PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Anton Ilmarinen (ranked 164 p4p, 129 weight class) and Joe Exotic (ranked 16 p4p, 14 weight class). Exotic is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Joe Exotic - I Saw a Tiger. 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
Exotic

186 cm
32
198
17 - 4 - 0

186 cm
34
185
35 - 15 - 2

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Excellent grappler
World class boxer
Granite chin

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)

Bondi MMA 🏝️
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 17 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anton Ilmarinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 35 - 15 - 2, fighting out of New York, Joe Exotic!
The judges for this bout are Timothy Bukovac, Jack Bonds and Don Winkell.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Exotic keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Ilmarinen just misses with a punch to the body.
Ilmarinen misses with a hook. Exotic ducked under it nicely.

Ilmarinen closes the distance and after a bit of a stuggle, scores a takedown into Exotic's guard.

Exotic looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Ilmarinen tries to free his leg and advance position but Exotic is retaining full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.

Exotic had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Ilmarinen defends it easily.

Exotic is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Exotic is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Exotic might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Ilmarinen haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Exotic is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Ilmarinen stays in close to Exotic's body and controls the position.

Exotic is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Ilmarinen defends well.
Exotic looking to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Ilmarinen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

Ilmarinen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Ilmarinen trying to pass the guard. He's being very persistent here but Exotic manages to land a sweep and now he's on top!

Exotic stopping the sweep attempt from Ilmarinen.
Exotic wants to control from the top but Ilmarinen keeps moving.

Exotic drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Ilmarinen dives on top into guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Exotic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Exotic has his foot on Ilmarinen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ilmarinen works his way back into a safe position though.
Ilmarinen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Ilmarinen postures up and lands a big shot to Exotic's brow.
Exotic avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Ilmarinen wants to control from the top but Exotic keeps moving.
Ilmarinen wants to pass the guard but Exotic is keeping the position.
Ilmarinen lands a couple of digs.
Exotic preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.

Exotic has his foot on Ilmarinen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ilmarinen works his way back into a safe position though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Exotic looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Exotic not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Ilmarinen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Exotic is looking for a triangle but Ilmarinen pushes his legs off easily.
Ilmarinen cracks Exotic with a solid left hand.

Exotic working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ilmarinen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ilmarinen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Ilmarinen lands a couple of digs.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!

Exotic escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Ilmarinen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Ilmarinen slips nicely into half guard.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

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

Exotic lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Ilmarinen walks into a jab.
Ilmarinen needs to keep his hands up - Exotic had a free shot at his head there.
Ilmarinen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Exotic sees it coming and avoids it easily.
A swing and a miss from Exotic.
Ilmarinen changes levels looking for a counter takedown but doesn't commit.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Exotic uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Exotic throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Ilmarinen feinted with a counter takedown.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Nice body kick there by Exotic.
Ilmarinen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Exotic moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Exotic takes a swing at Ilmarinen's ribcage but misses.
Ilmarinen tries to counter with a takedown but Exotic is quick to defend against it.
Joe Exotic seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Exotic takes a swing at Ilmarinen's ribcage but misses.
Ilmarinen has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Ilmarinen there as he acknowledges the shot.

It looks like Anton Ilmarinen has been cut.
Nice body punch from Exotic.
Exotic misses with a body shot.
Ilmarinen takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Exotic swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Ilmarinen drops down looking for a counter takedown but Exotic sprawls and moves away.
Exotic slips a straight right by Ilmarinen.
Ilmarinen bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Ilmarinen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Good exchange - Exotic coming out on top.
Exotic has been working on his striking defense in training and it's paying off as Ilmarinen is landing a low percentage of strikes.
Exotic throws a body shot but no joy.
Ilmarinen feinted with a counter takedown.
Ilmarinen looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Exotic throws a body shot but no joy.
Exotic throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Ilmarinen on the side of the head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen defending well as Exotic loads up on a big left hand.
Ilmarinen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Exotic tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ilmarinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Exotic.
Ilmarinen is looking to counter with a shot to the body.
Ilmarinen fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Exotic manages to avoid it.
Nice shot by Exotic.
A telegraphed right hand from Ilmarinen misses the target.
Good exchange - Ilmarinen coming out on top.
Joe Exotic seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Ilmarinen takes a swing at Exotic's ribcage but misses.
Exotic throws out a counter right but Ilmarinen avoids it with no problem.
Exotic misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Ilmarinen.
Joe Exotic is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen avoids the body shot from Exotic.
Ilmarinen blocks a head kick by Exotic.
Ilmarinen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Good exchange - Exotic coming out on top.
Exotic misses with a looping right.
Exotic throws a hook but Ilmarinen blocks it.
Ilmarinen attempts a counter takedown but Exotic avoids it well and moves away.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Ilmarinen blocks a head kick by Exotic.
Ilmarinen feinted with a counter takedown.
Exotic throws a jab when Ilmarinen was well out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Exotic showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Anton Ilmarinen's cut.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A kick lands to the mid section there for Exotic.
Ilmarinen throws a shot from downtown. Exotic moves away and avoids it.
Ilmarinen fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Exotic takes one on the button.
Exotic throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Ilmarinen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Exotic fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Ilmarinen manages to avoid it.
Exotic tries a head kick but it misses.
Ilmarinen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Exotic looked like he wanted to counter with a punch but didn't throw it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Exotic is looking to slow Ilmarinen down with leg kicks.
Ilmarinen misses the shot to the body.
Exotic has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Ilmarinen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Exotic throws out the jab.
Exotic lands the left hand.
A swing and a miss from Exotic.
Ilmarinen half commits to a counter takedown before pushing away, out of range.
Exotic swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Ilmarinen swung with a counter right hand that didn't connect.
Exotic defending well as Ilmarinen loads up on a big left hand.
Exotic swings away with a counter right hand but no contact made.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen slips under a jab from Exotic.
Exotic throws a wild body kick that Ilmarinen sees coming a mile off.
Ilmarinen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Ilmarinen moves forwards but Exotic connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Exotic jabs Ilmarinen to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Exotic connects with a single shot there.
Exotic swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Exotic connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Good standup being displayed there by Exotic as he connects with a hook.

Ilmarinen is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen ducks under a wild hook from Exotic.
Ilmarinen appears to be looking for a counter takedown.
Ilmarinen moves out of range as Exotic strikes.
Exotic is looking to land body kicks.
Ilmarinen attempts a counter takedown but Exotic avoids it well and moves away.
Exotic ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ilmarinen moves away.
Ilmarinen tries to counter with a takedown but Exotic is quick to defend against it.
Ilmarinen catches Exotic with a nice straight right. He seems pissed - ooooh, it's on now! On like donkey kong!
Exotic misses with the body kick

and Ilmarinen decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Exotic's guard.
Exotic is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Exotic wants to work for an arm triangle but Ilmarinen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Ilmarinen gets back to full guard.
Ilmarinen doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Ilmarinen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Exotic is one step ahead there.
Exotic in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Exotic trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Ilmarinen keeping moving, preventing Exotic from controlling successfully.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Exotic comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Exotic 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 Timothy Bukovac scores the fight 28:29
Judge Jack Bonds scores the fight 28:29
Judge Don Winkell scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Exotic!
A relieved looking Joe Exotic thanked the fans for their support and gave the usual line about them being amazing. They seemed to believe that he actually meant it.