PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Milos Krivak (ranked 4301 p4p, 4290 weight class) and Viljo Rantanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Krivak
vs
Rantanen

174 cm
25
180
0 - 0 - 0

180 cm
25
185
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Milos Krivak!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Viljo Rantanen!
The judges for this bout are Radbod Blank, Aafke Stam and Nard Betker.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Krivak shoots for a takedown but Rantanen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Krivak moves in looking to clinch but Rantanen pushes him off.
Rantanen appears to be waiting to throw a counter punch to the body.
Good standup being displayed there by Rantanen as he connects with a hook.
Rantanen throws a front kick aimed at Krivak's knee but Krivak avoids it well.
Krivak fails with a takedown attempt.
Rantanen takes a swing at Krivak's ribcage but misses.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Rantanen enables Krivak to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Rantanen manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Krivak trying to control the position from guard on top but Rantanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Krivak is really struggling to control Rantanen but he's trying to hold on to the position.
Krivak is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Rantanen is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krivak stopping the sweep attempt from Rantanen.
Krivak has decided he wants to stand but the closed guard of Rantanen is proving hard to escape from.
Krivak loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Krivak postures up in Rantanen's guard and throws a big left but Rantanen blocks it.

The ref stands the fighters back up due to a lack of activity.

Krivak shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Rantanen's guard.
Krivak wants to stand but Rantanen is controlling his posture from full guard.
Krivak postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Rantanen seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
Krivak wants to control from the top but Rantanen keeps moving.
Krivak throwing strikes but missing.
Krivak trying to stand up but can't free himself from Rantanen's guard.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krivak trying to control the position from guard on top but Rantanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

The referee has stepped in and called for a break in the action. We'll restart on the feet.
A cross from Rantanen lands.
Milos Krivak seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Rantanen throws a body shot but no joy.
No luck for Krivak with that takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Milos Krivak. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Krivak shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Rantanen manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Rantanen is trying to keep Krivak in close.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rantanen wants to sweep here but Krivak controlling him for the moment.
Krivak works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Rantanen wants to control but Krivak is keeping busy and won't allow it.
It looks like Krivak is going to stand back up.
Krivak is thwarting Rantanen's attempts to control the position.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Krivak trying to work for an americana but Rantanen has managed to regain full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Rantanen scores with a three punch combo!

Krivak gets the takedown into side control.
Krivak sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Rantanen is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Rantanen avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Krivak.

Krivak thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The ground and pound from Krivak seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Krivak is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rantanen can do to turn this around?

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krivak tries to advance to mount but Rantanen denies him.

Krivak is looking for a kimura. He might have it! No, Rantanen has escaped the position, nice work there.
Rantanen is not content to let Krivak control the position.
Krivak throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Rantanen wants to control but Krivak postures up.
Rantanen is looking to reverse the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Rantanen is not content to let Krivak control the position.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Rantanen wants to control but Krivak postures up.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Viljo Rantanen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Krivak on the wrong end of a nice low kick. He's acting like it's no big deal but he doesn't want to take many more of those.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Rantanen circles away from the clinch attempt.

Krivak moves into the clinch.
Krivak prevents a body shot from Rantanen.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Rantanen misses with some punches.
Krivak jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as Rantanen walks away with a smile on his face. Krivak gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Rantanen dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Krivak is looking to clinch.
Krivak has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rantanen finds it's way round the side to connect with Krivak's head.
Rantanen digs a good hook to Krivak's body.
Milos Krivak is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Krivak fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Viljo Rantanen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice leg kick lands there from Rantanen.
Rantanen swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Krivak.
Krivak avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Rantanen cracks a nice hook into Krivak's ribs.
Krivak tries to move into range but Rantanen moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Krivak takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Krivak tries to drive through with a takedown attempt but Rantanen defends well and Krivak ends up having to push Rantanen into the cage where they will battle it out in the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Milos Krivak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Rantanen misses with a shot to the kidneys.

Krivak has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Rantanen uses from the top position.
Rantanen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Krivak. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Rantanen wants to control from the top but Krivak keeps moving.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Viljo Rantanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! This is the final round!

Rantanen connects with a jab.
Krivak shoots for a takedown but Rantanen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Krivak is looking to clinch but Rantanen is avoiding it.
Krivak on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Some wild striking there from Krivak.
Rantanen looks like he wants to counter punch here.
Rantanen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Krivak.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Krivak takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The crowd cheers as Rantanen lands an impressive looking overhand right. Krivak doesn't seem phased though.

Krivak closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Rantanen is trying to maintain the position but Krivak is very close to passing his half guard.
Krivak missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Krivak is trying to control. Rantanen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Rantanen is trying to control but can't.
Krivak is looking to advance position but Rantanen won't allow it.
Rantanen is trying to control but can't.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Krivak is working for a submission of some sort.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Krivak shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Milos Krivak. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Krivak has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Rantanen finds it's way round the side to connect with Krivak's head.
Krivak takes an uppercut right on the jaw but it doesn't phase him.
Rantanen connects with a solid leg kick.
Krivak wants to clinch.
Rantanen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Krivak takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Krivak tries to clinch up but Rantanen circles away and keeps his distance.
Rantanen connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Krivak tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Krivak changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Rantanen tries to avoid it but Krivak manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Rantanen to the ground. Rantanen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Rantanen catches Krivak with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Krivak takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Rantanen scores with a body shot.
Krivak checks a low kick. Bone on bone - not my idea of a good time.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Rantanen lands with a right hand.
Rantanen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Rantanen goes to the watering hole and comes back with a big thumbs up from the judges as he scores a three punch combo.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Rantanen connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Rantanen scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.
Rantanen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Rantanen bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
A good leg kick by Rantanen.
Good exchange - Rantanen coming out on top.
Nice jab there from Rantanen.

And that's the end of the fight!
Viljo Rantanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Rantanen 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Radbod Blank scores the fight 28:29
Judge Aafke Stam scores the fight 28:29
Judge Nard Betker scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Viljo Rantanen!