PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jalo Ilmarinen (ranked 655 p4p, 680 weight class) and Caius Marius (ranked 83 p4p, 88 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Ilmarinen
vs
Marius

178 cm
23
174
8 - 4 - 0

183 cm
23
174
12 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

Conviction
30th Century Beer Store

Conviction
© Trap House

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 8 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jalo Ilmarinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Caius Marius!
The judges for this bout are Viktor Lagutenko, Vladimir Khabensky and Valeri Chadov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice shot by Marius.
Ilmarinen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Marius's waist but Marius gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Ilmarinen off to one side.

Ilmarinen shoots in and bounces Marius off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Ilmarinen trying to control but Marius is working from the bottom.
Ilmarinen stays in close to Marius's body and controls the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ilmarinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Marius is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ilmarinen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ilmarinen tries to free his leg and advance position but Marius is retaining full guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilmarinen trying to control but Marius is working from the bottom.
Ilmarinen throwing strikes from guard but Marius blocks nicely.
Marius utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Ilmarinen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Ilmarinen wants to pass the guard but Marius is keeping the 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 trying to control the position from guard on top but Marius 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.
Donk. Marius catches Ilmarinen right on the button with a cross.
Ilmarinen misses with a takedown

and Marius counters by moving into the clinch. Good anticipation by Marius.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Marius backwards.
Ilmarinen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Marius gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jalo Ilmarinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Ilmarinen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A right hook to the body lands for Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen blocks an uppercut.
Ilmarinen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
Marius blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ilmarinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Marius lands a shoulder strike.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A right handed body shot lands from Marius.
Marius scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Marius working aggressively here.
Ilmarinen blocks a body shot from Marius.
Ilmarinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ilmarinen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Marius misses with a punch to the body.
A shot in the inside from Ilmarinen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen cracks Marius with a nice body shot.
Ilmarinen misses with a punch on the inside.
Marius swings wildly with an uppercut but Ilmarinen uses good head movement to avoid it.

Ilmarinen has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Marius regains guard immediately.
Ilmarinen connects with a couple of short punches.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Ilmarinen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Ilmarinen throws a strike but Marius rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Marius engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Ilmarinen is trying to control the position from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marius's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Marius is continuing to stall.
Marius trying to control the position from guard on top but Ilmarinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Ilmarinen wants to sweep here but Marius controlling him for the moment.
Ilmarinen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Marius manages to get himself to full guard.

Ilmarinen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Ilmarinen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marius swivels though and keeps the full guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jalo Ilmarinen dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Ilmarinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Marius was well out of range. Poor timing from Ilmarinen.

Ilmarinen clinches up against the cage.
Ilmarinen throws a head punch that misses.
Marius misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ilmarinen working some nice short punches in the clinch.
A short left from Marius.
Ilmarinen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ilmarinen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
I was talking to Ilmarinen's coach per-fight and he was telling me that they'd been working on the clinch in the runup to this fight.
Marius prevents a takedown attempt there.
Ilmarinen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mariuss head.
Marius working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Ilmarinen can't find room to land a body shot as Marius controls the action.
Marius tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ilmarinen's elbow.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Marius.
Marius blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ilmarinen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Marius's elbow.
Marius working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Ilmarinen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ilmarinen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marius misses with a short punch on the inside.
Good body shot from Marius.
Ilmarinen blocking some punches.
A short right from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Marius can do to turn this around?
Marius working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Ilmarinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Marius misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Marius can't find room to land a body shot as Ilmarinen controls the action.
Marius misses with a hook from the clinch.
Marius lands a right hand.
Ilmarinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Marius struggles to land a body shot inside as Ilmarinen controls his hands.
Ilmarinen tries a body shot but Marius blocks it.
Ilmarinen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Ilmarinen blocks an uppercut.
Marius working aggressively here.
Ilmarinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Ilmarinen misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Marius.
Ilmarinen gets through Marius's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen can't find room to land a body shot as Marius controls the action.
Ilmarinen lands on the inside with an uppercut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ilmarinen throws a head punch that misses.
Marius tries a body shot but Ilmarinen blocks it.
Ilmarinen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
A head punch on the inside from Marius fails to land.
Ilmarinen has a couple of punches blocked by Marius.
Ilmarinen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Marius tries a body shot but Ilmarinen blocks it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen can't find room to land a body shot as Marius controls the action.
Ilmarinen tries to throw a body punch but Marius avoids it by throwing Ilmarinen back against the cage.
Ilmarinen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Marius backwards.
Ilmarinen misses with a punch to the body.
Ilmarinen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Marius's elbow.
Marius scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Marius pushes Ilmarinen back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Marius lands with a left to the head.
Marius tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Jalo Ilmarinen has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Marius misses with the head strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marius misses with a punch on the inside.
A short body shot lands from Marius as the two fighters clinch.
Ilmarinen works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Marius blocks a body shot from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen lands a shoulder strike.
Ilmarinen scores with a shot to the side of Marius's head.
Ilmarinen misses with a short punch on the inside.
Ilmarinen misses with a punch on the inside.
Ilmarinen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Marius blocking some punches.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Marius.
Ilmarinen struggles to land a body shot inside as Marius controls his hands.
Ilmarinen prevents a body shot from Marius.
Ilmarinen misses with a punch to the body.
Marius lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Marius lands an uppercut.
Nice body punch from Ilmarinen - that landed with a thud.
Ilmarinen misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Ilmarinen.
Marius can't find room to land a body shot as Ilmarinen controls the action.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marius tries a body shot but Ilmarinen blocks it.
A short left from Marius.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
A right hook to the body lands for Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen blocking some punches.
Ilmarinen tries to work over Marius's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Marius.
Marius tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Ilmarinen tries to work over Marius's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Ilmarinen lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Ilmarinen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Marius misses with a punch to the body.
Ilmarinen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A hook to the body from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen misses with a short punch on the inside.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen scores with a hook to the body.
Marius lands a right hand.
Ilmarinen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ilmarinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Marius misses with a hook from the clinch.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jalo Ilmarinen 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!

Ilmarinen shoots for a takedown but Marius saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Ilmarinen stuns Marius with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Marius misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ilmarinen.
Marius takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
A lazy left from Ilmarinen finds it's target.

A momentary lapse in concentration from Marius enables Ilmarinen to shoot in and score with a neat double leg. Marius manages to secure a closed guard as the fighters hit the mat.
Ilmarinen throws a big elbow that misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ilmarinen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ilmarinen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Ilmarinen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ilmarinen cracks Marius with a solid left hand.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilmarinen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Marius works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Ilmarinen wants to control from the top but Marius keeps moving.
Ilmarinen throws a big right hand that misses.
Marius looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ilmarinen throws a big elbow that misses.
Marius looking for a sweep. Not yet Marius, not yet.
Ilmarinen tries to free his leg and advance position but Marius is retaining full guard.
Marius keeping moving, preventing Ilmarinen from controlling successfully.
Ilmarinen chips away with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Ilmarinen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ilmarinen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Ilmarinen with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Caius Marius has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ilmarinen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Marius swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ilmarinen is working hard here to advance position.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up.
Ilmarinen throws a body punch but Marius moves out of range.
Ilmarinen waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Marius.
Marius tries to counter with a clinch but Ilmarinen shakes him off and moves away.
Ilmarinen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Marius wants to counter the offense by Ilmarinen and move into the clinch position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marius slips under a jab.

Ilmarinen clinches.
Ilmarinen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Marius tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Ilmarinen's elbow.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Marius pushes Ilmarinen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Marius misses with a body punch.
Ilmarinen lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Marius.
Marius tries to throw a body punch but Ilmarinen avoids it by throwing Marius back against the cage.
Ilmarinen misses with a body punch.
Ilmarinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Ilmarinen misses with a punch to the body.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Marius blocks a body shot from Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Marius backwards.
Marius blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Ilmarinen lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Still in the clinch, Ilmarinen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Ilmarinen throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Mariuss head.
Ilmarinen tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Marius.
Ilmarinen misses with a punch to the body.
Marius tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Ilmarinen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Marius's elbow.
Ilmarinen pushes Marius back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Marius.
Ilmarinen can't find room to land a body shot as Marius controls the action.
Jalo Ilmarinen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Marius tries a body shot but Ilmarinen blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Marius fails to land.
A body shot lands from Marius.
A nice right hand lands inside from Ilmarinen.
Marius doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Ilmarinen works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Marius throws a hook to the body. More of an arm punch but it's all scoring with the judges.
Marius swings wildly with an uppercut but Ilmarinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Ilmarinen lands a right hand.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jalo Ilmarinen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ilmarinen 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 Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 30:27
Judge Vladimir Khabensky scores the fight 30:27
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jalo Ilmarinen!