PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Niko Ahola (ranked 5171 p4p, 5086 weight class) and Pehtori Pojankivi (ranked 579 p4p, 573 weight class). Pehtori Pojankivi struggled to make weight for this fight. He only made it down to 206.4lbs at the first attempt and had to take the additional two hours to make the official bout weight. Let's see how much it's taken out of him. Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Ahola
vs
Pojankivi

185 cm
18
204
0 - 1 - 0

194 cm
18
225
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Bear Necessities

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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Niko Ahola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pehtori Pojankivi!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Marco Blurström and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Pojankivi shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Ahola circles away from the clinch attempt.
Pojankivi shoots and misses
and Pojankivi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pojankivi is trying hard to land a takedown here. Ahola sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Niko Ahola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pehtori Pojankivi.
Pojankivi throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Ahola's head.
Pojankivi shoots in looking for a takedown but Ahola manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Pojankivi's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Pojankivi fails with the takedown
and Ahola counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pojankivi has his takedown stuffed
and Ahola counters with a straight right hand.
We've been told by Ahola's head coaches at IMMAC Training Facilityâ„¢ that he's been working on his takedown defense in preparation for this fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pojankivi tries to clinch up.
Pojankivi tries to clinch
and Ahola counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pojankivi goes for a double leg but Ahola avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ahola continues to drive forward.
Pojankivi misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Pojankivi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pojankivi tries to close the distance and clinch up but Ahola swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Ahola throwing a counter right hand but Pojankivi manages to avoid it.
Pojankivi looks to clinch
and Ahola cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pojankivi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
letting Ahola counter with a right hand.
Pojankivi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ahola counters with a stiff right hand.
Pehtori Pojankivi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pojankivi throws a head kick that misses
and Ahola connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Pojankivi misses with a takedown attempt
and Ahola counters with a nice uppercut.
Ahola is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Pojankivi shoots for a double leg takedown but Ahola sprawls well. He's pushed Pojankivi's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Ahola swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Pojankivi fails with the takedown
and Ahola counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Niko Ahola is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
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!
Pojankivi tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Ahola counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pojankivi is looking to clinch but Ahola is avoiding it.
Ahola swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Pojankivi fails with a takedown attempt.
Pojankivi misses with a takedown attempt - Ahola sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Pojankivi fails to land the takedown.
Ahola is looking to counter punch.
Pojankivi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ahola counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pojankivi fails with the takedown
and Ahola counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ahola circles away from the clinch attempt
and Ahola counters with a stiff right hand.
Pojankivi doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Ahola cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pojankivi throws a head kick that misses.
Ahola swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Pojankivi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Ahola is fending him off so far but Pojankivi persists. Nope, Ahola circles away and we're back to standing.
It looked like Ahola wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Ahola dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action.

No luck with that takedown attempt from Pojankivi.
Pojankivi tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Ahola swivels and escapes.
Ahola uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Pojankivi.
Pojankivi misses with a takedown attempt
and Ahola counters with a stiff right hand.
Niko Ahola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pehtori Pojankivi.
Nice takedown defense from Ahola. No joy for Pojankivi on that attempt.
Pojankivi tries for a takedown but Ahola circles away easily
and Ahola counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Pojankivi is breathing heavily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pojankivi misses with a series of wild punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pojankivi throws a head kick that misses
and Ahola cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pojankivi has his takedown stuffed
and Ahola counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pojankivi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Ahola counters with a nice uppercut.
Pojankivi shoots in but no luck this time.
Ahola is looking to counter punch.
Pojankivi tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ahola paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Ahola is looking to counter punch.
Pojankivi shoots in for a takedown but Ahola shows good takedown defense.
Ahola swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Pojankivi misses with a takedown attempt - Ahola sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pojankivi fails with the takedown
and Ahola connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ahola avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Pojankivi closes the distance and clinches up with Ahola, looking for a takedown. Pojankivi pushes Ahola against the cage but Ahola circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Ahola swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Pojankivi has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
Pojankivi looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Pojankivi falls off balance throwing a combination
and Ahola counters with a nice uppercut.
Pojankivi fails with the takedown
enabling Ahola to counter with a crisp jab.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pojankivi closes the distance and clinches up with Ahola, looking for a takedown. Pojankivi pushes Ahola against the cage but Ahola circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Pojankivi has a takedown stuffed.
Ahola throwing a counter right hand but Pojankivi manages to avoid it.
Pojankivi swinging wildly here.
Ahola throwing a counter right hand but Pojankivi manages to avoid it.
Pojankivi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ahola was well out of range. Poor timing from Pojankivi.
Pojankivi fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
An attempted straight right counter from Ahola misses the target.
Pojankivi misses with a leg kick
and Pojankivi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ahola slips under a jab.
Ahola throwing a counter right hand but Pojankivi manages to avoid it.
Pojankivi misses with the combination.
Pojankivi shoots in for a takedown but Ahola shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Ahola was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Pojankivi fails in his attempt to clinch.
Pojankivi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ahola counters with a straight right hand.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pojankivi just misses with a punch to the body.
A little feinted left hand from Ahola on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Pojankivi has his takedown stuffed
and Ahola counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Niko Ahola dominated that second round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare each other down, ready to get back to the action. This is the final round!

A head kick by Pojankivi misses
letting Ahola counter with a right hand.
Niko Ahola is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Pojankivi fails with the takedown
and Ahola counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Pojankivi is looking to clinch but Ahola is avoiding it.
Both these guys seem content to just stand up and trade with each other but Pojankivi might want to think about changing up his gameplan a bit because over the course of the fight, Ahola has got the better of the exchanges.
Pojankivi goes for a double leg but Ahola avoids the attempt and the two fighters end up clinched against the cage as Ahola continues to drive forward.
A little feinted left hand from Ahola on the counter but he doesn't commit to it.
Pojankivi moves to clinch but Ahola breaks away
and Ahola counters with a nice uppercut.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pojankivi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Ahola as he jumps to the side.
An attempted straight right counter from Ahola misses the target.
Niko Ahola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Pehtori Pojankivi.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pojankivi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Ahola pinned against the cage. Ahola gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
Ahola is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Pojankivi can do to turn this around?
Pojankivi takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Pojankivi.
Ahola was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Pojankivi looks to score with a jab to the body but Ahola is just out of range.
An attempted straight right counter from Ahola misses the target.
Pojankivi with a lazy takedown attempt
and Ahola cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pojankivi closes the distance but Ahola moves to the side
and Pojankivi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pojankivi will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
It looked like Ahola wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Pojankivi has a takedown stuffed.
Pojankivi tries to clinch but Ahola moves away
and Pojankivi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Pojankivi shoots in for a takedown but Ahola shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pojankivi shoots in for a double leg but Ahola sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Pojankivi closes the distance and clinches up with Ahola, looking for a takedown. Pojankivi pushes Ahola against the cage but Ahola circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
It looked like Ahola wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.
Niko Ahola is winning the standup battle so far.
Pojankivi scores with a head kick. Ahola tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Pojankivi tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ahola was well out of range. Poor timing from Pojankivi.
It looked like Ahola wanted to counter with a hook but didn't fully commit.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pojankivi moves to clinch but Ahola breaks away
enabling Ahola to counter with a crisp jab.
Pojankivi darts in looking for a takedown but Ahola gets double underhooks and turns Pojankivi into the cage.
Ahola is looking to counter punch.
Pojankivi tries to land a body kick
letting Ahola counter with a right hand.
Pojankivi shoots in but doesn't get the takedown
and Ahola cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pojankivi dives in for a single leg takedown but Ahola sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Ahola was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Pojankivi tries to clinch
and Ahola counters with a nice uppercut.
Pojankivi gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Pojankivi takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pojankivi dives in for a single leg takedown but Ahola sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Pojankivi has his takedown stuffed
and Ahola cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Pojankivi pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Pojankivi throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Ahola's waist but Ahola gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Pojankivi off to one side.
Ahola is looking to counter punch.
Pojankivi throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ahola swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Pojankivi fails to land the takedown.

And that's the end of the fight!
Niko Ahola showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ahola has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Niko Ahola!