PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jacob De Molay (ranked 4125 p4p, 435 weight class) and Jaakko Ilmarinen (ranked 4498 p4p, 464 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

De Molay
vs
Ilmarinen

185 cm
27
197 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

186 cm
20
197 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jacob De Molay!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaakko Ilmarinen!
The judges for this bout are Ivan Kurochkin, Sergei Dronov and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ilmarinen throws a hook but De Molay avoids it easily.

De Molay gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
A frustrated look appears on Ilmarinen's face as he tries to break the clinch.
De Molay lands a right hand that snaps the head of Ilmarinen backwards.
De Molay cracks Ilmarinen with a nice body shot.
De Molay tries to work over Ilmarinen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
De Molay swings away with an uppercut that misses.
De Molay misses with a body punch.

Ilmarinen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
No joy there for Ilmarinen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.

De Molay forces Ilmarinen back against the cage and clinches.
De Molay misses with a punch to the body.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Molay is pushing Ilmarinen up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
De Molay lands a shot to the body.
De Molay misses with the head strike.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Molay lands with a light punch inside.
De Molay tries a body shot but Ilmarinen blocks it.
Ilmarinen is trying to stall.
Nice body punch from De Molay.
De Molay gets through Ilmarinen's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
De Molay fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
De Molay is stalling here. The referee will be looking to step in if he doesn't pick up the pace.
De Molay working some nice short punches in the clinch.
De Molay scores with a hook to the body.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from De Molay.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
De Molay presses Ilmarinen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
De Molay misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ilmarinen blocks a body shot from De Molay.
A right hand to the body from De Molay.
De Molay has Ilmarinen pushed against the cage.
De Molay throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Ilmarinens head.
De Molay controlling the action here for a moment.
Ilmarinen prevents a body shot from De Molay.
Ilmarinen can't break the clinch.
Ilmarinen working hard to break the clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
De Molay throws a punch but it's blocked by Ilmarinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen is looking to break free of the clinch but De Molay has double underhooks.
De Molay throws a head punch that misses.
Ilmarinen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Ilmarinen is trying to break the clinch but De Molay is controlling him.
Ilmarinen looking to stall.
De Molay lands a shot to the body.
Ilmarinen looking to slow down the pace here.

Ilmarinen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
De Molay moves out of range of the strikes.

De Molay darts in and clinches Ilmarinen up against the cage.
De Molay misses with a body punch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Molay lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ilmarinen tries to break free but De Molay pushes him back against the cage.
De Molay slowing the pace effectively.
Nice body punch from De Molay.

Ilmarinen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Ilmarinen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ilmarinen jabs. That one connects to the head of his opponent.
De Molay takes a swing at Ilmarinen's ribcage but misses.

De Molay rushes Ilmarinen and presses him up against the cage.
De Molay working aggressively here.

Ilmarinen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
De Molay throws an overhand right that lands on Ilmarinen's shoulder, as Ilmarinen tries to avoid the shot.
Ilmarinen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

De Molay closes the distance and clinches.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ilmarinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
De Molay is struggling to control the position.
Ilmarinen tries to break the clinch but De Molay is controlling the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob De Molay dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Ilmarinen throws out a loose jab but De Molay uses good head movement to avoid it.
A telegraphed right hand from De Molay misses the target.
Ilmarinen closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Ilmarinen misses with a straight left.
De Molay tries to clinch up
and Ilmarinen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Ilmarinen stalks De Molay and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into De Molay's face. De Molay staggers backwards, shaken.
Ilmarinen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

De Molay gets a clinch.
Ilmarinen is looking to break free of the clinch but De Molay has double underhooks.
Ilmarinen taking a breather.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Molay displaying some good clinch control by pressing Ilmarinen up against the cage.
De Molay tries to work over Ilmarinen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
De Molay working aggressively here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Molay stalling against the cage.
Ilmarinen is looking to control De Molay's arms but De Molay gets an underhook and turns him. Now Ilmarinen has his back to the cage.
Stalling in the clinch from De Molay.
De Molay softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ilmarinen.
De Molay content to slow the pace in the clinch.
De Molay keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ilmarinen's efforts to push away.
De Molay lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
Stalling in the clinch from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen tries to break the clinch but De Molay is controlling the position.
De Molay slowing the pace effectively.
De Molay stalling.
De Molay lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Molay lands with a right to the head.
Ilmarinen tries to break the clinch but De Molay is controlling the position.
De Molay can't find room to land a body shot as Ilmarinen controls the action.
Jacob De Molay has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ilmarinen tries to break free but De Molay pushes him back against the cage.
De Molay has Ilmarinen pressed against the cage, preventing Ilmarinen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Ilmarinen.
De Molay softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
De Molay lands a right hand.
Ilmarinen can't break the clinch.
De Molay stalls.
De Molay keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Ilmarinen's efforts to push away.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
De Molay lands with a light punch inside.
This has been an exciting period of action!
De Molay has a couple of punches blocked by Ilmarinen.
De Molay has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Molay just leaning against Ilmarinen, taking a breather.
De Molay avoiding damage.
De Molay tries to throw a body punch but Ilmarinen avoids it by throwing De Molay back against the cage.
De Molay has Ilmarinen pressed against the cage.
A short left from De Molay.
Ilmarinen wants to stall.
Ilmarinen can't break the clinch.
De Molay lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ilmarinen or not.
De Molay lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
De Molay prevents Ilmarinen from breaking the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
De Molay stalling against the cage.
De Molay lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Ilmarinen takes a shot to the head.
De Molay tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ilmarinen's elbow.
De Molay stalling.
Ilmarinen letting De Molay take a breather here.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Ilmarinen takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
Ilmarinen is trying to force a seperation but De Molay has the dominant position.
De Molay tries a body shot but Ilmarinen blocks it.
Ilmarinen tries to break free but De Molay pushes him back against the cage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jacob De Molay dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

De Molay tries to clinch but Ilmarinen moves out of range.
De Molay connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ilmarinen throws a body punch but De Molay moves out of range.
De Molay seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
Ilmarinen fails to land with a series of punches.
Ilmarinen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.
De Molay fails to land with a series of punches.
De Molay scores with a hook.
Ilmarinen avoids the body shot from De Molay.
De Molay uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ilmarinen.
De Molay tries to clinch up but Ilmarinen circles away and keeps his distance.

De Molay gets a clinch.
De Molay misses with some punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
De Molay goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
A right hook to the body lands for De Molay.
Ilmarinen working hard to break the clinch.
Ilmarinen is trying to push De Molay away but De Molay has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
De Molay lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De Molay tries to throw a body punch but Ilmarinen avoids it by throwing De Molay back against the cage.
De Molay misses with some punches.
De Molay pressing his opponent against the cage.
De Molay is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ilmarinen can do to turn this around?
De Molay lands on the inside with an uppercut.
De Molay lands a nice uppercut.
Ilmarinen wants to break the clinch but can't.
De Molay doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
De Molay lands a body shot in the clinch.
De Molay tries a body shot but Ilmarinen blocks it.
De Molay holding his opponent close, against the cage.
De Molay tries to throw a body punch but Ilmarinen avoids it by throwing De Molay back against the cage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
De Molay misses with a punch to the body.
De Molay tries to work over Ilmarinen's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
De Molay lands a right hand.
Ilmarinen tries to break the clinch but De Molay is controlling the position.
Ilmarinen is trying to push De Molay away but De Molay has him pressed against the cage, so he's going nowhere.
De Molay can't find room to land a body shot as Ilmarinen controls the action.
Ilmarinen is trying to break the clinch but De Molay is controlling him.
De Molay working aggressively here.
Ilmarinen is trying to force a seperation but De Molay has the dominant position.
Ilmarinen is trying to break the clinch but De Molay is controlling him.
Ilmarinen letting De Molay take a breather here.
Ilmarinen trying to control the position but instead, De Molay has worked for underhooks and has pushed Ilmarinen into the cage.
A head punch on the inside from De Molay fails to land.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
De Molay misses with a punch on the inside.
De Molay misses with a hook from the clinch.
De Molay doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
De Molay is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
De Molay digs a right hand underneath Ilmarinen's ribcage. Ilmarinen let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ilmarinen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
De Molay stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from De Molay.
The crowd are getting pretty annoyed with De Molay for his constant stalling in the clinch and are voicing their displeasure.
A nice right hand lands inside from De Molay.
De Molay will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Ilmarinen up against the cage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ilmarinen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Ilmarinen swings for the body but De Molay moves out of range.
Ilmarinen throws a predictable looking body shot
and De Molay connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Jaakko Ilmarinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

De Molay rushes Ilmarinen and presses him up against the cage.
Ilmarinen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
De Molay lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Ilmarinen tries to break the clinch but De Molay is controlling the position.
De Molay lands a hook that snaps the head of Ilmarinen backwards.
Jaakko Ilmarinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
De Molay lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Ilmarinen or not.
De Molay stalling against the cage.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Ilmarinen is trying to break free.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jacob De Molay showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for De Molay, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sergei Dronov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jacob De Molay!
Jaakko Ilmarinen was interviewed post fight and said 'Lucky rat I had flu'.