PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kimi Aanekoski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilpo Leuka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Aanekoski
vs
Leuka

190 cm
22
185 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

188 cm
22
180 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Heavy handed

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 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kimi Aanekoski!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilpo Leuka!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Leuka misses with a jab, cross combination.

Leuka drops Aanekoski with a beautiful combination! Aanekoski stares up at his opponent, who ushers him back to his feet - Leuka is looking for the KO!

Aanekoski is rocked!

It looks like Kimi Aanekoski has been cut.
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!
Leuka looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Oh Aanekoski is still all over the place! His legs are completely gone! Will he be able to recover?!!

Aanekoski closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Aanekoski seems to have got his legs back now.
Aanekoski looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Aanekoski missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Aanekoski thows a huge punch but Leuka dodges it nicely.
Aanekoski trying to control from half guard but Leuka is working away.
Aanekoski with the ground and pound but Leuka uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Aanekoski is looking to work some ground and pound but Leuka has wrist control.
Leuka utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Aanekoski trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Aanekoski lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Leuka circles away quickly and effectively.
Leuka falls off balance throwing a combination

and Aanekoski counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Aanekoski.
Leuka keeping moving, preventing Aanekoski from controlling successfully.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aanekoski throws a strike but Leuka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

Aanekoski pushes Leuka off for just long enough to get back to his feet. Very athletic spring there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Leuka misses with a double jab

and Aanekoski counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Aanekoski.
Leuka wants to stand up but Aanekoski is controlling him.
Leuka looks gassed!
Aanekoski with a flurry of punches that miss.
Aanekoski prevents Leuka from getting back to his feet.
Aanekoski has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.
Aanekoski working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Aanekoski scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aanekoski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leuka is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Aanekoski postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Leuka preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Aanekoski chips away with some ground and pound.
Aanekoski throwing strikes but missing.
Aanekoski is working Leuka over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
Aanekoski lands a couple of digs.
Leuka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aanekoski.
Aanekoski throwing strikes from guard but Leuka blocks nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Aanekoski missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Aanekoski is working Leuka over from the guard. He should look to pass the guard and do a little more damage with these strikes.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Aanekoski accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Leuka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aanekoski.
Aanekoski throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Leuka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Leuka working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Aanekoski.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Aanekoski feints and as Leuka raises his hands in defense, Aanekoski changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Aanekoski is looking to work some ground and pound but Leuka has wrist control.
Leuka wants to stand and escape but Aanekoski is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Kimi Aanekoski will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kimi Aanekoski's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Leuka gets caught flat footed, as Aanekoski shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Aanekoski throws a strike but Leuka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Aanekoski is trying to keep Leuka in close.
Leuka is breathing heavily.
Leuka is fighting to break Aanekoski's control of his arms but Aanekoski is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Aanekoski's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Leuka preventing the sweep.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Aanekoski is trying to keep Leuka in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kimi Aanekoski dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Kimi Aanekoski's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Leuka throws a left and a right that both miss

and Aanekoski counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Leuka's guard now.
Aanekoski tries to free his leg and advance position but Leuka is retaining full guard.
Aanekoski throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Aanekoski throws a strike but Leuka rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Aanekoski pulls Leuka in close to his closed guard and prevents Leuka from doing any damage or advancing position.
Kimi Aanekoski overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Leuka is looking to stand up but Aanekoski won't let him.
Leuka won't allow Aanekoski to sweep him here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Leuka wants to stand but Aanekoski has a closed guard, so he can't escape.
Aanekoski wants to sweep here but Leuka controlling him for the moment.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Aanekoski fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Leuka misses with a double jab

and Aanekoski counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Aanekoski connects with a nice short shot to Leuka's temple.
Kimi Aanekoski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Leuka takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Aanekoski wants to control but Leuka is keeping him busy.
Aanekoski content to control rather than advance.
Aanekoski stops Leuka from getting back to his feet.
Aanekoski controlling the action here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Aanekoski not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Aanekoski is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Aanekoski tries to pass to full mount but Leuka defends it.
Aanekoski is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Ilpo Leuka has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

The referee stands the fighters back up. Kimi Aanekoski just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
A nice combination there by Aanekoski.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kimi Aanekoski showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Aanekoski, 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kimi Aanekoski!