PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Jari Lehtola (ranked 1986 p4p, 1501 weight class) and Mike McGuire (ranked 243 p4p, 186 weight class). On his way into the cage it seems that Jari Lehtola has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Jari Lehtola seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Lehtola
vs
McGuire

198 cm
26
205
11 - 7 - 0

188 cm
40
206
26 - 18 - 1

Good wrestling
World class boxer
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Wrestler Wayfare

Wrestler Wayfare
Shadow Realm Apparel

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jari Lehtola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 26 - 18 - 1, fighting out of London, Mike McGuire!
The judges for this bout are James Ackerman, Donald Grub and Richard Clark.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
McGuire gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Lehtola swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by McGuire.
McGuire goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
A jab from McGuire misses.
Lehtola connects with a looping right hand.
McGuire lands a jab to the nose.
Lehtola moves out of range as McGuire throws a body kick.
Lehtola takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
McGuire blocks a jab.
McGuire throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
McGuire misses the shot to the body.
Lehtola takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Lehtola uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before McGuire has time to react.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
McGuire tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Lehtola was well out of range. Poor timing from McGuire.
McGuire slips a jab from Lehtola.
McGuire with a body punch. A glancing blow.
McGuire fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Lehtola definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab from Lehtola.
McGuire throws a half hearted mid kick.
Lehtola lands a lovely overhand right.
Lehtola throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Lehtola throws a jab when McGuire was well out of range.
McGuire tries to move into range but Lehtola moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Lehtola throws the left hand but McGuire avoids the punch easily.
McGuire tries to clinch but Lehtola moves out of range.
Lehtola throws a hook but McGuire avoids it easily.

McGuire darts in and clinches Lehtola up against the cage.
Lehtola tries a body shot but McGuire blocks it.
McGuire goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Lehtola can't find room to land a body shot as McGuire controls the action.
McGuire blocks an uppercut.
A short body shot lands from Lehtola as the two fighters clinch.
Lehtola is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Lehtola working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Lehtola blocks an uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

McGuire's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McGuire has been spending a lot of time sparring his boxing in the run up to the fight, trying to sharpen up those hands and look for a knockout.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
McGuire moves away from the strike by Lehtola.
Lehtola misses with a double jab
and McGuire counters with a stiff right hand.
McGuire throws a body shot but no joy.
McGuire pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Lehtola thows a left - swing and a miss!
Lehtola is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
Lehtola takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
McGuire throws a body kick but he wasn't in range.
McGuire fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lehtola.
McGuire throws a body kick that misses.
McGuire takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
McGuire misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Lehtola fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches McGuire on the side of the head.
Lehtola scores with a hook.
McGuire has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Lehtola finds it's way round the side to connect with McGuire's head.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

McGuire rushes Lehtola and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

McGuire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lehtola throws a body punch but McGuire moves out of range.
McGuire throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lehtola's jab looks to have found its range, popping McGuire under the eye.
McGuire throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lehtola with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling McGuire to score with a decent uppercut.
McGuire attempts a low kick but it misses it's target.
McGuire misses with a straight right.
Lehtola circles away from the clinch attempt.
McGuire takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
McGuire throws the left hand but Lehtola avoids the punch easily.
McGuire doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
McGuire scores with a hook to the body. Lehtola takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Lehtola is really peppering his opponent's head with punches.
McGuire connects with a leg kick.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Nice jab there from Lehtola.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
McGuire uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Lehtola.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from McGuire.
Lehtola lands with a nice combination. McGuire backs away looking to recover.
McGuire is looking to clinch but Lehtola is avoiding it.
Lehtola listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
McGuire just misses with a punch to the body.
McGuire attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
McGuire steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Lehtola.
Lehtola lands a right hook to the body.

McGuire rushes Lehtola and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.

McGuire escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Lehtola comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
McGuire throws a lazy right hand but Lehtola sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
McGuire misses with a body shot.
A head kick misses from McGuire.
McGuire throws a head kick that misses.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Jari Lehtola will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Lehtola uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McGuire.
Some wild striking there from Lehtola.
McGuire missing with a left hand there. Lehtola was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McGuire misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Lehtola.
Lehtola throws a looping overhand right but McGuire ducks down to avoid it.
Lehtola has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
McGuire on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Lehtola cracks McGuire with an open hand slap.
Lehtola ducks under a wild hook from McGuire.
McGuire throws a looping overhand right but Lehtola ducks down to avoid it.
Lehtola bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps McGuire's head backwards.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
McGuire slips a straight right by Lehtola.
Lehtola throws a looping overhand right but McGuire ducks down to avoid it.
McGuire throws a hook but Lehtola blocks it.
Lehtola jabs at McGuire's body.
McGuire staying out of range there.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Some bone on bone action there as Lehtola checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Some wild striking there from McGuire.
Lehtola misses with a looping right.
Lehtola misses with a body shot.
Lehtola ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Lehtola throws a big shot that misses.
Lehtola with a nice cross.
Lehtola misses the shot to the body.
McGuire feints a counter leg kick.
McGuire looks to score with a jab to the body but Lehtola is just out of range.
McGuire lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
McGuire tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lehtola manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lehtola wants to take advantage of his opponent's missed offense by moving into the clinch.
McGuire throws a body shot but no joy.
Lehtola thows a left - swing and a miss!
McGuire lands a really nice looking cross but Lehtola seems unphased.
A big left from Lehtola misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lehtola misses the jab.
Lehtola scores with a jab to the head.
McGuire pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lehtola blocks a head kick by McGuire.
McGuire misses with the combination.
McGuire throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Lehtola tries to counter by moving into the clinch but McGuire manages to circle out of the way.
Nice shot lands for Lehtola.
McGuire throws a low kick but Lehtola moves out of range easily.
McGuire wants to slow Lehtola down by chopping away at his legs.
McGuire takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Lehtola missing with a left hand there. McGuire was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
McGuire attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
McGuire misses with a body kick.
Lehtola seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
McGuire fakes the leg kick and cracks Lehtola in the body.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
McGuire moves out of range as Lehtola strikes.
Lehtola drops his hands and takes a jab to the jaw for his troubles.
Lehtola swings and misses with a hook to the body.
McGuire ducks under a wild hook from Lehtola.
Lehtola fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

Lehtola rushes McGuire and presses him up against the cage.
A right hook to the body lands for Lehtola.
McGuire is trying to break the clinch but Lehtola has him pressed against the cage.
Lehtola is working McGuire over against the cage.
Lehtola digs a right hand underneath McGuire's ribcage. McGuire let out a lung full of air as it connected.
McGuire misses with a punch to the body.
Lehtola tries to throw a body punch but McGuire avoids it by throwing Lehtola back against the cage.
A nice right hand lands inside from McGuire.
Lehtola misses with a punch on the inside.
McGuire can't break the clinch.
Lehtola lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lehtola tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

McGuire's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
McGuire misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McGuire tries to clinch there but Lehtola circles away.
Lehtola throws a hook to the side of McGuire's head but McGuire sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McGuire is looking to land body kicks.
Jari Lehtola is winning the standup battle so far.
Lehtola changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
McGuire defending well as Lehtola loads up on a big left hand.
Lehtola tries to close the distance and clinch but McGuire swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Lehtola throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Lehtola throws a jab when McGuire was well out of range.
McGuire has a pretty nasty looking mouse under his right eye.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Lehtola checks a leg kick.
As McGuire tries to get set, Lehtola tries to push him back and clinch up but McGuire manages to avoid the attempt.
McGuire throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGuire keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
McGuire uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Lehtola.
McGuire chopping away at his opponent's legs.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

Jari Lehtola dominated that second round.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

McGuire takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
McGuire throws a body punch but Lehtola moves out of range.
McGuire fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Lehtola.
Lehtola ducks down and throws a hook to the body but McGuire moves away.
McGuire keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lehtola.
Lehtola lands an overhand right.
A lazy left from Lehtola finds it's target.
Lehtola misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from McGuire.
McGuire is pinned up against the cage taking some big shots here. The referee is looking closely deciding whether he should stop the fight.
Lehtola throws an off balance right hand
and McGuire counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
McGuire slips a jab from Lehtola.
Lehtola uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by McGuire.
Lehtola avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
McGuire jabbing away but nothing is landing.
McGuire goes for a spinning back kick but it misses.
Lehtola takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

That's one minute gone in the round.
McGuire moves away from the strike by Lehtola.
McGuire throws a jab but it's blocked by Lehtola.
McGuire misses with a body shot.
Lehtola displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as McGuire throws out the jab.
McGuire throws a jab when Lehtola was well out of range.
Lehtola throws a hook to the side of McGuire's head but McGuire sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
McGuire jabs Lehtola to the body, keeping him at a distance.
Lehtola waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract McGuire.
Lehtola stuns McGuire with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
McGuire tries to clinch there but Lehtola circles away.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lehtola. McGuire does a little dance to reset his feet.
McGuire throws a hook but Lehtola avoids it easily.
Lehtola swings for the body but McGuire moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Lehtola lands an impressive looking overhand right. McGuire doesn't seem phased though.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
McGuire uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Lehtola.
McGuire looks to land a left hand but Lehtola moved out of range nicely.
Lehtola is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from McGuire.
Lehtola with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Lehtola uses good head movement to avoid the hook from McGuire.
Lehtola seemed to be looking to counter by closing the distance.
McGuire misses with a straight right.
McGuire keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Lehtola.
Lehtola misses with a hook.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McGuire throws a low kick but it's checked well by Lehtola.
The fighters circle momentarily. Lehtola darts into range and connects with a nice straight punch.
Lehtola misses with an uppercut. McGuire saw that one coming.
McGuire throws a shot from downtown. Lehtola moves away and avoids it.
McGuire throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
McGuire pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Lehtola needs to keep his hands up - McGuire had a free shot at his head there.
McGuire tries to clinch up against the cage, rushing in to close the distance. Lehtola manages to break the clinch and circles back to the middle of the mat.
Lehtola is trying to close the distance and clinch up, after that failed offence from McGuire.
Mike McGuire has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Lehtola closes the distance and clinches.
Lehtola lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down McGuire.
McGuire takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Lehtola presses McGuire against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Jari Lehtola has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Lehtola is leaning against McGuire and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Lehtola tries to work over McGuire's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Lehtola lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Lehtola scores with a shot to the side of McGuire's head.
Lehtola lands a hook to the side of the head.
McGuire tries to circle away but Lehtola has him pinned against the cage.
Lehtola scores with a nice hook to the head.
Lehtola lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Lehtola swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jari Lehtola is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Lehtola blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Lehtola lands a left hand.
McGuire misses with a punch to the body.
Lehtola lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
McGuire struggles to land a body shot inside as Lehtola controls his hands.
A head punch on the inside from McGuire fails to land.

McGuire manages to break the clinch.
Lehtola scores with a sloppy right hand. McGuire should have avoided that one.
Lehtola is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that McGuire can do to turn this around?
Lehtola works his jab well there, keeping his opponent at a distance.
McGuire looks to score with a jab to the body but Lehtola is just out of range.
Lehtola tries to counter by moving into the clinch but McGuire manages to circle out of the way.
McGuire walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Lehtola checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
A combination from McGuire does no damage.

McGuire closes the distance and clinches.
McGuire doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
A head punch on the inside from McGuire fails to land.
A right handed body shot lands from Lehtola.
McGuire misses with a shot to the kidneys.
McGuire scores with an uppercut up the middle.

And that's the end of the fight!
Jari Lehtola showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Lehtola 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 James Ackerman scores the fight 30:27
Judge Donald Grub scores the fight 30:27
Judge Richard Clark scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Jari Lehtola!