PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tera Laaksonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Gerhard Rihmakallo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laaksonen comes to the cage accompanied by Heikki Kuula & Voli - Viimeinen Tango. The crowd seem to be enjoying Rihmakallo's choice of entrance music: Blood For Blood-Living In Exile. Rihmakallo has a pretty significant injury - he really shouldn't be fighting right now but he's a warrior and he's here none the less! These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Laaksonen
vs
Rihmakallo

184 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
18
245 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
KO power

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tera Laaksonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Gerhard Rihmakallo!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laaksonen lands a nice looking kick to the body. Rihmakallo takes a step back to recover.
Laaksonen really is a fat lump.
Rihmakallo looks gassed!
Laaksonen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Rihmakallo on the side of the head.

Laaksonen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Laaksonen working the ground and pound.
Laaksonen connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Rihmakallo some visible discomfort.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laaksonen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rihmakallo keeps working.
Laaksonen scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Rihmakallo to see if he's OK.
Laaksonen trying to control the action but Rihmakallo is working from the bottom.
The ground and pound from Laaksonen seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Laaksonen working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Laaksonen is looking to take a break and control but Rihmakallo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Laaksonen works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Rihmakallo struggling a bit here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laaksonen thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.

Laaksonen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Laaksonen trying to control the action but Rihmakallo is working from the bottom.
Rihmakallo managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Laaksonen.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Laaksonen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!

Laaksonen has taken the fight to the clinch.

Laaksonen pulls guard effortlessly.
Laaksonen trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Laaksonen working for a triangle but Rihmakallo defends it easily.
Laaksonen 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.
Laaksonen working a defensive guard here.
Laaksonen knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rihmakallo on the ground.
Rihmakallo postures up in Laaksonen's guard and throws a big left but Laaksonen blocks it.
Laaksonen keeping moving, preventing Rihmakallo from controlling successfully.
Laaksonen is trying to control the position but Rihmakallo postures up.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Laaksonen lands a high kick!

Laaksonen has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laaksonen fails to pull the fight into his guard.

Laaksonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

Laaksonen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rihmakallo is trying to maintain the position but Laaksonen is very close to passing his half guard.
Rihmakallo tries to get to full guard but Laaksonen has control of the leg.

Rihmakallo looking for submissions off his back.
Laaksonen is trying to control the action in half guard but Rihmakallo is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Rihmakallo looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
Laaksonen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laaksonen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Rihmakallo defending well though.
Rihmakallo wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Rihmakallo fails with the takedown

and Laaksonen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.

Rihmakallo throws his legs up looking to secure a triangle. Oh, that looks pretty tight, I gotta say! Laaksonen escapes and throws Rihmakallo's legs to the side, diving into side control!
Laaksonen is looking to take a break and control but Rihmakallo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rihmakallo manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rihmakallo throws a strike from the bottom that misses.
Rihmakallo is staying active underneath Laaksonen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tera Laaksonen dominated that round.
That's time! Laaksonen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Rihmakallo forces Laaksonen back against the cage and clinches.

Laaksonen has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rihmakallo is trying to keep an underhook but Laaksonen manages to get the takedown into half guard.

Rihmakallo actively working from the bottom here.
Rihmakallo tries to roll over but Laaksonen keeps him under control.
Rihmakallo trying to hold on to Laaksonen's head to control him but Laaksonen postures up.
Rihmakallo avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Laaksonen.
Laaksonen is looking to take a break and control but Rihmakallo is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Rihmakallo is looking to improve his position.
Laaksonen seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Rihmakallo does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Laaksonen closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rihmakallo to the mat! Rihmakallo manages to get full guard.
Laaksonen wants to pass the guard but Rihmakallo is keeping the position.

Rihmakallo is looking for a triangle but Laaksonen pushes his legs off easily.

Rihmakallo has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Laaksonen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Rihmakallo looking to try and escape his hips here, looking for a submission. It looks like he's going for a triangle but Laaksonen is defending well. Rihmakallo quickly switches to an armbar and extends the arm! Laaksonen has no choice but to tap, to a very quick submission! Wow, that was lightning fast! Rihmakallo celebrates on the cage, with the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Gerhard Rihmakallo!