PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Kimi Aanekoski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Mathew Lacey (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Mathew Lacey is the more experienced fighter, so let's see if that makes a difference tonight.

Aanekoski
vs
Lacey

190 cm
23
185 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

190 cm
23
192 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good chin

BJJ Purple Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

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 3 - 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 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mathew Lacey!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Lacey cracks Aanekoski with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
Lacey avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lacey lands with a nice combination. Aanekoski backs away looking to recover.
Lacey scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Aanekoski tries to close the distance and clinch up but Lacey swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Lacey drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Sloppy strikes there by Lacey.
Lacey scores with a couple of short elbows.
Aanekoski on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Aanekoski tries to get out of the position.
Lacey scoring with punches and elbows.
Lacey has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Aanekoski manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Aanekoski knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lacey on the ground.
Lacey stalling away here and it's allowed Aanekoski to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Lacey postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Lacey chips away with some ground and pound.
Lacey chips away with some ground and pound.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lacey cracks Aanekoski with a solid left hand.
Aanekoski working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Lacey.
Lacey working some strikes from top position.
Lacey postures up in Aanekoski's guard and throws a big left but Aanekoski blocks it.
Lacey lands a couple of elbows.
Lacey scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Lacey with a flurry of punches that miss.
Aanekoski avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Lacey throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Aanekoski looking to control.
Aanekoski is breathing heavily.
Lacey connects with a couple of short punches.
Lacey throws a big right hand that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lacey wants to pass the guard but Aanekoski is keeping the position.
Aanekoski utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Lacey throwing strikes from guard but Aanekoski blocks nicely.
Lacey missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Lacey lands a couple of decent looking shots.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Aanekoski preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Lacey keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Aanekoski's head.
Lacey missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Lacey with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lacey's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Lacey lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Lacey sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Aanekoski's 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. Lacey connects with a nice short shot to Aanekoski's temple.
Lacey thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Lacey is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Aanekoski doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Lacey.
Lacey throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lacey working the head and body with strikes.
Lacey thows a huge punch but Aanekoski dodges it nicely.
Lacey throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Aanekoski keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Lacey trying to control the action but Aanekoski is working from the bottom.
Lacey working Aanekoski over with strikes.
Lacey is stalling here. Aanekoski is in no mood to hang around though. He's locked up a kimura from the bottom! Lacey seems to be keeping calm but he's forced to roll out of the hold and Aanekoski has ended up in side control on the top. Nice work.
Lacey manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Lacey landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Lacey dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Lacey misses with a straight left.
Donk. Lacey catches Aanekoski right on the button with a cross.
Lacey throws a one two combo.
Lacey is trying hard to land a takedown here. Aanekoski sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
Lacey avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Lacey bobs and weaves and unloads with a good uppercut.
Mathew Lacey seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lacey misses with an uppercut. Aanekoski saw that one coming.
Lacey scores with a hook to the body. Aanekoski takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

Aanekoski shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Lacey is trying to defend but Aanekoski finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Lacey gets back to full guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Lacey is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lacey thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Aanekoski's head.
Lacey lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Aanekoski blocking the ground and pound attempt from Lacey.
Lacey thows a huge punch but Aanekoski dodges it nicely.
Lacey scoring with strikes to the body and head.
Lacey throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Lacey wants to lay and pray for a moment but Aanekoski keeps working.
Aanekoski is looking to control Lacey's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Aanekoski avoid being mounted?
Lacey trying to control the action but Aanekoski is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Aanekoski tries to clinch but Lacey moves out of range.
Lacey fails with the takedown
and Aanekoski counters with a flying knee. Nice.
Lacey lands with a shot to the body.
Lacey misses with a double jab.
Aanekoski on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Lacey misses with a series of wild punches.
Lacey throws a right hand that Aanekoski ducks under and follows up with a left that Aanekoski also avoids with ease.
Left hook, right uppercut from Lacey.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Lacey is defended easily by Aanekoski.
Kimi Aanekoski has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Mathew Lacey.
Lacey fails to land the takedown.
Lacey swats away the attempt to clinch by Aanekoski.
Lacey tries to bum rush Aanekoski with a series of wild strikes but Aanekoski uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Lacey misses with a jab, cross combination.
Lacey throws a right and a left that both miss.
Lacey falls off balance throwing a combination

and Aanekoski counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Aanekoski is pressed up against the cage. Lacey has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Aanekoski down to the mat. Aanekoski avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Aanekoski is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lacey swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Aanekoski counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
Aanekoski wants to pass to mount but Lacey is defending the position.
Lacey is trying to get back to full guard.
Aanekoski is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

Lacey actively working from the bottom here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
It looks like Aanekoski is going to stand back up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mathew Lacey showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
Well, the break between rounds is over. Let's get back to the scrappin! So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

Lacey looks to score with a jab to the body but Aanekoski is just out of range.
A looping hook to the body misses from Lacey. Aanekoski does a little dance to reset his feet.
Aanekoski gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Lacey counters with a left and a right that stings Aanekoski.
Kimi Aanekoski is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Lacey jabs at Aanekoski's body.
Lacey circles away from the clinch attempt.
Aanekoski takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Lacey works over Aanekoski's head and body with a nice combination.
Lacey throws a series of punches but Aanekoski avoids them all with ease.
Lacey clobbers Aanekoski with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Lacey ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Mathew Lacey seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lacey scores with a body shot.
A punch combination from Lacey misses.
Lacey cracks Aanekoski with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lacey fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Aanekoski looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Aanekoski showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Lacey.
Lacey lands a head shot.
Lacey has his takedown stuffed

and Aanekoski counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Aanekoski avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Lacey will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.

Lacey is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Aanekoski is aware though and is defending well.
Lacey looking to hit a scissor sweep but Aanekoski is one step ahead there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Lacey is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Aanekoski is aware though and is defending well.

Lacey is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Lacey has an active guard here but Aanekoski has managed to pass into half guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Lacey looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Aanekoski tries to stand but can't do so whilst Lacey controls his leg.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Lacey slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.

Lacey looking for a guillotine here but Aanekoski defends easily.
Kimi Aanekoski has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Mathew Lacey is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Mathew Lacey has got the better of the ground game so far.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Lacey is looking for a triangle but Aanekoski pushes his legs off easily.
Aanekoski pushing down on Lacey's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Lacey is pressing down on Aanekoski's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.
Lacey is trying to keep Aanekoski in close.
Lacey tries to land a sweep but no joy.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Lacey is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Aanekoski is aware though and is defending well.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mathew Lacey comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Lacey winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight for Mathew Lacey!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Mathew Lacey!
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight for Mathew Lacey!

Mathew Lacey wins by unanimous decision!