PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lesley Gill (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jere Ikonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lesley Gill is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples... Tweaking his own nipples that is.

Gill
vs
Ikonen

224 cm
19
177 lbs
2 - 5 - 0

188 cm
23
170 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Determined

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lesley Gill!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jere Ikonen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ikonen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gill was well out of range. Poor timing from Ikonen.

Ikonen closes the distance and pushes Gill back into the cage.
Gill tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ikonen's elbow.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Nice body punch from Ikonen - that landed with a thud.
Gill really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Ikonen lands an elbow just above Gill 's eye.

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

Ikonen clinches up with Gill and pushes him back against the cage.

Ikonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Ikonen drives through and clinches with Gill against the cage.
Ikonen fails to pull guard.
Ikonen is struggling to control the position.
Ikonen stops a takedown attempt from Gill.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikonen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Gill wants to stall.

Ikonen breaks from the clinch.

Ikonen rushes Gill and presses him up against the cage.
Ikonen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Ikonen wants to take the fight to the mat but Gill manages to get underhooks and keep the fight in the clinch.
Gill is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Lesley Gill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jere Ikonen.

Ikonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Ikonen, right into the meat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ikonen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Gill sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Gill shoots in and drives through. Ikonen sprawls well.

Gill shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Gill showed some decent athleticism there.
Ikonen wants to stand back up but Gill manages to pass into side control.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Ikonen throws his opponent off and manages to get back to his feet! Nicely done!
Gill misses with a takedown attempt - Ikonen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ikonen fails with a takedown attempt.

Ikonen has Gill up against the cage in a clinch.
Gill wants a takedown but no success here.
The referee calls for Ikonen to work.

Ikonen jumps into guard, dragging Gill to the mat.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ikonen wants to hit a switch here but Gill passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Ikonen there!
Ikonen is trying to escape the mount.
Ikonen holds on for dear life, controlling Gill's posture momentarily.
Ikonen is working to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jere Ikonen dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Ikonen misses with a double jab.
Gill drops down looking for a counter takedown but Ikonen sprawls and moves away.
Gill shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Ikonen as he avoids it easily.
Ikonen shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Gill as he avoids it easily.

Ikonen closes the distance and pushes Gill back into the cage.
Gill misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ikonen.
Ikonen goes for a takedown attempt but Gill pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Gill blocks a head kick by Ikonen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ikonen shoots in for a double leg but Gill sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Lesley Gill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jere Ikonen.
Ikonen fails with a takedown attempt from distance.

Ikonen clinches with his opponent.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gill slaps away a takedown attempt from Ikonen, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Ikonen is breathing heavily.
Ikonen dives in and grabs Gill's left leg, looking for a takedown. Gill pushes down on Ikonen's head and hops out.
Ikonen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Gill swivels and escapes.
Gill swinging wildly here.
Ikonen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Gill.

Gill gets tackled into the cage by Ikonen. Ikonen maintains the clinch.
Ikonen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ikonen shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Gill defends it nicely.

Ikonen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ikonen is looking to stand back up but Gill counters by passing into half guard. Oops... bit sloppy there by Ikonen.

Gill is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Ikonen sees it coming and defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ikonen tries to get to full guard but Gill has control of the leg.
Ikonen is looking to escape.
Gill wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Gill is looking for a kimura but Ikonen is holding onto that half guard position, so it's hard for Gill to get the leverage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

Ikonen looking for a kimura from the bottom but Gill passes into side control!
You can see the frustration on Ikonen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Gill working hard here to secure a kimura but he's not really in the right position for it.
Ikonen can't do much from the bottom here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Lesley Gill 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. This is the final round!

Ikonen takes the fight into the clinch.

Ikonen breaks the clinch.

Gill gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Ikonen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ikonen throws a big elbow that misses.
Ikonen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ikonen throws a strike but Gill rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Lesley Gill overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikonen working a defensive guard here.

Ikonen has his foot on Gill's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Gill works his way back into a safe position though.
Gill trying to control but Ikonen is working from the bottom.
Ikonen wants to sweep but no luck.
Gill is looking to stand up but Ikonen won't let him.

Ikonen looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ikonen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Gill is looking to stand up but Ikonen won't let him.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Ikonen throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Gill.

It looks like Lesley Gill has been cut.

Ikonen takes the fight into the clinch.
Gill drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ikonen has Gill pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Gill manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ikonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Ikonen moves into the clinch successfully.
Gill wants a takedown but no success here.

Ikonen manages to break the clinch.
Ikonen shoots in and drives through. Gill sprawls well.

Ikonen has taken the fight to the clinch.
Ikonen wants a takedown.
Lesley Gill has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jere Ikonen.
Gill is looking for a takedown.
Ikonen avoiding damage.
Jere Ikonen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Gill looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ikonen pulls guard successfully.

Gill thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Gill wants to get up but he can't break Ikonen's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ikonen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Gill has gone for a leg lock! Ikonen slips out almost immediately though and dives into Gill's guard.

Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Ikonen looking to sit in guard and control but Gill gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jere Ikonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ikonen 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jere Ikonen!