PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Seppo Ilmarinen (ranked 326 p4p, 1238 weight class) and Yar Bol (ranked 48 p4p, 174 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Ilmarinen
vs
Bol

192 cm
25
210
10 - 4 - 0

188 cm
26
213
10 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Good gas tank

Voodoo Nutrition
HELLBENT

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 10 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Amsterdam, Seppo Ilmarinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Yar Bol!
The judges for this bout are Steven Brown, Colin Fotheringham and James Ackerman.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
We've got one fighter who appears to only be looking to counter and the other not looking particularly aggressive either, so we could be in for a dull fight.
Bol throws a body punch but Ilmarinen moves out of range.
Bol misses with a low kick.
Bol throws a body kick despite being completely out of range

and Ilmarinen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Ilmarinen working the head and body with strikes.
Bol trying to control here.
Ilmarinen wants to pass the guard but Bol is defending well.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bol has hold of Ilmarinen's hands but Ilmarinen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ilmarinen trying to control the action but Bol is working from the bottom.
Ilmarinen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bol has hold of Ilmarinen's hands but Ilmarinen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Ilmarinen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ilmarinen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Bol keeps working.
Bol wants to get back to full guard.
Ilmarinen working the head and body with strikes.
We've been hearing that Ilmarinen has been drilling a lot of ground and pound in training, so let's see if he get the finish.

Ilmarinen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Bol is staying active underneath Ilmarinen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ilmarinen wants to free his trapped foot but Bol is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Bol wants to control but Ilmarinen is keeping busy.
Ilmarinen is keen to just control but Bol is a slippery customer.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bol avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen working Bol over with strikes.
Bol keeping hold of Ilmarinen's head, controlling as best he can.
Ilmarinen throwing shots but Bol is blocking nicely.
Ilmarinen is looking to advance position but Bol won't allow it.
Ilmarinen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Ilmarinen frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Ilmarinen with the ground and pound from mount.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Ilmarinen cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
Bol really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Ilmarinen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

Ilmarinen is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bol has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Ilmarinen sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Ilmarinen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Ilmarinen lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.

Ilmarinen is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Bol has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Bol tries to hold on but Ilmarinen pushes him away.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Ilmarinen wants to finish this one by submission but Bol is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen trying to control but he's not successful this time.

Ilmarinen wants to finish this one by submission but Bol is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Ilmarinen.
Bol felt the need to train up his defensive grappling in the buildup to the fight. Presumably he was expecting to be in a difficult position like this, so let's see if he can get out of it.
Ilmarinen trying to control but Bol is having none of it.
Ilmarinen lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Bol hang on?

Ilmarinen is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Bol to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Bol shrugs it off.
Ilmarinen wants to control the pace but Bol is squirming around nicely.
Ilmarinen is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Bol can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Seppo 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.

Bol tries to land a leg kick but Ilmarinen saw it coming and moves away.
Ilmarinen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Bol can do to turn this around?
Bol tries to clinch up but Ilmarinen circles away and keeps his distance.
Ilmarinen tries to counter with a takedown but Bol is quick to defend against it.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Bol.
Ilmarinen drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bol sprawls and moves away.
Bol throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ilmarinen drops down looking for a counter takedown but Bol sprawls and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Bol misses with a body kick.
Ilmarinen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Bol throws a leg kick which misses Ilmarinen's front leg but catches the back leg as Ilmarinen tries to avoid it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Boom, another hit is landed. "You're gunna get knocked out" taunts Bol, as that shot connected.
Ilmarinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Bol.
Ilmarinen tries to check a leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
The fighters circling - Bol throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Ilmarinen attempts a counter takedown but Bol avoids it well and moves away.
A low kick lands for Bol.
Bol throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bol throws a push kick but Ilmarinen slaps the foot to one side.
A telegraphed right hand from Bol misses the target.
A lazy body kick from Bol

and Ilmarinen counters with a shoot takedown. Bol fights it but they end up in guard.

Ilmarinen postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Bol is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Ilmarinen, into his guard.

Seppo Ilmarinen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Ilmarinen controls Bol momentarily but Bol frees himself.
Bol stopping the sweep attempt from Ilmarinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen is working hard here to advance position.
Ilmarinen 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.

Ilmarinen throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Bol got a little sloppy there for a moment and Ilmarinen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Bol has managed to get both his arms back between Ilmarinen's legs - danger averted.
Bol is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Ilmarinen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Bol's guard.

Ilmarinen trying to control but Bol is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen connects with a couple of short punches.
Ilmarinen tries to free his leg and advance position but Bol is retaining full guard.
Ilmarinen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Bol working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen trying to control but Bol is working from the bottom.
Bol utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ilmarinen trying to control but Bol is working from the bottom.

Ilmarinen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Bol working a defensive guard here.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Yar Bol will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ilmarinen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Bol throws out the jab.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Bol misses with a hook to the ribs.
Ilmarinen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Bol gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Bol fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Bol lands with a left to the head.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ilmarinen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Bol avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Ilmarinen drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Seppo Ilmarinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ilmarinen is looking for a takedown.
Bol lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Ilmarinen backwards.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Bol is pressed up against the cage. Ilmarinen has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Bol down to the mat. Bol avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Bol lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Bol throws a right hand that misses

and Ilmarinen counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Bol tries to roll over but Ilmarinen keeps him under control.
Ilmarinen trying to mount his opponent but Bol defends it.
Ilmarinen is just content to waste time from the top position. Bol takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Ilmarinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Bol is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Bol looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ilmarinen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Ilmarinen working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Bol's head.
Bol can't keep his opponent in guard - Ilmarinen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Ilmarinen works his way into full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Bol is controlling an arm, preventing Ilmarinen from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Ilmarinen thowing shots but they're missing.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Ilmarinen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Bol is looking to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen landing punches.
Ilmarinen trying to control but Bol is having none of it.
Bol keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Ilmarinen dominating with strikes here.
Bol tries to hold on but Ilmarinen postures up.

Ilmarinen working for a guillotine from mount but Bol is in no mood to give up.
Ilmarinen controlling from the full mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Bol is in all sorts of trouble here.
Ilmarinen putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Bol is looking to improve his position but Ilmarinen isn't that keen on the idea.
Ilmarinen scoring with strikes but Bol is staying in there.

Ilmarinen swings around for an armbar but it's a sloppy attempt and Bol is now in Ilmarinen's guard. A big mistake from Ilmarinen there, giving up the dominant position!
Bol won't allow Ilmarinen to sweep him here.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.

Ilmarinen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Bol defends well.
Ilmarinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

And that's the end of the fight!
Seppo Ilmarinen showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ilmarinen 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 Steven Brown scores the fight 29:27
Judge Colin Fotheringham scores the fight 29:27
Judge James Ackerman scores the fight 29:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Seppo Ilmarinen!
Our winner, Seppo Ilmarinen, made sure he spent some time buttering up the crowd during his post fight interview, which will no doubt bring him a few more fans.