PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ari Katajamaki (ranked 1542 p4p, 2665 weight class) and Scottie Lamez (ranked 112 p4p, 187 weight class). Rumors backstage are that the fighters have been paid to keep it standing but we know that would never happen in MMA!

Katajamaki
vs
Lamez

162 cm
27
135
10 - 15 - 2

170 cm
35
138
14 - 16 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Heavy handed

Helsinki Xtreme Fightwear

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 15 - 2, fighting out of Helsinki, Ari Katajamaki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 16 - 0, fighting out of London, Scottie Lamez!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and Donald Grub.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Katajamaki gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Lamez can't find room to land a body shot as Katajamaki controls the action.
Lamez is defending well against a takedown attempt.

Katajamaki gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Lamez preventing any damage for now, controlling his opponent's head.
Lamez keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lamez trying to hold on to Katajamaki's head to control him but Katajamaki postures up.
Katajamaki thows a huge punch but Lamez dodges it nicely.
Katajamaki is thwarting Lamez's attempts to control the position.
Lamez is trying to get back to full guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Katajamaki landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Katajamaki looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Lamez taking some punishment here, with Katajamaki in his half guard.
Lamez is concentrating on defense, preventing Katajamaki from advancing position.
Lamez works his way to full guard. Good work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamez seems keen to control Katajamaki's posture.
Katajamaki postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lamez trying to control the position.
Katajamaki postures up in Lamez's guard and throws a big left but Lamez blocks it.
Lamez not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Katajamaki stands up over Lamez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Katajamaki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Lamez has control of Katajamaki's left arm, preventing Katajamaki from doing any damage.
Katajamaki landing with the ground and pound.
Lamez tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Lamez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Katajamaki lands a couple of digs.
Katajamaki postures up.
Katajamaki throwing strikes but missing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Our spies down at at London MMA Club inform us that Lamez has really been working on his submissions in the buildup to this fight. Will it pay off?
Katajamaki throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Katajamaki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Katajamaki postures up.
Katajamaki being controlled here momentarily.
Katajamaki pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Lamez is keeping the position for now.
Katajamaki working some strikes from top position.
Katajamaki working some strikes from top position.
Katajamaki postures up.
Katajamaki works over Lamez with some ground and pound from guard.
Lamez is controlling Katajamaki's posture.
Lamez working a defensive guard here.
Katajamaki 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.
Katajamaki looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Lamez holds on and takes a little breather.
Lamez is trying to control the position but Katajamaki postures up.
Katajamaki looking to pass the guard.
Katajamaki throws a big elbow that misses.
Lamez controls Katajamaki momentarily but Katajamaki frees himself.
Katajamaki being controlled here momentarily.
Lamez working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Katajamaki.
Katajamaki is working Lamez over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Lamez is pulling down on Katajamaki's head to control his posture.
Lamez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Katajamaki missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Katajamaki postures up in Lamez's guard and throws a big left but Lamez blocks it.
Katajamaki postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Katajamaki lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Katajamaki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lamez trying to control the position.
Katajamaki stands up over Lamez, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
Katajamaki tries to free his leg and advance position but Lamez is retaining full guard.
Katajamaki postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Lamez seems keen to control rather than go for a submission, at least for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Katajamaki scoring with punches to the head and body.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Katajamaki dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lamez throws a lazy uppercut

and Katajamaki counters with a takedown into side control.
Lamez is looking for a sweep.
Katajamaki is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Lamez can do to turn this around?
Katajamaki misses with the ground and pound.
Lamez takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Katajamaki working away.
Lamez is working to avoid the ground and pound but Katajamaki connects with a decent elbow.
Lamez is trying to control Katajamaki's posture but Katajamaki avoids it.
The strikes coming from Katajamaki are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Katajamaki working the ground and pound.
Katajamaki works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Lamez can't do much from the bottom here.
Lamez is trying to avoid being dragged into an even worse position than he's already in but Katajamaki is staying active.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Katajamaki working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
You can see the frustration on Lamez's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamez might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Katajamaki haven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Katajamaki lands some shots froms side control.
Katajamaki trying to control the action but Lamez is working from the bottom.
Lamez taking punishment in the form of punches.

Lamez is rocked!
Katajamaki working away.
Lamez is still in real trouble! Can Katajamaki finish him?
Katajamaki throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Lamez seems to have recovered his senses.
Katajamaki scores with a couple of short elbows.
Lamez avoids any damage from the ground and pound of Katajamaki.
Katajamaki creates some space and throws a big elbow, but Lamez sees it coming and moves his head just enough to avoid the strike.
Lamez stuck in half guard on the bottom here.
Katajamaki throws a strike aimed at the side of Lamez's head but Lamez avoids it well.
Katajamaki is putting a hurting on Lamez here, landing some big shots from side control.
Lamez wants to control but Katajamaki postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The ground and pound from Katajamaki seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Katajamaki lands an elbow.
Lamez on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Katajamaki working away.
Lamez taking a bit of punishment here - Katajamaki scoring with strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Both fighters take a look at the clock.
Katajamaki lands a decent elbow from side control.
Lamez struggling a bit here.
Katajamaki in side control lands a decent elbow.
Lamez managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Katajamaki.
Lamez struggling a bit here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lamez takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Lamez manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Lamez controlling the pace.
Katajamaki has a hand on Lamez's thigh, trying to get back to full guard. Lamez takes advantage of the position though and mounts him!
Katajamaki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki tries to control Lamez's body but Lamez pushes him off. Katajamaki squirms to his side and now Lamez has his back!
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Katajamaki rolls, trying to escape but Lamez keeps control of the position.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Ari Katajamaki dominated that second round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Lamez defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Katajamaki.
Lamez loads up on a big right hand but Katajamaki slips the punch.
Katajamaki looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.
Katajamaki fails with a takedown attempt.
Katajamaki shoots in but Lamez avoids the takedown attempt easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ari Katajamaki. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Katajamaki uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Lamez.
Lamez keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Lamez looks to throw the jab but Katajamaki is out of range.
Katajamaki fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
It seemed like Lamez was going to counter with the hook but didn't fully commit to it.
Lamez misses with a looping left.
Katajamaki attempts a counter takedown but Lamez avoids it well and moves away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A big right from Lamez misses.
Scottie Lamez seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Katajamaki steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lamez.
Katajamaki staying out of range there.
Lamez rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

and Katajamaki counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Lamez pulls Katajamaki in close to his closed guard and prevents Katajamaki from doing any damage or advancing position.
Lamez looking to control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lamez preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lamez trying to control the position here.
Katajamaki postures up in Lamez's guard and throws a big left but Lamez blocks it.
Lamez has his hands on Katajamaki's head, controlling the position.
Lamez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lamez keeping full guard, as Katajamaki tries to pass.
Katajamaki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Lamez works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Scottie Lamez has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Lamez looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Lamez's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Katajamaki distracts Lamez with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Katajamaki keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Lamez's head.
Katajamaki is in close to Lamez's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Lamez seems keen to control Katajamaki's posture.
Katajamaki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Katajamaki trying to control the position from guard on top but Lamez is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Lamez is doing well to control the posture of his opponent and prevent any damage.
Lamez avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Katajamaki postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Katajamaki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Katajamaki lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Katajamaki wants to pass the guard but Lamez is keeping the position.
Katajamaki with a nice head shot there.
Katajamaki with a flurry of punches that miss.
Lamez is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ari Katajamaki is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lamez controlling Katajamaki's posture.
Katajamaki engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Lamez managing to control the position.
Katajamaki slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Katajamaki got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lamez has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Katajamaki has managed to get both his arms back between Lamez's legs - danger averted.
Katajamaki content to stall in guard here.
Lamez controls Katajamaki momentarily but Katajamaki frees himself.

Lamez had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Katajamaki defends it easily.
Katajamaki not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Lamez looking for a sweep. Not yet Lamez, not yet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ari Katajamaki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Katajamaki, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27

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