PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Keijo Kimalainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and TJ Garbrandt (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). I'm sure you'll be fascinated to know that I was talking to some pointless Z list celebrity before the fight and he thought that TJ Garbrandt was going to win. Let's see if he was right.

Kimalainen
vs
Garbrandt

172 cm
25
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

172 cm
25
135 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Intelligent

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Intelligent

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Keijo Kimalainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, TJ Garbrandt!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Garbrandt throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Kimalainen on the side of the head.
Garbrandt scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

Kimalainen closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Garbrandt is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Garbrandt tries to bench press Kimalainen off him but Kimalainen keeps the position.

Kimalainen is trying to get an arm triangle but Garbrandt is defending well.
Garbrandt tries to escape but Kimalainen is in control.
Kimalainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Garbrandt keeps working.
Kimalainen takes a little break here. Garbrandt wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Kimalainen seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Garbrandt for as long as he can get away with.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garbrandt is not content to let Kimalainen control the position.
Kimalainen is staying tight to Garbrandt's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Garbrandt really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kimalainen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Garbrandt manages to get back to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kimalainen trying to mount his opponent but Garbrandt defends it.
Nice strikes from Kimalainen there.
Kimalainen wants to take a breather but Garbrandt is having none of it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Garbrandt looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kimalainen is working hard to pass the guard. He's done it - he's now in full mount! Trouble for Garbrandt!
Kimalainen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Garbrandt is looking to escape.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Kimalainen with a couple of short strikes.
Kimalainen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Garbrandt is wriggling around trying to escape.
Garbrandt squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.
Kimalainen manages to capitalize on a mistake by Garbrandt to take his back!
Garbrandt is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Kimalainen patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Garbrandt wants to get back to his feet.
A bit of a pause in the action here. Kimalainen controlling the positon.
Garbrandt tries to break free.
Garbrandt is trying to get back to his feet but Kimalainen has full control of the position and if anything, Garbrandt has just worked his way into a worse spot.
Kimalainen is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Garbrandt up.

Garbrandt is trying to shake Kimalainen off. He's managed it and has hopped back to his feet! Kimalainen won't be happy about giving up the dominant position.
Keijo Kimalainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kimalainen fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kimalainen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Garbrandt lands with a good body shot.
Garbrandt lands a slapping body shot.
Kimalainen is trying hard to land a takedown here. Garbrandt sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Kimalainen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Kimalainen shoots for a takedown but Garbrandt saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kimalainen fails with the takedown
and Garbrandt counters with a straight right hand.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keijo Kimalainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Danga de danga de dang - Garbrandt scores with a four punch combination!
Kimalainen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kimalainen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Kimalainen takes a hook to the side of the head. I wonder if that's got his ears ringing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Kimalainen closes this distance looking for a takedown but Garbrandt circles away.
Kimalainen shoots in and drives through. Garbrandt sprawls well.
Kimalainen misses with a takedown
and Garbrandt counters with a nice uppercut.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keijo Kimalainen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Garbrandt stuffs the takedown.
Garbrandt lands a jab to Kimalainen's midsection.
Garbrandt with a jab.
Kimalainen tries for a takedown but Garbrandt circles away easily
and Garbrandt counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Kimalainen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Garbrandt counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Garbrandt displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Kimalainen.
Garbrandt scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Kimalainen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
TJ Garbrandt seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Garbrandt lands a jab.
Garbrandt swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.
Nice uppercut there from Garbrandt.

Kimalainen is rocked!
Kimalainen misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Garbrandt closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Oh Kimalainen is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!
Garbrandt misses with a few strikes there.
Kimalainen seems to have got his legs back now.
Garbrandt misses with a two punch combination.
Kimalainen feinted with a counter takedown.
Kimalainen takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Garbrandt circles away from the clinch attempt.
Garbrandt works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
Garbrandt throws a one two combo.
Keijo Kimalainen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Kimalainen slips a jab and a cross from Garbrandt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kimalainen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Kimalainen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Good standup being displayed there by Garbrandt as he connects with a hook.
Garbrandt moves into range and connects with a jab.
Nice shot lands for Garbrandt.
Garbrandt uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Kimalainen has time to react.
Kimalainen needs to keep his hands up - Garbrandt had a free shot at his head there.
Garbrandt lands a head shot.
Kimalainen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Nice uppercut there from Garbrandt.
Kimalainen takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
A shot to the liver by Garbrandt. Beautiful body shot.
Kimalainen takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kimalainen has his takedown stuffed
and Garbrandt counters with a stiff right hand.
Garbrandt lands a jab-cross combination.
Kimalainen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Kimalainen doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Garbrandt counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Kimalainen's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Garbrandt connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Kimalainen scrambles back to his feet.
Garbrandt scores with a decent looking hook.
Kimalainen fails with the takedown
and Garbrandt counters with a straight right hand.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Garbrandt, as that shot connected.
Kimalainen looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.
Garbrandt scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Garbrandt connects with a looping right hand.
Kimalainen takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Garbrandt has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Kimalainen takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A shot to the liver by Garbrandt. Beautiful body shot.
Garbrandt's corner calls for a 1-2. Garbrandt obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Garbrandt lands with a shot to the body.
Kimalainen shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Garbrandt counters with a nice uppercut.
A left and a right from Garbrandt both land. Nice combination.
Garbrandt punishes Kimalainen's body with a nice straight punch.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kimalainen fails with the takedown
and Garbrandt counters with a three punch combo that has Kimalainen backing up. Kimalainen nods at Garbrandt to acknowledge the strikes.
A lazy left from Garbrandt finds it's target.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

TJ Garbrandt showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Kimalainen takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Kimalainen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Kimalainen takes one to the chin there.
Garbrandt connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Kimalainen misses with a takedown
and Garbrandt counters with a straight right hand.
Kimalainen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Garbrandt counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Garbrandt connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Kimalainen momentarily.
Garbrandt paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.
Garbrandt scores with a punch to the head.
Kimalainen gets caught by a big overhand right and goes down! Garbrandt gets on top of him and starts throwing some serious punches until the ref intervenes and stops the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:40 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). TJ Garbrandt!
A victorious TJ Garbrandt thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.