PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Jaakko Ilmarinen (ranked 2064 p4p, 252 weight class) and Jessie James (ranked 2135 p4p, 257 weight class). James is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Raining Blood - Slayer. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Ilmarinen
vs
James

186 cm
23
197 lbs
3 - 5 - 0

183 cm
27
192 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Good gas tank

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 3 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jaakko Ilmarinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Sydney, Jessie James!
The judges for this bout are Daniel Bishop, Sam Margolis and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
James avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
James is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
James takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Ilmarinen lands with a hook. James tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Jaakko Ilmarinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ilmarinen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
As Ilmarinen backs off James throws a huge counter combo but Ilmarinen manages to avoid it all.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Ilmarinen.
James lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ilmarinen dips to his left and cracks James with an uppercut!
Ilmarinen throws the left hand but James avoids the punch easily.
As Ilmarinen backs off James throws a huge counter combo but Ilmarinen manages to avoid it all.
Some wild striking there from Ilmarinen.
James lets it all go there with a big combo counter but none of the punches connected.

That's one minute gone in the round.
James walks into a left hand.
Ilmarinen misses with a combination
and James counters with a left and a right that stings Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen looks for the body kick but James saw that one coming.
Ilmarinen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
James throws a counter combo.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but James circles away quickly and effectively.
Despite the aggression on James's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
James moves out of range of the body kick from Ilmarinen.
Despite the aggression on James's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ilmarinen throws a combination that misses
and James counters with a one-two to the body.
Ilmarinen scores with a jab to the body.
Ilmarinen misses with a right hand
and James counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ilmarinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
James takes a punch to the jaw and another one to the bread basket.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen throws a left and a right that both miss
and James counters with a series of strikes. Ilmarinen will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ilmarinen throws a body kick that misses.
Ilmarinen misses with a jab to the body
and James counters with a two punch combo.
James uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen misses with a two punch combination.
James takes one to the side of the head.
Ilmarinen looks to throw the jab but James is out of range.
James unleashes a big counter combination but Ilmarinen bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Ilmarinen keeps James at a distance using the push kick.
Nice jab there from Ilmarinen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ilmarinen misses with a straight left.
Ilmarinen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Ilmarinen looks to throw the jab but James is out of range.
As Ilmarinen backs off James throws a huge counter combo but Ilmarinen manages to avoid it all.
Jaakko Ilmarinen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Ilmarinen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Ilmarinen dominated that 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.

Ilmarinen gets off balance looking for a body kick
and James counters with a series of strikes. Ilmarinen will be more careful next time no doubt.
Ilmarinen throws a right and a left that James avoids nicely.
James unleashes a big counter combination but Ilmarinen bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with eachother but James might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Ilmarinen has got the better of the exchanges.
Ilmarinen looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
James unleashes a big counter combination but Ilmarinen bobs and weaves and avoids any damage.
Ilmarinen dips to his left and cracks James with an uppercut!
James moves out of range of the body kick from Ilmarinen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ilmarinen.
James ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Nice uppercut lands for Ilmarinen. That snapped James's head back.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilmarinen chopping away at his opponent's legs.
James uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ilmarinen.
James is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
James staying out of range there.
Ilmarinen misses with an uppercut.
James displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Ilmarinen throws out the jab.
Despite the aggression on James's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
James showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Ilmarinen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen looks to land a combination but James avoids it well.
Ilmarinen throws a left and a right that both miss
and James counters with a three punch combo that has Ilmarinen backing up. Ilmarinen nods at James to acknowledge the strikes.
Jaakko Ilmarinen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Ilmarinen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and James counters with a series of strikes. Ilmarinen will be more careful next time no doubt.
James uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen misses with a series of wild punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
James on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Ilmarinen. Ilmarinen obviously looking to wear him down.
Ilmarinen connects with a nice looking jab.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ilmarinen. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ilmarinen misses with a left hand
and James counters with a three punch combo that has Ilmarinen backing up. Ilmarinen nods at James to acknowledge the strikes.
Ilmarinen misses with an attempted mid kick.
James is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ilmarinen throws a jab when James was well out of range.
James throws a counter combo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
James uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Ilmarinen.
As Ilmarinen backs off James throws a huge counter combo but Ilmarinen manages to avoid it all.
Ilmarinen stuns James with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ilmarinen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
James takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Despite the aggression on James's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
A jab from Ilmarinen misses.
James is looking for the big counter here.
James is working the combinations to good effect here.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ilmarinen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ilmarinen throws a big shot that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jaakko Ilmarinen dominated that second round.
That's time! Ilmarinen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Ilmarinen throws a combination but it was largely blocked by James.
Ilmarinen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
James walks into a left hand.
Ilmarinen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
James throws a counter combo.
Ilmarinen throws the left hand but James avoids the punch easily.
Despite the aggression on James's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
James gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen is looking to land body kicks.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilmarinen misses with a straight right.
James moves away from the strike by Ilmarinen.
James is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
James on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Ilmarinen jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Ilmarinen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Ilmarinen throws a left and a right that both miss
and James counters with a three punch combo that has Ilmarinen backing up. Ilmarinen nods at James to acknowledge the strikes.
Ilmarinen scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Jaakko Ilmarinen is winning the standup battle so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen cracks James with a good jab.
Ilmarinen misses with a hook to the body
and James counters with a series of strikes. Ilmarinen will be more careful next time no doubt.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Ilmarinen throws a jab but it's blocked by James.
Ilmarinen connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Ilmarinen throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Good shot there by Ilmarinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A slow jab from Ilmarinen misses its intended target.
James is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
A swing and a miss from Ilmarinen.
James is loading up here, looking for a big counter of his own.
Ilmarinen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from James.
Ilmarinen thows a left - swing and a miss!
Ilmarinen looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ilmarinen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that James can do to turn this around?
A low kick from Ilmarinen misses
and James counters with a one-two to the body.
A nice combination there by Ilmarinen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ilmarinen. James does a little dance to reset his feet.
Ilmarinen misses with a body kick.
Ilmarinen misses with a hook.
Despite the aggression on James's face he doesn't fully commit to the counter.
Ilmarinen throws an off balance right hand
and James counters with a one-two to the body.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
James with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Ilmarinen to score with a decent uppercut.
Jaakko Ilmarinen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ilmarinen connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed James momentarily.
Jessie James has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ilmarinen changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jaakko Ilmarinen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ilmarinen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Daniel Bishop scores the fight 30:27
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jaakko Ilmarinen!
Jaakko Ilmarinen thanked the fans post fight for their support.