PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Aramis Knox (ranked 66 p4p, 261 weight class) and Verneri Ahma (ranked 10 p4p, 33 weight class). Knox comes to the cage accompanied by You're Going Down | Sick Puppies. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Knox
vs
Ahma

181 cm
27
167
16 - 4 - 0

172 cm
32
156
22 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

PWNAGE
Voodoo Nutrition

Vegan Gains

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 16 - 4 - 0, fighting out of London, Aramis Knox!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 22 - 16 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Verneri Ahma!
The judges for this bout are Yukihiro Shimada, Kenichi Hosakawa and Taro Takaoka.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Knox fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Ahma looks to score with a jab to the body but Knox is just out of range.
Knox has been working on his boxing with his coaches at ALPHA Performance Center in the buildup to the fight.
Knox moves out of range as Ahma throws a body kick.
Ahma thumps Knox with a low kick.
Ahma is looking to land body kicks.

Ahma drives through with a takedown into Knox's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Knox holds on and takes a little breather.
Ahma tries to free his leg and advance position but Knox is retaining full guard.
Knox is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Ahma looking to pass the guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ahma accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Knox pulls Ahma in close to his closed guard and prevents Ahma from doing any damage or advancing position.
Knox not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Knox has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.
Ahma throws a strike but Knox rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Knox wants to control from the top but Ahma keeps moving.
Knox stays in close to Ahma's body and controls the position.

Ahma has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Knox can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Ahma tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox trying to control but Ahma is working from the bottom.
Knox won't allow Ahma to sweep him here.
Ahma being controlled here, momentarily.
Ahma 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.
Ahma is still trying to improve position.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Decent striking displayed by Knox there.
Ahma misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahma swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ahma takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Knox works over Ahma's head and body with a nice combination.
Knox misses the jab.
Ahma is the aggressor but that punch slipped nicely by Knox.
A solid leg kick lands there for Ahma.
Ahma throws a big shot that misses.
Ahma uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Knox.
Ahma tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ahma lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Knox at a distance.
Ahma avoids the body shot from Knox.
And an attempted straight right on the counter from Ahma! But no joy.
Ahma works the jab nicely.
Knox lands with a nice body punch.
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!
Knox cracks Ahma with a good shot that sees him stumbling back into the cage.
Ahma walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Ahma tries to clinch but Knox moves out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox ducks under a wild hook from Ahma.
Ahma clobbers Knox with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Knox takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
A slow jab from Ahma misses its intended target.
Knox was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Ahma pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Ahma misses with a right hand
and Knox connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
A looping hook to the body misses from Ahma. Knox does a little dance to reset his feet.
Knox scores with a jab. Ahma acknowledges it with a nod of the head.
Knox avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Knox ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ahma moves away.
Ahma throws a leg kick but Knox sees it coming and checks it nicely.

Knox clinches.
Ahma tries a body shot but Knox blocks it.
Ahma tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Knox breaks the clinch.
Ahma tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Knox paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ahma connects with a right hand. Knox shakes it off.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Verneri Ahma will probably get the nod.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

The fight stays on the outside here - Ahma looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Ahma throws a quick inside leg kick.
Ahma slips under a jab.
Ahma throws an ugly left hook that misses
and Knox counters with a straight right hand.
Jab by Knox.
A big right from Ahma misses.
Knox scores with a hook to the body. Ahma takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Ahma swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
A quick step to the side and Knox tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Knox moves away from the strike by Ahma.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ahma slips under a jab from Knox.
Verneri Ahma seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ahma is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
A telegraphed right hand from Knox misses the target.
Knox throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Aramis Knox is winning the standup battle so far.
Ahma cracks Knox with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.

It looks like Aramis Knox has been cut.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahma throws a shot from downtown. Knox moves away and avoids it.
Ahma misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Knox.
Knox throws a big counter combination but Ahma scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Ahma just misses with a punch to the body.
Ahma ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Knox moves away.
Ahma misses the shot to the body.
Knox lands a jab.
A jab from Ahma misses.

Ahma scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.

Ahma wants to work for an arm triangle but Knox is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.

Ahma is looking for a kimura here.
Ahma not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahma throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Knox wants to improve his position but Ahma is controlling well.
Knox won't allow Ahma to pass to mount.
The fighters are battling for position here. Knox manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Ahma slips nicely into half guard.
Knox trying to control here.
Ahma trying to advance position but Knox counters by regaining guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knox is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Knox working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ahma.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Knox is pulling down on Ahma's head. It's preventing any offense from Ahma, at least for the moment.
Verneri Ahma has got the better of the ground game so far.
Ahma pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Knox is keeping the position for now.
Knox manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ahma manages to get himself to full guard.

Knox controls from within his opponent's guard.

Ahma is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox wants to control from the top but Ahma keeps moving.
Knox is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Ahma tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Ahma had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Knox defends it easily.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Verneri Ahma showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Aramis Knox's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Knox slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
That kick from Ahma tenderised Knox's leg. Knox is trying to keep his angry face on.
Knox misses with a shot to the body

and Ahma counters by clinching up.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Knox.
The referee calls for Knox to work.
Knox works on Ahma's body with a couple of short punches.
Knox's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Ahma swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ahma swings away with an uppercut that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Knox can't find room to land a body shot as Ahma controls the action.
A short uppercut from Knox.
Knox taking a breather.
Knox tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.

Knox breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Knox keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ahma.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ahma pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Knox feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Ahmas jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Ahma misses with an uppercut. Knox saw that one coming.
Knox misses with a straight right.
Ahma defending well as Knox loads up on a big left hand.
Nice shot lands for Ahma.
A telegraphed right hand from Ahma misses the target.
Knox throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ahma sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A combination from Knox does no damage.
Knox scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ahma doesn't seem bothered though.
Knox uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ahma.
Knox throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ahma thuds a left hand into Knox's body.
Ahma lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Knox misses the jab.
Aramis Knox is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ahma uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Knox.

Knox takes the fight into the clinch.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Ahma tries a body shot but Knox blocks it.
Ahma misses with the head strike.

Ahma has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Knox is trying to keep an underhook but Ahma manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Knox trying to control but Ahma postures up.
Knox avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ahma.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Knox won't allow Ahma to pass to mount.
Knox moves into full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ahma accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Knox is trying to control the position but Ahma postures up.
Knox working a defensive guard but Ahma passes into half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Ahma looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Knox moves into full guard.
Ahma looking to pass the guard.
Ahma passes into half guard.
Knox is doing well to avoid being mounted. He's controlling the position at the moment.
Ahma is pressing down on Knox's thigh, looking to free his foot. Knox is holding on for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Knox is controlling Ahma's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Ahma is looking for the mount but instead finds himself back in full guard.
Ahma wants to control from the top but Knox keeps moving.
Knox controls Ahma momentarily but Ahma frees himself.
Ahma looking to pass the guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Verneri Ahma really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Aramis Knox's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin!

Good shot there by Knox.
Ahma walks into a left hand.
Ahma lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Knox avoids the body shot from Ahma.
Ahma throws a solid leg kick but Knox takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Ahma.
Ahma tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Knox was well out of range. Poor timing from Ahma.
Ahma swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Knox counters with a two punch combo.

Knox clinches up against the cage.

Knox manages to break the clinch.
Ahma tries to clinch but Knox is having none of it.

Knox moves into the clinch.
Ahma misses with some punches.
A shot in the inside from Knox.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ahma lands a nice uppercut.
A right handed body shot lands from Knox.
Knox misses with a punch on the inside.
A short right from Knox on the inside.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Knox breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Ahma scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Knox throws a hook to the side of Ahma's head but Ahma sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Ahma slips a straight right by Knox.
Knox uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ahma.
Ahma has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Knox finds it's way round the side to connect with Ahma's head.
Knox connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Ahma momentarily.
Ahma catches Knox with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Knox just misses with a punch to the body.
Knox checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.
Ahma thows a left - swing and a miss!
Knox uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ahma.
Knox lands a nice shot that snaps Ahma's head back.
Ahma throws a hook but Knox blocks it.

Knox gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Ahma to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Knox pulls Ahma in close to his closed guard and prevents Ahma from doing any damage or advancing position.
Knox's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Ahma stopping the sweep attempt from Knox.
Knox has a closed guard, preventing anything of note from happening. Perhaps he's looking to stall.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ahma throwing strikes but missing.
Ahma throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Knox works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ahma in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Knox is controlling Ahma's posture.
Knox is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.
Ahma has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ahma there as he acknowledges the shot.
Ahma slips under a jab.
Ahma avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
An inside leg kick from Ahma misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ahma takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Knox throws the left hand but Ahma avoids the punch easily.
Knox comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Ahma throws out a loose jab but Knox uses good head movement to avoid it.
Knox thuds his right hand into Ahma's forehead from close range. That could be painful for both fighters.
Knox swats away the attempt to clinch by Ahma.
Ahma chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Ahma lands a lovely overhand right.
Knox tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ahma was well out of range. Poor timing from Knox.
Knox misses with a hook. Ahma ducked under it nicely.
A punch lands to the side of Ahma 's head but he takes it in his stride.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ahma jabbing away but nothing is landing.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Aramis Knox had his way with Verneri Ahma in that round.
The cut man is working on Aramis Knox's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Knox pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Knox connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Knox ducks under a wild hook from Ahma.
Knox swats away the attempt to clinch by Ahma.
Knox appears to be looking for a counter punch to the body.
Ahma connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Knox momentarily.
Knox throws a body shot but no joy.
Knox scores with a sloppy right hand. Ahma should have avoided that one.
Ahma misses with a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A jab from Ahma misses.
Knox lands with a good body shot.
Ahma connects with a good right hand that stumbles Knox. Knox circles away out of range and recomposes himself.
Knox lands a jab to the head.
Knox 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 one minute gone in the round.
Knox scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Ahma doesn't seem bothered though.
Knox misses the jab.
Knox blocks a jab.
Knox misses with a hook. Ahma ducked under it nicely.
Knox swings for the body but Ahma moves out of range.
Knox is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Knox throws a series of punches but Ahma moves out of range.
Knox throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Ahma stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
Ahma staying out of range there.
Knox ducks right into an uppercut from Ahma.
Knox takes one to the side of the head.
Ahma scores with a nice head shot.
Ahma scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Knox doesn't seem bothered though.
Knox slips under a jab.
Ahma fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Knox is out of range.
Knox throwing a counter right hand but Ahma manages to avoid it.
Ahma tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Knox was well out of range. Poor timing from Ahma.
An attempted straight right counter from Knox misses the target.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Knox just misses with a punch to the body.
Knox bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Ahma's head backwards.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ahma takes one on the button.
Knox uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Ahma.
Knox misses the body punch
and Ahma counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Knox stuns Ahma with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Ahma uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Knox.
Knox walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
A jab from Knox does it's job there.
Knox defending well as Ahma loads up on a big left hand.
A left and a right from Knox both land. Nice combination.
Knox lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Ahma at a distance.
Ahma misses with a looping right.
Knox swings for the body but Ahma moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Knox checks a leg kick.
Knox closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Knox cracks Ahma with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Ahma ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Knox ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ahma moves away.

Ahma darts in and clinches Knox up against the cage.
Knox can't find room to land a body shot as Ahma controls the action.
Ahma lands with a light punch inside.
Ahma lands with a right to the head.
Ahma throws a punch but it's blocked by Knox.
Ahma scores with a shoulder strike.
Knox tries to work over Ahma's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ahma throws a punch but it's blocked by Knox.
Knox misses with some punches.
Ahma working some nice short punches in the clinch.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ahma has clasped his hands together around Knox's back... aaand, he's got a takedown into side control. Nicely done.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Knox is looking for a sweep.
Knox takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Aramis Knox has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Knox regains half guard.
Ahma wants to lay and pray for a moment but Knox keeps working.
Verneri Ahma is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Knox wants to get back to full guard.
Knox blocking the ground and pound attempt from Ahma.
Knox tries to roll over but Ahma keeps him under control.

And that's the end of the fight!
Verneri Ahma comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Ahma has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Yukihiro Shimada scores the fight 46:49
Judge Kenichi Hosakawa scores the fight 47:49
Judge Taro Takaoka scores the fight 47:48

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Verneri Ahma!
Verneri Ahma is the new lightweight champion!
Verneri Ahma thanked the fans post fight for their support.
In defeat, Aramis Knox stepped up to the mic, saying 'If you haven't lost in this sport, you haven't fought the right guys yet. (Matt Hughes) '.