PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Erkki Heimolainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and AL Lickertwat (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Erkki Heimolainen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Heimolainen
vs
Lickertwat

180 cm
31
168 lbs
10 - 16 - 0

175 cm
42
159 lbs
29 - 27 - 1

Abu Dhabi Champ
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Erkki Heimolainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 29 - 27 - 1, fighting out of New York, AL Lickertwat!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Lickertwat looking to score a takedown here. Heimolainen is defending well but Lickertwat drives through and ends up in Heimolainen's guard.
Heimolainen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Heimolainen trying to punch from his back but it's not doing any damage.
Lickertwat missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lickertwat postures up and lands a big shot to Heimolainen's brow.
Lickertwat wants to control from the top but Heimolainen keeps moving.
Lickertwat makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Heimolainen trying to strike off his back.
Heimolainen throws a couple of shots from the bottom but they don't land.
Heimolainen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Heimolainen striking from the bottom here.
Heimolainen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Heimolainen working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Lickertwat doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Lickertwat manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lickertwat postures up.
Heimolainen seems to have improved his submission grappling technique since last time we saw him. Let's see if he can pull off a submission.
Heimolainen striking off his back but it's not causing Lickertwat any problems.
Heimolainen is trying to keep Lickertwat in close.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Heimolainen thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.

Heimolainen wriggles free and stands up.
Lickertwat shoots in but no luck this time.

Lickertwat forces Heimolainen back against the cage and clinches.

Lickertwat works for the underhooks and manages to get a trip takedown into guard.
Lickertwat postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Heimolainen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Lickertwat is controlling him.
Lickertwat working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Lickertwat stopping the sweep attempt from Heimolainen.
Lickertwat throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Heimolainen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Heimolainen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Heimolainen will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Heimolainen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Lickertwat lands a couple of digs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Heimolainen manages to escape and get back to his feet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Heimolainen lands a two punch combo.
Lickertwat will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.

Heimolainen instigates a clinch.

Lickertwat jumps guard.
Both fighters have adopted an aggressive gameplan on the ground!
Lickertwat not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Heimolainen trying to control but Lickertwat is working from the bottom.
Lickertwat wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Heimolainen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lickertwat looking to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
It looks like the ref is thinking about a standup.
Lickertwat is looking to sweep but instead, Heimolainen has passed into half guard.
Lickertwat is looking to control Heimolainen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Lickertwat avoid being mounted?
Lickertwat wants to get back to full guard.
Heimolainen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Lickertwat trying to hold on to Heimolainen's head to control him but Heimolainen postures up.

Heimolainen is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Heimolainen is thwarting Lickertwat's attempts to control the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.

Heimolainen is working for a submission of some sort.

Heimolainen decides to stand up.
Lickertwat darts in trying to clinch
and Heimolainen counters with a left to the body.
Nice shot lands for Heimolainen.
Heimolainen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lickertwat changes levels for a counter takedown but doesn't follow through with his attempt.
Heimolainen throws a nice looking combination but Lickertwat bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Heimolainen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Lickertwat.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Erkki Heimolainen dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lickertwat drives through and clinches with Heimolainen against the cage.
Heimolainen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lickertwat can do to turn this around?

Lickertwat ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Lickertwat no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Heimolainen looking to pass the guard.
Lickertwat manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Heimolainen manages to get himself to full guard.

Lickertwat slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Heimolainen tries to strike but it doesn't land.
Lickertwat in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Lickertwat lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Heimolainen is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Heimolainen is trying to control Lickertwat's posture but Lickertwat avoids it.
Lickertwat landing with strikes to the head and body from side control.

Heimolainen is rocked!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lickertwat working away.
Oh Heimolainen is still in real trouble! Will he be able to recover?!!
Lickertwat working the head with strikes.
The crowd goes nuts as Lickertwat knocks Heimolainen out cold with a massive hammerfist! Lickertwat Jumps to his feet and climbs on top of the cage to celebrate with the crowd!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:26 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Strikes). AL Lickertwat!
AL Lickertwat managed to slip a mention for his sponsors, Milwaukee's Best Nutrition, into his post fight interview.