PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ilari Sahamies (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and David Lilja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). David Lilja is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Sahamies
vs
Lilja

190 cm
22
211 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

187 cm
22
215 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Basic striking
Cuts easily

BJJ Purple Belt
Brawler
Very confident

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Ilari Sahamies!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, David Lilja!
The judges for this bout are Thiago Cunha, Paulo Santos and Leandro Rodrigues.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lilja misses with a double jab.

Sahamies looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Sahamies prevents Lilja from improving his position.
Sahamies thows a huge punch but Lilja dodges it nicely.
Lilja wants to get back to full guard.
Lilja makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Lilja.
Sahamies trying to control but Lilja is working from the bottom.
Lilja can't keep his opponent in guard - Sahamies advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Lilja is looking to improve his position.
Sahamies trying to control the action but Lilja is working from the bottom.
Sahamies wants to free his trapped foot but Lilja is holding on for dear life with his legs.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sahamies uses his free foot to push down on Lilja's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Lilja.
Lilja is wriggling around trying to escape.

Sahamies stands up from mount. Strange move.

Sahamies feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lilja is on top in guard.
Sahamies wants to sweep but no luck.
Sahamies is trying to control the position but Lilja postures up.
Sahamies is trying to hold Lilja in close to prevent damage but Lilja has managed to pass into half guard.
Sahamies tries to get to full guard but Lilja has control of the leg.

Lilja seems to be working for a kimura but Sahamies defends the submission attempt.
Sahamies moves into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lilja tries to free his leg and advance position but Sahamies is retaining full guard.
Lilja looks gassed!
Lilja wants to stand but Sahamies has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sahamies controlling Lilja's posture.

Lilja has gone for a leg lock! Sahamies slips out almost immediately though and dives into Lilja's guard.
Sahamies trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Lilja keeping moving, preventing Sahamies from controlling successfully.
Sahamies throwing strikes from guard but Lilja blocks nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Sahamies wants to control from the top but Lilja keeps moving.

Sahamies gets to his feet. Lilja looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sahamies fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.

Lilja gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Sahamies gets to his feet. Lilja looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Sahamies fails with the takedown.

Sahamies shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Sahamies seems to be looking for submissions.
Sahamies trying to mount his opponent but Lilja defends it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Sahamies is working for a submission of some sort.
Still in half guard, Sahamies seems content to control.
Sahamies moves nicely into side control.
Sahamies wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lilja keeps working.

Sahamies looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Sahamies wants to lay and pray for a moment but Lilja keeps working.

Sahamies tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Sahamies has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Sahamies is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Lilja knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilari Sahamies dominated that round.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Lilja gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.

Sahamies drops back looking for a leg! Lilja is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Lilja manages to kick Sahamies off! Sahamies jumps back into Lilja's guard.

Lilja had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Sahamies is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Lilja Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Sahamies's back instead.
Lilja wants to control the position but Sahamies frees himself and scrambles - Lilja manages to regain control in side control.
Sahamies sneaks a leg under to get back to half guard.
Sahamies is trying to get back to full guard.
Lilja is breathing heavily.
Lilja throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Sahamies works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Sahamies lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Lilja!
Sahamies looking to ground and pound but Lilja is blocking nicely.
Lilja is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sahamies landing strikes from the mount and Lilja is in trouble!
Lilja taking shots to the head.
Sahamies throwing strikes here but Lilja is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.
Sahamies controlling the pace for now.
Ilari Sahamies overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Sahamies moves to the back position.
Sahamies tries to keep control of the position but Lilja is staying busy.
Sahamies somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.
Lilja rolls, trying to escape but Sahamies keeps control of the position.

Lilja preventing the rear naked choke attempt from Sahamies.
Lilja trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lilja manages to reverse the position and now he's in Sahamies's guard. Nice work there by Lilja.
Sahamies utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lilja trying to control but Sahamies is working from the bottom.
Lilja forces his way into half guard.
Lilja is looking to take a break and control but Sahamies is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Sahamies gets full guard.
Lilja would like to get this fight back to the feet but can't get free from the closed guard.
Lilja trying to control but Sahamies is working from the bottom.
Lilja preventing the sweep.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sahamies looking for a guillotine here but Lilja defends easily.
Lilja pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Sahamies is keeping the position for now.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Sahamies swats away the attempt to clinch by Lilja.
Lilja misses with a takedown

and Sahamies counters with a shoot takedown. Lilja fights it but they end up in guard.
Sahamies won't allow Lilja to sweep him here.
Sahamies wants to control from the top but Lilja keeps moving.
Lilja looking for a sweep. Not yet Lilja, not yet.
Sahamies wants to stand but Lilja has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Sahamies looking to sit in guard and control but Lilja gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Lilja stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Sahamies swivels though and keeps the full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lilja drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Lilja jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Sahamies managing to control the position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.

Excellent takedown into side control there by Lilja.
Lilja trying to control the position but Sahamies is working away.
Lilja landing strikes.

Sahamies is rocked!
Sahamies tries to control the position but he's not in luck - Lilja easily slips into full mount!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Sahamies is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

Sahamies defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Lilja.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Sahamies is squirming around, avoiding Lilja's attempts to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilari Sahamies dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Sahamies gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

so Lilja counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Lilja wants to pass the guard but Sahamies is keeping the position.

Sahamies keeping busy on the bottom but Lilja has passed one foot through into half guard.
Sahamies tries to get to full guard but Lilja has control of the leg.
Lilja wants to get back to his feet.

Lilja is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Sahamies defends it well.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Sahamies is controlling Lilja's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Sahamies moves his hips nicely and gets into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lilja trying to control the position from guard on top but Sahamies is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Sahamies is on top in guard.
Lilja keeping moving, preventing Sahamies from controlling successfully.
Sahamies prevents Lilja from getting back to his feet.
Lilja looking to hit a scissor sweep but Sahamies is one step ahead there.
Lilja is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Sahamies tries to free his leg and advance position but Lilja is retaining full guard.

Lilja is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Lilja lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Sahamies!

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lilja is working for a guillotine from mount but Sahamies frees his head quite easily.
Sahamies is looking to improve his position but Lilja isn't that keen on the idea.
Lilja fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Lilja moves into side control, trying to work for a kimura. That looks painful! Will he finish!!?? No, Sahamies has worked his arm free - good work by Sahamies!
Lilja moves into full mount!
Sahamies is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Sahamies wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.
Sahamies looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Sahamies is staying cool under pressure, defending well against the rear naked choke attempt from his opponent.
Sahamies is trying to break free.

Lilja is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Sahamies knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Sahamies for a finish.

Lilja is persistently looking for the submission but Sahamies is defending it well.
Lilja is looking to control Sahamies but Sahamies is wriggling around and keeping busy.
Can Sahamies hold on?! Lilja is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.
Sahamies turns into Lilja and is now in his guard.

Sahamies drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Lilja dives on top into guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lilja trying to control the position from guard on top but Sahamies is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Sahamies has a closed guard, preventing Lilja from standing up.
Lilja preventing the sweep.

Lilja avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Sahamies is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Sahamies missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Sahamies wants to pass the guard but Lilja is defending well.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Lilja trying to hold on to Sahamies's head to control him but Sahamies postures up.
Sahamies thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Lilja's head.
David Lilja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Sahamies frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

And that's the end of the fight!
David Lilja comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Sahamies has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Thiago Cunha scores the fight 29:28
Judge Paulo Santos scores the fight 29:28
Judge Leandro Rodrigues scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilari Sahamies!