PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Rickson Caceres (ranked 444 p4p, 531 weight class) and Jalo Ilmarinen (ranked 70 p4p, 79 weight class). Both fighters will be looking to make this an exciting fight for the fans, I'm sure!

Caceres
vs
Ilmarinen

180 cm
34
170
21 - 11 - 0

178 cm
25
174
12 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Insanely flexible

Olympic wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

BANZAI NUTRITION

30th Century Beer Store
Conviction

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 21 - 11 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Rickson Caceres!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Jalo Ilmarinen!
The judges for this bout are Albert Achterberg, Nard Betker and Patrick Alders.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ilmarinen throws a good cross that connects.
Caceres looks for a takedown but Ilmarinen sprawls well.
Ilmarinen lands with a shot to the body.
Ilmarinen swings for the body but Caceres moves out of range.
Jalo Ilmarinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Ilmarinen scores with a crisp jab that stopped Caceres in his tracks.
Ilmarinen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Caceres has his takedown stuffed
and Ilmarinen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Ilmarinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Ilmarinen closes the distance and pushes Caceres back into the cage.
Caceres tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Rickson Caceres. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Caceres is trying to pull guard but Ilmarinen turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Caceres fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Caceres tries to pull guard but Ilmarinen holds him up against the cage and eventually Caceres drops back down to his feet.
Ilmarinen tries to throw a body punch but Caceres avoids it by throwing Ilmarinen back against the cage.
Caceres stalling in the clinch.
Ilmarinen tries to work over Caceres's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Caceres's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Caceres blocks a body shot from Ilmarinen.

Ilmarinen turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Ilmarinen trying to control the position but Caceres is working away.
Caceres tries to improve position but can't.
The strikes coming from Ilmarinen are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Caceres has improved his flexibility recently so we will have to see if he can use that to his advantage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen working the ground and pound but he's contacting the mat, not the fighter.
Ilmarinen creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
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!
Ilmarinen throws an elbow but Caceres slips to the side and avoids it well.
Caceres is looking for a sweep.
Caceres manages to work his way to half guard, despite Ilmarinen's best efforts.
Ilmarinen with the ground and pound but Caceres uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Ilmarinen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Ilmarinen connects with a couple of short punches.

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

Caceres looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ilmarinen trying to control but Caceres is working from the bottom.
Caceres 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.
Ilmarinen landing some decent shots from guard.
Caceres keeping full guard, as Ilmarinen tries to pass.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Ilmarinen preventing the sweep.
Ilmarinen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Ilmarinen is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ilmarinen scoring with some ground and pound.
Ilmarinen is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Caceres manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ilmarinen manages to get himself to full guard.

Ilmarinen doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.

Ilmarinen is trying to control the position here. Caceres has hold of a guillotine from the top though... oh, that looks naaaaasty, will Ilmarinen tap? Yes he will! The fight is all over! Caceres jumps to his feet and is applauded loudly by the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 1, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Rickson Caceres!
A pretty intense looking Rickson Caceres took the opportunity post-fight to ask for a shot at the title.