Kivimaki lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Willis avoids the head kick by Kivimaki.
Kivimaki stuffs the takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Willis closes the distance and pushes Kivimaki back into the cage.

Willis manages to pull guard. Let's see whether he can land a sub off his back.
Kivimaki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kivimaki won't allow Willis to sweep him here.
Kivimaki must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kivimaki wants to stand but Willis has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

Kivimaki drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Kivimaki jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Willis working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kivimaki.

Willis is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Willis manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Kivimaki manages to get himself to full guard.

Willis sitting in guard, not really doing much.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Willis is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Willis slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Kivimaki is trying to keep Willis in close.
Kivimaki tries to strike from the bottom.
Willis's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Willis working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kivimaki's head.
Kivimaki can't do much from the bottom at the moment, as Willis controls the pace.
Willis landing with the ground and pound.

And that's the end of the fight!
Gregg Willis showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Willis 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Gregg Willis!