PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a super heavyweight MMA rules bout between Anton Ilmarinen (ranked 25 p4p, 307 weight class) and Balin Trollslayer (ranked 1 p4p, 25 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Ilmarinen
vs
Trollslayer

186 cm
34
198
24 - 6 - 0

150 cm
39
265
48 - 12 - 0

Great wrestler
Excellent boxer
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Powerful

Kersikov's Vitamin Clinic (160)
Conviction

NARCOS
Conviction

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the super heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 24 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Anton Ilmarinen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 48 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Balin Trollslayer!
The judges for this bout are Percy O'Donnell, Frank Antenori and Jack Bonds.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Trollslayer bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Trollslayer uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Ilmarinen.
Trollslayer feints the counter takedown.
Ilmarinen connects with a body shot that sends Trollslayer's belly button to the back.

Ilmarinen feints and as Trollslayer raises his hands in defense, Ilmarinen changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Ilmarinen working some strikes from top position.
Ilmarinen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ilmarinen trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Ilmarinen throws an elbow that misses. Trollslayer uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Ilmarinen's guard. Nice move by Trollslayer!

Trollslayer scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilmarinen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Trollslayer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Ilmarinen controlling Trollslayer's posture.
Trollslayer postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

It looks like Anton Ilmarinen has been cut.
Trollslayer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Trollslayer postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Trollslayer throws a big elbow that misses.
Trollslayer missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Trollslayer keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Ilmarinen's head.
Trollslayer postures up.
Ilmarinen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Trollslayer.
Trollslayer trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

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

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Trollslayer with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Anton Ilmarinen's cut is getting worse.
Trollslayer preventing the sweep.
Trollslayer is looking to work some ground and pound but Ilmarinen has wrist control.
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 looking for a sweep. Not yet Ilmarinen, not yet.
Trollslayer is in close to Ilmarinen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Trollslayer postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Anton Ilmarinen's cut is bleeding quite badly. He's got to try and protect it.
Ilmarinen lands a beautiful sweep and he's now moved into his opponent's guard.

Ilmarinen passes Trollslayer's left leg - he's now in half guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Ilmarinen is keen to just control but Trollslayer is a slippery customer.
Trollslayer throws a strike from the bottom that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Ilmarinen is trying to control the action in half guard but Trollslayer is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Ilmarinen in half guard on the top. He's looking for a kimura... He's got it locked and he's managed to free his trapped foot. Trollslayer tries to escape but it's on too tight and he has to tap! Great BJJ skills there from Ilmarinen!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:43 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Kimura). Anton Ilmarinen!
Anton Ilmarinen retains his super heavyweight title!
A victorious Anton Ilmarinen thanked his army of followers in his post fight interview, telling people to make sure they follow him on Twitter.