PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Knut Brovold (ranked 4303 p4p, 4686 weight class) and Stix Itinya (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.

Brovold
vs
Itinya

181 cm
25
164
0 - 0 - 0

184 cm
18
160
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Basic striking
Solid chin

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, Knut Brovold!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Tokyo, Stix Itinya!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Arvi Lind and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Brovold looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Brovold fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Itinya avoids it really well and circles away.
Brovold shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Itinya as he avoids it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Knut Brovold. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Brovold shoots in for a takedown but Itinya shows good takedown defense.
Brovold shoots in for a takedown but Itinya shows good takedown defense.
Itinya stuffs the takedown.
Itinya is definitely looking for the counter takedowns here.

Itinya gets caught flat footed, as Brovold shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Itinya managing to control the position.
Itinya is continuing to stall.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Itinya wants to sweep but no luck.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Itinya has his hands on Brovold's head, controlling the position.
Itinya keeping moving, preventing Brovold from controlling successfully.
Itinya looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Itinya keeps trying to improve his position.
Brovold tries to free his leg and advance position but Itinya is retaining full guard.
Itinya really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Brovold. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Itinya is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Brovold fails to land the takedown.
Brovold shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Itinya but Itinya pushes him off and we're back to square one.

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.

Itinya darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Brovold has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Itinya is working away from the top position though.
Itinya is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Brovold is trying to control but can't.
Itinya performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Nice strikes from Itinya there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itinya prevents Brovold from improving his position.
Brovold works his way to full guard. Good work.

Brovold is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Itinya is aware though and is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Brovold is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Itinya defends well.
Itinya lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Brovold had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Itinya defends it easily.

Itinya got a little sloppy there for a moment and Brovold has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Itinya has managed to get both his arms back between Brovold's legs - danger averted.

Brovold is looking for a triangle but Itinya pushes his legs off easily.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Itinya connects with a couple of short punches.
Itinya's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Brovold working a defensive guard here.
Itinya content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Itinya working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Brovold's head.
Itinya's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Itinya content to sit in guard, stalling... Great. Oh but he could get punished here because Brovold has locked up a guillotine! Brovold's face is contorted as he sqeezes tight on the submission attempt - will he finish? Itinya is holding on here and Brovold must be using up a lot of energy. Itinya has gone limp! He's out! He's out cold! Brovold gets to his feet, tossing aside his stricken foe. Arms raised, he milks the applause from the crowd. Great submission!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:58 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Knut Brovold!
Knut Brovold decided to go for the less than humble approach in his post fight interview, telling everyone how he is going to conquer the world. The crowd seemed to like it when really that sort of approach could have gone either way.