PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Hermanni Rapu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Rami Ilotalo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Rami Ilotalo is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Rapu
vs
Ilotalo

180 cm
18
165 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

165 cm
19
160 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

Company for Sale : Combat Pro Design
Company for Sale : Combat Pro Design

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Hermanni Rapu!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Rami Ilotalo!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ilotalo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Rapu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ilotalo.
Rapu throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ilotalo tries to clinch but Rapu is having none of it.

Ilotalo moves into the clinch.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Ilotalo.
Rapu blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ilotalo scores with a shot to the side of Rapu's head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ilotalo.

Ilotalo gets control of Rapu's arms and successfully pulls guard. Ilotalo will no doubt be looking for submissions off his back.
Ilotalo is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Rapu won't allow Ilotalo to get back to his feet.
Ilotalo trying to strike off his back.
Rapu tries to free his leg and advance position but Ilotalo is retaining full guard.
Rapu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Ilotalo works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ilotalo utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ilotalo throws some sloppy strikes off his back.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ilotalo fails with an attempt to clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ilotalo closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Rapu to the mat! Rapu manages to get full guard.
Rapu tries to strike from the bottom.

Rapu isolates an arm and boxes in a triangle. Ilotalo stacks Rapu on his neck as he steps over and passes to the side. He's now in a much more dominant position where he can look to do some serious damage. Nice move by Ilotalo!

Ilotalo decides to take the fight back to the feet.

Ilotalo closes the distance and clinches.
Ilotalo lands a shoulder strike.
Ilotalo digs a right hand underneath Rapu's ribcage. Rapu let out a lung full of air as it connected.
Ilotalo doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ilotalo lands an uppercut.

Ilotalo has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Rapu clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Ilotalo lands punches and elbows.
Rapu has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ilotalo trying to control.
Ilotalo is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Rapu up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilotalo lands strikes to the head.
Ilotalo scores with some strikes to the side of the head there. Good, points scoring shots.
Ilotalo has good solid back control here.
Rapu wants to escape the position.
Ilotalo really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Rapu. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Ilotalo struggling to keep hold of the position.
Ilotalo lands strikes to the head.
Ilotalo cracks Rapu with a big shot to body and one to the head - really punishing Rapu from the back mount here, looking to soften him up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rapu breaks Ilotalo's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
Rapu looking to pass the guard.

Ilotalo kicks Rapu off and gets to his feet.
Ilotalo lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Ilotalo fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Ilotalo tries to clinch but Rapu is having none of it.
Ilotalo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rapu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ilotalo staying out of range there.
Ilotalo tries to clinch up but Rapu circles away and keeps his distance.
Rapu throws an overhand right that lands on Ilotalo's shoulder, as Ilotalo tries to avoid the shot.
Rami Ilotalo seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rapu missing with a left hand there. Ilotalo was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
A swing and a miss from Ilotalo.
Rapu fails with the takedown

and Ilotalo counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Rapu!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ilotalo controlling his opponent.
Rapu is squirming around, avoiding Ilotalo's attempts to control the action.
Rapu can't escape the position.
Rapu sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.
Ilotalo wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rapu keeps working.
Ilotalo takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Ilotalo blocks the strikes from Rapu.

Ilotalo decides to stand and escape the position.
Ilotalo tries to clinch but Rapu is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ilotalo moves into the clinch successfully.

Rapu jumps into guard, dragging Ilotalo to the mat.

Ilotalo gets to his feet. Rapu looking to butt scoot but the ref puts an end to that. On your feet son!
Ilotalo moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Ilotalo misses with a hook.
Ilotalo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rapu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ilotalo tries to clinch up.
Rapu takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Ilotalo tries to clinch up.
Ilotalo throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Ilotalo shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Rapu is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Rapu tries to hold on but Ilotalo pushes him away.
Ilotalo wants to control the pace but Rapu is squirming around nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Rapu regains half guard.
Ilotalo wants to free his trapped foot but Rapu is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Rapu manages to get to full guard.
Ilotalo trying to control the position from guard on top but Rapu is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Rapu will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Ilotalo sitting in guard, not really doing much.
Rapu is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Ilotalo throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ilotalo wants to get up but he can't break Rapu's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Ilotalo must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Rapu is looking for a triangle but Ilotalo pushes his legs off easily.

Rapu working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ilotalo doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ilotalo manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Ilotalo stands up and waves to Rapu to follow him.
Ilotalo wants to clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilotalo fails in his attempt to clinch.

Ilotalo fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Rapu sprawls well initially but Ilotalo persists and gets the takedown into half guard.

Rapu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Rapu is looking for a sweep. Ilotalo is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Rapu is refusing to be controlled, as Ilotalo sits in half guard.
Ilotalo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ilotalo prevents Rapu from improving his position.
Ilotalo wants to get back to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ilotalo decides to return to a standing position.
Ilotalo fails in his attempt to clinch.

Ilotalo darts in and clinches Rapu up against the cage.
Ilotalo lands with a light punch inside.
Ilotalo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Ilotalo working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A left hand lands to the body for Ilotalo.
Ilotalo fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Rapu jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Ilotalo walks away with a smile on his face. Rapu gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Ilotalo tries to clinch but Rapu is having none of it.
Ilotalo misses with a hook. Rapu ducked under it nicely.
Rapu fails in his attempt to clinch.
Ilotalo fails with an attempt to clinch.
Ilotalo scores with a hook.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rami Ilotalo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ilotalo tries to clinch there but Rapu circles away.
Nice defenses there by Rapu.
Rapu misses with a body shot.

Ilotalo shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Ilotalo showed some decent athleticism there.
Rapu wants to control but Ilotalo is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Rapu tries to get to full guard but Ilotalo has control of the leg.
Rapu manages to get to full guard.
Ilotalo advances to half guard.

Rapu looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ilotalo decides to stand and escape the position.
A big left from Rapu misses.
Ilotalo lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Ilotalo doesn't manage to clinch there - Rapu circles away.
Ilotalo tries to close the distance and clinch up but Rapu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Rapu just misses with a punch to the body.
Ilotalo misses with a hook. Rapu ducked under it nicely.
Ilotalo wants to clinch.
Ilotalo tests Rapu's chin there with a solid looking shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Ilotalo avoids the body shot from Rapu.
Ilotalo with a nice cross.
Rapu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ilotalo sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Ilotalo wants to clinch

and Rapu decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Ilotalo's guard.

Rapu is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Ilotalo is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Ilotalo has escaped and now he's on top!
Rapu will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Ilotalo throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Rapu works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

Ilotalo stands and steps away. Rapu gets to his feet too and we're back to the striking game.
Rami Ilotalo is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ilotalo has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Ilotalo throws a shot from downtown. Rapu moves away and avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilotalo lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.

Ilotalo fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Rapu, pushing him back against the cage.
Ilotalo misses with the head strike.
Ilotalo lands with a short shot to the head.
Rapu blocks a punch to the side of the head.
A head punch on the inside from Ilotalo fails to land.
Ilotalo lands a left hand.
Ilotalo lands on the inside with an uppercut.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ilotalo.
Rapu jumps guard but Ilotalo stands there with Rapu around his waist. Rapu gives up and drops back to his feet. We remain in the clinch.
Ilotalo scores with a hook to the body.
Ilotalo presses Rapu against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Rapu goes for a takedown in the clinch but Ilotalo prevents it.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Rapu wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Ilotalo makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Rapu taking a breather.
A short right from Ilotalo on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ilotalo has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Rapu is trying to keep an underhook but Ilotalo manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Ilotalo is keen to just control but Rapu is a slippery customer.
Ilotalo is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Rapu is looking to improve his position.
Hermanni Rapu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rapu taking some punishment here, with Ilotalo in his half guard.

Ilotalo stands up out of the half guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ilotalo scores a trip takedown into side control. Nice.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Rapu tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Ilotalo wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Ilotalo stands up and we're back to a striking position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rami Ilotalo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Ilotalo has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 26:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rami Ilotalo!