PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mikael Koskinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilkka Laitinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Laitinen has chosen AC/DC - Thunderstruck as his entrance music. Well, the cameraman is lingering on a pretty young lady for a bit too long there. Keep your eyes on the fighters buddy or you'll miss the fighter intros!

Koskinen
vs
Laitinen

170 cm
22
162 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

177 cm
21
164 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Solid boxing
Good chin

Decent wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikael Koskinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilkka Laitinen!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koskinen takes a swing at Laitinen's ribcage but misses.
Nice jab there from Laitinen.

It looks like Mikael Koskinen has been cut.
Laitinen jabs Koskinen right on the nose. Koskinen blinks but takes it well.
Laitinen takes a swing at Koskinen's ribcage but misses.

Koskinen scores a takedown into full mount!
Koskinen avoids the attempt from Laitinen to control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koskinen with shots to the head and body - Laitinen looks very uncomfortable down there.
A nice elbow there by Koskinen.
Laitinen tries to lock up and control but Koskinen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
BOOM! Koskinen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Laitinen working to try and regain half guard.
Laitinen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koskinen misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Laitinen wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Koskinen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee warns Laitinen that he has to improve his position here as he takes two more clean shots to the head.
Koskinen 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.
Koskinen lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Koskinen landing strikes from the mount.
Laitinen is desperately trying to improve his position but Koskinen has a good base and remains in mount.
Laitinen tries to hold on but Koskinen pushes him away.
Koskinen landing strikes, looking to finish!
Laitinen manages to control the position for a moment.
Koskinen raining down shots from the mount!

Koskinen jumps to side control looking for an arm triangle but Laitinen manages to avoid the submission attempt.
Koskinen tries to score with some ground and pound. Laitinen controls his posture well this time though and the shots don't do any damage.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koskinen trying to control the action but Laitinen is working from the bottom.
Laitinen controls the position for a moment.
Koskinen lands a knee to the body and follows it up with some ground and pound to the head. That will wear Laitinen down.
Laitinen dodges the ground and pound from Koskinen.

Koskinen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Laitinen knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Laitinen wants to control but Koskinen postures up.
Koskinen in side control lands a decent elbow.
Laitinen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Laitinen stops Koskinen from passing to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen tries to buck Koskinen off but Koskinen is having none of it.
Koskinen working away.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Laitinen can do anything to dispel that myth.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Laitinen has his hands up protecting his head but a hook from Koskinen finds it's way round the side to connect with Laitinen's head.
Koskinen misses with a wild body shot.
Koskinen throws a series of punches but Laitinen avoids them all with ease.
Koskinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
A big right from Laitinen misses.
Koskinen throws a one two combo.
Laitinen works the jab nicely.
Laitinen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Laitinen takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Koskinen shoots in looking for a takedown. Laitinen tries to sprawl out of it but Koskinen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Laitinen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen scores with a three punch combo!
Koskinen misses with a two punch combination.
Laitinen ducks low and lands a nice hook to the body of his opponent.
Ilkka Laitinen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Laitinen throws a body punch but Koskinen moves out of range.
Laitinen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Laitinen scores with a one two! Koskinen had his feet all tangled up there and couldn't avoid the strikes.
Koskinen is breathing heavily.
Laitinen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Laitinen darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Laitinen scores with a shot to the body.
Laitinen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Koskinen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Ilkka Laitinen will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Mikael Koskinen's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Laitinen scores with a jab to the jaw.
Laitinen misses the jab.
Laitinen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Koskinen moves away.
Laitinen lands a with a good body shot.
Koskinen wants to clinch.
Laitinen misses with a straight left.
Laitinen has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Laitinen.
Koskinen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Koskinen moves out of range as Laitinen throws a body kick.
Koskinen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Laitinen swivels and escapes.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laitinen misses with a body shot.
Laitinen throws a shot from downtown. Koskinen moves away and avoids it.

Laitinen gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Laitinen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Koskinen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Koskinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Laitinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laitinen looking to control.

Koskinen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Laitinen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Koskinen has Laitinen in his guard.
Laitinen controls the pace of the fight for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen wants to control from the top but Koskinen keeps moving.
Laitinen is looking to work some ground and pound but Koskinen has wrist control.
Laitinen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.

Koskinen looking for a guillotine here but Laitinen defends easily.
Laitinen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Laitinen must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Despite being in the dominant position, Ilkka Laitinen just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Koskinen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Laitinen tries to avoid it but Koskinen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Laitinen to the ground. Laitinen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.

Koskinen clinches up with Laitinen and pushes him back against the cage.
Koskinen trying to control the position but instead, Laitinen has worked for underhooks and has pushed Koskinen into the cage.
Nice body punch from Koskinen - that landed with a thud.
Koskinen stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Koskinen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Laitinen backwards.
Koskinen throws a head punch that misses.
A short left from Laitinen.
Laitinen has Koskinen pushed against the cage.
Koskinen scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen scores with a nice hook to the head.
Laitinen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Laitinen lands with a short shot to the head.
Laitinen blocks an uppercut.

Koskinen turns his hips and lands a very nice judo throw into side control!
Laitinen is trying to control Koskinen's posture but Koskinen avoids it.
Koskinen throws an elbow but Laitinen slips to the side and avoids it well.
Mikael Koskinen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Laitinen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Koskinen trying to control the action but Laitinen is working from the bottom.
Laitinen sneaks back into half guard.
Koskinen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Ilkka Laitinen will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Mikael Koskinen's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Laitinen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Laitinen misses with a double jab.
Laitinen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Laitinen wants it to stay on the feet.
Laitinen rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Koskinen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Laitinen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Koskinen gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Koskinen is trying to maintain a safe position but Laitinen gets an underhook and turns Koskinen into the cage.
Good body shot from Laitinen.
Laitinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Koskinen is trying to maintain a safe position but Laitinen gets an underhook and turns Koskinen into the cage.
Laitinen is clearly stalling here... Pick up the pace son.
Koskinen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Laitinen backwards.
Koskinen goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Koskinen is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Laitinen blocking some punches.

Laitinen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Laitinen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laitinen just misses with a punch to the body.
Koskinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Laitinen lands a two punch combo.
Ilkka Laitinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Laitinen misses with a combination
and Koskinen counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Laitinen thinking.
Koskinen is on the wrong end of a nice combination from Laitinen.
Laitinen misses the shot to the body.
Laitinen checks the leg kick.

Koskinen drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
Koskinen passes Laitinen's left leg - he's now in half guard.
Koskinen throwing shots but Laitinen is blocking nicely.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Koskinen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Laitinen's head.
Laitinen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Koskinen wants to take a breather but Laitinen is having none of it.
Laitinen manages to get to full guard.
Laitinen has control of Koskinen's left arm, preventing Koskinen from doing any damage.
Koskinen trying to control but Laitinen is working from the bottom.
Laitinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Laitinen manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Koskinen is trying desperately to improve position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
BOOM! Laitinen connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Laitinen wants to control the pace but Koskinen is squirming around nicely.
Laitinen working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Laitinen unloading with bombs!
Koskinen working to try and regain half guard.
Laitinen throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Koskinen gets back to half guard.
Koskinen tries to roll over but Laitinen keeps him under control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koskinen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Laitinen content to stall in guard here.

Koskinen had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Laitinen defends it easily.
Mikael Koskinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koskinen wants to sweep but no luck.
Laitinen slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ilkka Laitinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Laitinen 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 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilkka Laitinen!