PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Vlad Ikban (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ruska Pakkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ikban
vs
Pakkanen

178 cm
20
170 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

185 cm
20
175 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Fast

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 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of New York, Vlad Ikban!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ruska Pakkanen!
The judges for this bout are David Schapiro, Chad Campbell and Jonathan Paton.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ikban moves to clinch but Pakkanen breaks away
and Pakkanen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Ikban tries to clinch up.
Ikban shoots and misses
and Pakkanen counters with a two punch combo.
Ikban tries to clinch but Pakkanen moves away
and Pakkanen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
A low kick from Ikban is predictable there
and Ikban takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pakkanen tests Ikban's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Pakkanen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Pakkanen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikban misses with a series of wild punches.
It seemed like Pakkanen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Pakkanen looks to land a left hand but Ikban moved out of range nicely.
Ikban uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Pakkanen.
Pakkanen misses with a two punch combination.
Ikban tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Pakkanen counters nicely by changing levels and landing a hook to the body.
Pakkanen keeps the fight on the outside.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ikban drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Ikban tries to clinch up
and Pakkanen counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Ikban steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Pakkanen.
Pakkanen stalks Ikban and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Ikban's face. Ikban staggers backwards, shaken.
Pakkanen's corner calls for a 1, 2 combination and Pakkanen duly obliges.
Pakkanen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pakkanen scores with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ikban clinches up with Pakkanen and pushes him back against the cage.
Ikban trying to stall but Pakkanen improves his position.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Pakkanen avoiding damage as Ikban throws knees to the body.

Pakkanen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Ikban tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Pakkanen counters with a nice uppercut.
Ikban is looking to clinch but Pakkanen is avoiding it.
Pakkanen lands with a right hand.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Good exchange - Pakkanen coming out on top.
Pakkanen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Ikban circles away quickly and effectively.
Ikban went nuts there looking for a big combo counter but none of the flurry connected.
Pakkanen lands the left hand.
Pakkanen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ikban backs up against the cage.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Pakkanen works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Pakkanen is working the combinations to good effect here.
Ikban wants to clinch up but Pakkanen keeps it at a distance.
As Ikban backs off Pakkanen throws a huge counter combo but Ikban manages to avoid it all.
Ikban tries to close the distance and clinch but Pakkanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Pakkanen! But no joy.
Ikban tries to clinch up.
Pakkanen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ikban.
Ikban throws a big counter combination but Pakkanen scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruska Pakkanen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

Ikban closes the distance looking to clinch
and Pakkanen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pakkanen scores with a shot to the body.
Ikban lands with a thumping leg kick.
Pakkanen lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Ikban backs up against the cage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pakkanen scores with a nice strike.
Pakkanen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Pakkanen might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Ikban tries to close the distance and clinch up but Pakkanen swats him away and circles back towards the center.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ikban. Pakkanen does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ikban wants to clinch.
Pakkanen keeps the fight on the outside.
Pakkanen tries to bum rush Ikban with a series of wild strikes but Ikban uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Ikban wants to clinch but Pakkanen slips to the side
and Pakkanen counters with a nice uppercut.
Pakkanen misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pakkanen scores with a jab. Ikban acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Ikban moves forwards but Pakkanen connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Ikban tries to clinch
and Pakkanen counters with a stiff right hand.
Pakkanen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ikban tries to clinch but Pakkanen is having none of it.
It seemed like Pakkanen was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Pakkanen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ikban doesn't manage to clinch there - Pakkanen circles away.
Pakkanen lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
Ikban is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ikban tries to close the distance and clinch but Pakkanen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Pakkanen unleashes a big counter combination but Ikban bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

Ikban closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Pakkanen's guard.
Pakkanen has Ikban pulled in close to control his posture.
Pakkanen is continuing to stall.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ikban trying to control but Pakkanen is working from the bottom.
Ikban has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ikban working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Ikban wants to control from the top but Pakkanen keeps moving.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Pakkanen is looking for a triangle but Ikban pushes his legs off easily.
Ikban postures up in Pakkanen's guard and throws a big left but Pakkanen blocks it.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
Ikban tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Ikban takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pakkanen lands a jab to the nose.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ikban wants to clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ruska Pakkanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Pakkanen throws a right hand that Ikban ducks under and follows up with a left that Ikban also avoids with ease.
Ikban takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Good standup being displayed there by Pakkanen as he connects with a hook.
Pakkanen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Ikban.
Ikban jinks towards his opponent looking like he wants to counter with a mid kick but doesn't commit.
Ikban tries to clinch but Pakkanen moves out of range.
Pakkanen let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Vlad Ikban is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Pakkanen throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ikban wants to clinch
and Pakkanen counters with a nice uppercut.
Pakkanen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Ikban moves out of range and avoids them all easily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikban tries to clinch but Pakkanen is having none of it.
Pakkanen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Ikban tries to clinch
and Pakkanen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pakkanen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Pakkanen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ikban shoots and misses
and Pakkanen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ikban uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pakkanen.
Ikban looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pakkanen works over Ikban's head and body with a nice combination.
Pakkanen scores with a jab to the body.
Pakkanen bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ikban's head backwards.
Ikban misses with a takedown
and Pakkanen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Pakkanen looks to land a left hand but Ikban moved out of range nicely.
Ikban throws a quick counter kick to the body but Pakkanen avoids it.
Ikban walks into a jab.
Pakkanen lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ikban tries for a takedown but Pakkanen circles away easily
and Pakkanen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Vlad Ikban. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ikban takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Ikban is looking to clinch.
Nice uppercut lands for Pakkanen. That snapped Ikban's head back.
Ikban misses with a body kick.
Pakkanen doesn't fully commit to the body shot counter.
Ikban tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Pakkanen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Ruska Pakkanen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Pakkanen scores with a hook.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ikban shoots and misses
and Ikban takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

Ikban is rocked!
Pakkanen lands a lovely overhand right.
Oh Ikban is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Ikban tries to clinch
and Pakkanen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Pakkanen throws out a loose jab but Ikban uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ikban seems to have got his legs back now.
Ikban tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Pakkanen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Sloppy strikes from Pakkanen. Those never looked like landing.
Ikban tries to clinch but fails miserably
and Pakkanen counters with a stiff right hand.
Vlad Ikban has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ruska Pakkanen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Ikban tries to clinch up
and Pakkanen counters with a straight right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ruska Pakkanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Pakkanen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 David Schapiro scores the fight 25:30
Judge Chad Campbell scores the fight 25:30
Judge Jonathan Paton scores the fight 25:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ruska Pakkanen!
After the fight, Ruska Pakkanen was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.