PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between German Stevenson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Loki Litmanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Stevenson
vs
Litmanen

164 cm
19
278 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
20
229 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter fighter
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

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, German Stevenson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Loki Litmanen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Stevenson tries to sprawl but Litmanen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Litmanen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Stevenson moves into full guard.
Litmanen postures up.
Stevenson looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Litmanen content to stall in guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Stevenson really is a fat lump.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Litmanen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Stevenson avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Litmanen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Stevenson being controlled here, momentarily.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Litmanen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Stevenson might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Stevenson looking for a sweep. Not yet Stevenson, not yet.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Loki Litmanen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Litmanen pushes Stevenson up against the cage in a clinch.

Litmanen jumps guard and drags Stevenson to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Litmanen has Stevenson pulled in close to control his posture.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Litmanen is on top in guard.

Litmanen wants to stand but Stevenson has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Stevenson working a defensive guard but Litmanen manages to pass into side control anyway.
Litmanen working the strikes but Stevenson uses the opportunity to regain half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Stevenson works his way to full guard. Good work.
Stevenson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

Stevenson is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Litmanen defends it well.
Litmanen is looking to improve his position.

Stevenson is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Litmanen trying to control here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Litmanen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Stevenson.
Litmanen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Stevenson.
Stevenson throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.

Stevenson is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Litmanen is just riding it out for now. Stevenson eventually gives up the hold.
Litmanen wants to control but Stevenson is keeping busy and won't allow it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Litmanen drives through with a takedown into guard.
Litmanen controlling from the top position.

Litmanen decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.

Litmanen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Litmanen showed some decent athleticism there.
Stevenson moves into full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Litmanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson pulls Litmanen in close to prevent any damage.
Stevenson working a defensive guard here.
Litmanen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Litmanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Stevenson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Litmanen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
The step up in weight doesn't seem to be a problem for Litmanen. He's performing admirably here against the bigger man.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Litmanen misses with a head kick.

Litmanen pushes Stevenson up against the cage in a clinch.

Litmanen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Stevenson drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Stevenson wants to clinch up but Litmanen keeps it at a distance.
Stevenson ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Litmanen moves away.

Litmanen instigates a clinch.

Litmanen successfully pulls guard.
Litmanen looking to sweep here. No luck so far.

Litmanen has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Stevenson can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Stevenson preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throws a big elbow that misses.
Stevenson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Litmanen wants to sweep here but Stevenson controlling him for the moment.

Stevenson stands up from Litmanen's guard - Stevenson perhaps looking for a knockout.
Litmanen is breathing heavily.

Stevenson throws a loose over hand right and dives in with a double leg takedown. Litmanen tries to sprawl but it's too late and the fighters hit the mat. Stevenson is in Litmanen's guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson throwing strikes from guard but Litmanen blocks nicely.

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

Stevenson lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Stevenson postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Stevenson postures up.
Litmanen is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Loki Litmanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Stevenson gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Litmanen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Stevenson throws some sloppy strikes off his back.
Stevenson is trying to control the position but Litmanen postures up.
Stevenson keeping moving, preventing Litmanen from controlling successfully.
Stevenson working a defensive guard here.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Litmanen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Stevenson is keeping the position for now.
Stevenson has his hands on Litmanen's head, controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Stevenson 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.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Stevenson working a defensive guard here.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.

Litmanen closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Litmanen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Stevenson is positioning himself well to prevent Litmanen advancing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Litmanen seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Stevenson is controlling Litmanen's trapped leg to prevent Litmanen from advancing to side control.
Stevenson slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Litmanen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Stevenson 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.
Litmanen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Stevenson swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Stevenson looking for a sweep. Not yet Stevenson, not yet.
Litmanen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Stevenson works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Litmanen wants to control from the top but Stevenson keeps moving.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Litmanen pulls out of a head kick attempt.

Litmanen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Stevenson's half guard.
Litmanen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Stevenson keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Stevenson trying to control but Litmanen postures up.
Stevenson wants to improve his position but Litmanen is controlling well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Litmanen gets to his feet - back to striking we go!
Stevenson walks into a stiff left hand from Litmanen.

Litmanen clinches up against the cage.
Stevenson wants to break the clinch but can't.
A right handed body shot lands from Litmanen.

Litmanen has hold of one of Stevenson's legs. Stevenson is fighting the takedown attempt but Litmanen gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Litmanen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Litmanen preventing the sweep.

And that's the end of the fight!
Loki Litmanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Litmanen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Loki Litmanen!