PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ted Leblanc (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jaakko Kinnumen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kinnumen has chosen We're the Gods of Metal as his entrance music. Jaakko Kinnumen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Leblanc
vs
Kinnumen

183 cm
24
215 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

190 cm
25
215 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Versus

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 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Ted Leblanc!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaakko Kinnumen!
The judges for this bout are Igor Prikhodko, Konstantin Menshow and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Leblanc is defended easily by Kinnumen.
Kinnumen fails with a takedown attempt.
Kinnumen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kinnumen misses with a takedown attempt
and Leblanc counters with a stiff right hand.
Ted Leblanc has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jaakko Kinnumen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kinnumen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Kinnumen fails to land the takedown.
Kinnumen throws a body shot but no joy.
Leblanc drops down looking for a counter takedown but Kinnumen sprawls and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kinnumen clinches up with Leblanc and pushes him back against the cage.
Leblanc is trying to force a seperation but Kinnumen has the dominant position.
Kinnumen has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Leblanc is trying to push Kinnumen away but Kinnumen has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.

Leblanc breaks from the clinch.
Kinnumen moves forwards but Leblanc connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Leblanc throws a hook but Kinnumen avoids it easily.
Kinnumen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Leblanc sprawls well. Leblanc wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kinnumen gets slowly back to his feet.
Leblanc fails with the takedown
enabling Kinnumen to counter with a crisp jab.
Leblanc displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kinnumen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kinnumen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Leblanc paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kinnumen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Leblanc throws a big shot that misses.

Kinnumen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Leblanc, pushing him back against the cage.
Leblanc has had enough of the clinch but Kinnumen keeps him there for the moment.

Leblanc pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kinnumen drives through and clinches with Leblanc against the cage.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kinnumen.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Leblanc tries a knee to the head but Kinnumen blocks it.
Leblanc keeps control of Kinnumen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Kinnumen just misses with a elbow thrown towards Leblanc's brow.
Kinnumen keeps control of Leblanc as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Leblanc's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Kinnumen fails with a takedown attempt.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Kinnumen is defended easily by Leblanc.

Kinnumen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Leblanc looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
A frustrated look appears on Leblanc's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kinnumen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Leblanc wants to break the clinch but can't.
Leblanc is trying to break the clinch but Kinnumen has him pressed against the cage.
Leblanc swings wildly with an uppercut but Kinnumen uses good head movement to avoid it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Kinnumen is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
Leblanc has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Leblanc wants to get back to striking at distance but Kinnumen won't allow it.
Kinnumen stalls.
Leblanc tries a knee to the head but he's missed.

Kinnumen pulls guard.
Leblanc wants to control from the top but Kinnumen keeps moving.
Leblanc could do with losing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Kinnumen is trying to keep Leblanc in close.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leblanc lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Kinnumen 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.
Kinnumen keeps trying to improve his position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Jaakko Kinnumen will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Kinnumen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Leblanc sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Leblanc stuffs the takedown attempt from Kinnumen. Kinnumen gets slowly back to his feet.
Leblanc tries to close the distance and clinch but Kinnumen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.

Leblanc shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kinnumen napping and manages to drive through into side control!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kinnumen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Leblanc prevents Kinnumen from escaping the position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The strikes coming from Leblanc are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Leblanc scoring with punches from side control.
Leblanc trying to control the position but Kinnumen is working away.

Leblanc working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kinnumen gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Kinnumen tries to roll over but Leblanc keeps him under control.
Leblanc not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Kinnumen is staying active underneath Leblanc, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Kinnumen trying to keep hold of his opponent's head but Leblanc manages to pass to mount!
Leblanc raining down hammerfists from mount.

Leblanc swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Kinnumen is now in Leblanc's guard. A big mistake from Leblanc there, giving up the dominant position!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kinnumen postures up in Leblanc's guard and throws a big left but Leblanc blocks it.
Ted Leblanc overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kinnumen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Leblanc wants to stand and escape but Kinnumen is having none of it.
Leblanc tries to strike from the bottom.
Kinnumen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Leblanc working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Kinnumen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Kinnumen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Kinnumen 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.

Kinnumen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Leblanc, up you get!
Jaakko Kinnumen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leblanc walks into a jab.
Kinnumen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Leblanc sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kinnumen somewhat.
Ted Leblanc has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jaakko Kinnumen.
Kinnumen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kinnumen shoots in for a double leg but Leblanc sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Kinnumen is breathing heavily.
Kinnumen shoots and misses
enabling Leblanc to counter with a crisp jab.
Kinnumen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Leblanc wants to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kinnumen blocks a jab.
Kinnumen throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Leblanc counters with a stiff right hand.
Leblanc shoots in for a takedown but Kinnumen shows good takedown defense.
Leblanc tries to clinch but Kinnumen moves out of range.
Kinnumen fails with the takedown.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kinnumen shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Leblanc sprawls well. Leblanc wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Kinnumen gets slowly back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ted Leblanc dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Kinnumen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Leblanc on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kinnumen tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Leblanc manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Leblanc seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Kinnumen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Leblanc circles away.
Leblanc will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Kinnumen dives in for a single leg takedown but Leblanc sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Leblanc is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kinnumen.

Kinnumen has managed to clinch.
Leblanc is trying to force a seperation but Kinnumen has the dominant position.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Leblanc pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Kinnumen clinches up with Leblanc and pushes him back against the cage.
A frustrated look appears on Leblanc's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kinnumen jumps guard but Leblanc stands there with Kinnumen around his waist. Kinnumen gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ted Leblanc has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jaakko Kinnumen.

Leblanc breaks from the clinch.
Kinnumen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kinnumen shoots in but no luck this time.
A little feinted left hand from Leblanc on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Kinnumen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Leblanc sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Kinnumen somewhat.
Kinnumen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Kinnumen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Leblanc.
Kinnumen closes the distance but Leblanc moves to the side
and Leblanc counters with a nice uppercut.
Kinnumen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Leblanc's waist but Leblanc gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kinnumen off to one side.
Leblanc is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from Kinnumen.
Leblanc fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kinnumen tries to move into range but Leblanc moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Kinnumen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Leblanc.

Leblanc has closed the distance and engaged Kinnumen in a clinch.
A body shot lands from Kinnumen.
Kinnumen has Leblanc pressed against the cage, preventing Leblanc from circling away and getting back to striking at range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kinnumen is looking to break free of the clinch but Leblanc has double underhooks.

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

Kinnumen closes the distance and clinches.
Kinnumen has Leblanc pressed against the cage.
Kinnumen looking to stall.
A frustrated look appears on Leblanc's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Kinnumen tries to break the clinch but Leblanc is controlling the position.

Leblanc pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Leblanc shoots in and drives through. Kinnumen sprawls well.

Kinnumen clinches up against the cage.
Leblanc is trying to break free.
Kinnumen lands a hook that snaps the head of Leblanc backwards.
Jaakko Kinnumen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Kinnumen ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Kinnumen no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Leblanc throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kinnumen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Leblanc trying to control the position from guard on top but Kinnumen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Kinnumen pulls Leblanc in to control the position.
Kinnumen looking for a sweep. Not yet Kinnumen, not yet.
Leblanc in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Kinnumen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Leblanc postures up.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Leblanc scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kinnumen pulls Leblanc in close to his closed guard and prevents Leblanc from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kinnumen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Jaakko Kinnumen.
I think Kinnumen 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 Igor Prikhodko scores the fight 28:29
Judge Konstantin Menshow scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by split decision... Jaakko Kinnumen!
An out of breath Jaakko Kinnumen thanked his loyal fans in his post fight interview, giving them credit for his success over the course of his career.