PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kimmo Reki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jan Paulsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Reki comes to the cage accompanied by Trivium - Kirisute Gomen. Paulsen comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Berserkergang kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Reki
vs
Paulsen

202 cm
22
250 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

205 cm
18
265 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Dark Storm Performance

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Kimmo Reki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jan Paulsen!
The judges for this bout are Dmitry Maklakov, Aleksei Zolotukhin and Aleksandr Martynov.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paulsen tries to bum rush Reki with a series of wild strikes but Reki uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Paulsen throws a right and a left that both miss.
Paulsen throws a series of punches but Reki avoids them all with ease.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Reki softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Reki working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Reki prevents the takedown attempt.
Paulsen is looking to break free of the clinch but Reki has double underhooks.

Paulsen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Paulsen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Reki wants to clinch.
Reki shoots in for a double leg but Paulsen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Paulsen looks to land a right hand but Reki moved out of range.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Paulsen tries for a takedown but Reki circles away easily

and Reki counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Reki tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Reki scores with a shot to the side of Paulsen's head.
Paulsen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Paulsen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Reki fails with an attempt to clinch.
Reki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Paulsen throws a series of punches but Reki avoids them all with ease.

Reki closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Reki thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Paulsen's head.
Paulsen won't allow Reki to pass to mount.
Reki sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Paulsen defending well though.
Reki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Reki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Reki throwing shots but Paulsen is blocking nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Reki wants to lay and pray for a moment but Paulsen keeps working.
Paulsen wants to get back to his feet.
Paulsen looks gassed!

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Paulsen throws a right and a left that both miss.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Reki fails with an attempt to clinch.

Reki shoots in and bounces Paulsen off the cage to secure the takedown into guard.
Paulsen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Reki is looking to work some ground and pound but Paulsen has wrist control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Reki lands a couple of digs.
Reki trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Reki loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Reki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Reki is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Paulsen is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Paulsen has escaped and now he's on top!
Reki tries to strike from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Reki looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Reki doesn't do any damage with a couple of strikes from the bottom.
Paulsen wants to get up but he can't break Reki's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.

Reki escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Paulsen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Reki manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Paulsen manages to get himself to full guard.
Reki in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.

Paulsen kicks Reki off and gets to his feet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulsen misses with a hook. Reki ducked under it nicely.
Paulsen misses with a hook to the body
and Reki makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Reki tries to clinch but Paulsen is having none of it.
Horrible takedown by Reki or perhaps it was just good defense by Paulsen which made him look bad.
The fight stays on the outside here - Reki looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Reki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Reki tries to clinch up.
Paulsen throws a left and a right that both miss

and Reki counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Paulsen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Reki.
Reki throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Paulsen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Reki blocks the strikes from Paulsen.
Paulsen wants to get back to his feet.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kimmo Reki dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

A low kick from Paulsen misses

and Reki counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Reki trying to control but Paulsen is working from the bottom.
Reki 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.
Reki throwing strikes from guard but Paulsen blocks nicely.
Reki working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Paulsen wants to stand but Reki is controlling the position.
Reki passes easily into side control. Nice work.
An elbow from Reki crashes against the mat.
Paulsen is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Reki working the ground and pound.
Reki cracks Paulsen with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Reki tries to score with some ground and pound. Paulsen controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.
Paulsen is trying to improve his position.
Paulsen bucks up and tries to throw Reki off but instead Reki has got his back!
Reki somehow managing to miss with a strike from the back.

Reki is working hard for the rear naked choke here.

Reki patiently working for the choke. Which fighter will keep their nerve here?
Kimmo Reki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Reki is landing with strikes from the back.
Paulsen covering up well under a barage of strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paulsen is trying to get back to his feet but Reki has full control of the position and if anything, Paulsen has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Reki looking for the choke from the back.
Paulsen holding both Reki 's hands and preventing any damage.
Reki is striking from the back but Paulsen escapes and manages to recover to half guard.
Reki drops an elbow to the side of Paulsen's head.
Reki drops an elbow to the side of Paulsen's head.
Reki looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for leaving it all in the cage!
Reki with the ground and pound but Paulsen uses the opportunity to regain guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reki won't allow Paulsen to get back to his feet.
Reki passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Paulsen is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Reki is pressing down on Paulsen's thigh, looking to free his foot. Paulsen is holding on for now.
Reki throwing shots but Paulsen is blocking nicely.
Reki missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Reki throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Reki works his foot free and advances to mount.
Reki with a couple of short strikes.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Reki there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Paulsen blocking the ground and pound.
Reki looking to ground and pound but Paulsen is blocking nicely.
Reki throws a sloppy strike and Paulsen uses the opportunity to reverse the position! A bit of a scramble here and Paulsen has ended up in Reki's guard.
Reki is striking off his back. Paulsen thinks nothing of it though and passes easily into half guard.

Paulsen moves into side control, avoiding a weak kimura attempt from Reki.
Reki is trying to work for a sweep but Paulsen has mounted him!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Reki is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Paulsen misses with a few strikes there.
Paulsen throws a left and a right that both miss

and Reki counters with a nice double leg into side control. Paulsen won't be happy with that.
Reki scores with a couple of short elbows.
Paulsen pushes Reki away and creates a bit of space to escape. He's almost out here... but no, Reki gets a good hold of his legs and remains firmly in side control.
Reki lands an elbow.
Paulsen wants to get back to his feet but Reki drags him back down.
Check out the look on Reki's face as he threw that strike - that's one determined fighter!
Paulsen is working to avoid the ground and pound but Reki connects with a decent elbow.

Reki goes for an armbar! This could be all over! Wait, no, Paulsen rolls with the submission and now he's on top in Reki's guard! Nice work there by Paulsen!

Paulsen gets to his feet and steps away from his opponent.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Paulsen misses with a kick to the body

and Reki counters with a nice double leg into side control. Paulsen won't be happy with that.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Paulsen gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
Paulsen wants to get back to his feet.

Paulsen manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Paulsen throws a nice looking combination but Reki bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Reki moves in looking to clinch but Paulsen pushes him off.
Reki tries to clinch up.
Paulsen jabs Reki right on the nose. Reki blinks but takes it well.
Reki tries to close the distance and clinch but Paulsen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Paulsen walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Paulsen swinging wilding here.
Paulsen scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Reki closes the distance, clinches up and gets a nice trip takedown into side control. Very smooth.
Paulsen regains half guard, as Reki was trying to land strikes.
Reki with the ground and pound but Paulsen uses the opportunity to regain guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Reki accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Reki is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Reki thows a big elbow that misses.
Reki tries to free his leg and advance position but Paulsen is retaining full guard.
Reki throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Paulsen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Reki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Reki stands and throws Paulsen's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Reki misses with a strike but at least he's keeping busy, looking to cause some damage - that will still help him when it comes to the judges scorecards.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Reki misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Paulsen is working hard to escape and get back to his feet. After a battle for position, Reki asserts his dominance and retains side control.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Reki will need to close the distance a bit before he attacks - that leg kick was thrown from too far away.
Reki tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
No joy there for Reki, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kimmo Reki is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Paulsen throws a combination that misses
and Reki counters with a stiff right hand.
Reki is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Reki takes a shot right to the liver - Bas would have been proud of that punch.
Paulsen throws a left and a right that both miss

and Reki moves into the clinch.
Reki works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Reki.
Reki lands a damaging elbow.
Paulsen takes a shot to the head.
Paulsen wants to break free but Reki has control.
A head punch on the inside from Reki fails to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Paulsen blocks an elbow strike.
Reki prevents Paulsen from breaking the clinch.
Paulsen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Reki gets the underhooks and prevents it.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Reki.
Jan Paulsen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Reki tries a knee to the head but Paulsen blocks it.
Paulsen dodges an elbow strike from Reki.
Paulsen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Paulsen is trying to break free.
Reki tries to land a knee to the head but Paulsen blocks with his arms.
Paulsen lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Reki or not.
Paulsen takes an elbow to the temple.
Reki doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Reki has a couple of punches blocked by Paulsen.
Reki keeps control of Paulsen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Paulsen tries to break the clinch but Reki is controlling the position.
Reki looking to throw knees to the head but Paulsen is blocking nicely.
Paulsen is trying to break the clinch but Reki has him pressed against the cage.
Paulsen is trying to break the clinch but Reki has him pressed against the cage.
Paulsen is looking to control Reki's arms but Reki gets an underhook and turns him. Now Paulsen has his back to the cage.
Paulsen is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Reki gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Paulsen has had enough of the clinch but Reki keeps him there for the moment.
Reki lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Paulsen tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Reki just stands there and leans against the cage.
Kimmo Reki has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Jan Paulsen.
Reki misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Reki keeps control of Paulsen as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Reki gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Paulsen.
Paulsen tries to break the clinch but Reki is controlling the position.
Reki misses with some punches.
Paulsen has had enough of the clinch but Reki keeps him there for the moment.
A head punch on the inside from Paulsen fails to land.
Reki swings wildly with an uppercut but Paulsen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Reki using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Paulsen has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kimmo Reki showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Reki, 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 Dmitry Maklakov scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksei Zolotukhin scores the fight 30:27
Judge Aleksandr Martynov scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kimmo Reki!