PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Joe Masseria (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alberts Ilisko (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Ilisko has chosen Remix - Dzeltenas Kurpes as his entrance music. Joe Masseria has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Masseria
vs
Ilisko

185 cm
18
218 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

185 cm
20
200 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

Good takedowns
Brawler
KO power

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Masseria!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alberts Ilisko!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Ilisko wants to clinch up but Masseria keeps it at a distance.
Ilisko tries to clinch up.
Masseria keeps the fight on the outside.
Masseria tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Ilisko was well out of range. Poor timing from Masseria.
Ilisko is looking to clinch.
Ilisko wants to clinch up but Masseria keeps it at a distance.
Ilisko tries to close the distance and clinch but Masseria swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Ilisko doesn't manage to clinch there - Masseria circles away.

Masseria rushes Ilisko and presses him up against the cage.
Masseria blocks a punch to the side of the head.

Masseria has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Ilisko regains guard immediately.
Masseria controls from within his opponent's guard.
Masseria seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Ilisko for as long as he can get away with.
Masseria prevents Ilisko from getting back to his feet.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Masseria controlling from the top position.
Masseria scoring with some ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Masseria content to stall in guard here.
Ilisko wants to stand but Masseria is controlling the position.
Masseria forces his way into half guard.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Ilisko wants to get back to his feet.
Ilisko looks gassed!
Masseria is taking a breather. Ilisko says something to him but it's hard to make out. Perhaps he's telling him to get on with it and actually do something.
Ilisko is trying to stand back up but Masseria is controlling him
Masseria is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Well, if Masseria is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.
Masseria looks to score some points with some ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Masseria perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Ilisko wants to get back to his feet.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Masseria perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Masseria 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.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Joe Masseria just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Masseria moves into the clinch.

Ilisko is fighting off a takedown attempt but Masseria is just too persistent for him and manages to trip Ilisko to the mat. Ilisko regains guard as soon as the fighters hit the mat.
Masseria lands a couple of digs.
Masseria works over Ilisko with some ground and pound from guard.
Masseria with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Masseria sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Ilisko's guard.
Masseria controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Masseria decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
Masseria swings for the body but Ilisko moves out of range.

Masseria closes the distance and clinches.
Masseria goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Masseria keeps control of Ilisko as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.
Masseria fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ilisko tries a knee to the head but Masseria blocks it.

Masseria breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Ilisko ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.

Masseria closes the distance and clinches.
A short body shot lands from Masseria as the two fighters clinch.

Masseria breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.

Masseria shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Masseria showed some decent athleticism there.
Masseria looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ilisko with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Masseria sitting and controlling from the half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Masseria passes to side control.
Masseria in side control, just content to control the action for now.
Ilisko is trying to get back to his feet.
Ilisko being controlled for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Ilisko slips under a jab from Masseria.
Ilisko closes the distance looking to clinch

and Masseria counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Masseria stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.

Masseria gets a nice trip takedown into half guard.
Masseria takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Masseria working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Still in half guard, Masseria seems content to control.
Masseria working the head and body with strikes.
Well, if Masseria is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Joe Masseria just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Ilisko smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Ilisko is breathing heavily.
Masseria throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.

Masseria scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Ilisko wants to get back to his feet.
Still in half guard, Masseria seems content to control.
Ilisko is looking to escape.
Masseria looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Ilisko with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Masseria controlling the pace.
Masseria moves into full mount! Ilisko won't be happy about that!
Masseria lands a big shot there that rocks Ilisko but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilisko is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Masseria is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Masseria controlling from the full mount.
Masseria has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Ilisko's face.
Masseria lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Masseria content just to control the position here.
Masseria is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Ilisko can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Joe Masseria overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Masseria lands a big elbow.
Ilisko is trying to stand up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masseria controlling his opponent.
Masseria has controlled the position for a good 20 seconds, which will no doubt be starting to frustrate his opponent.
BOOM! Masseria connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Masseria takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Joe Masseria just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Masseria misses with an uppercut.
Masseria ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Ilisko moves away.
Masseria throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Ilisko tries to clinch

and Masseria counters by moving into the clinch.
Masseria softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Masseria creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Masseria lands a nice trip takedown 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. Masseria connects with a nice short shot to Ilisko's temple.
Masseria is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Ilisko is trying to stand back up but Masseria is controlling him
Masseria is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Masseria is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Ilisko can do to turn this around?
Ilisko wants to get back to his feet.
Masseria controlling the action here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Masseria dominated that second round.
That's time! Masseria's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Masseria throws a big shot that misses.
Masseria looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Ilisko tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Masseria holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Masseria lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ilisko.
Masseria swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Ilisko prevents a body shot from Masseria.
A right hook to the body lands for Ilisko.
Ilisko working hard to break the clinch.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Ilisko throws a head punch that misses.
Ilisko tries to land a knee to the head but Masseria blocks with his arms.
Ilisko lands a left hand that snaps the head of Masseria backwards.
Ilisko takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Ilisko misses with a punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Masseria.
Masseria lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Ilisko.

Masseria has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Ilisko clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ilisko is very frustrated here, being controlled quite effectively by Masseria.
Masseria scores with punches and elbows.
Masseria has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Ilisko's body.

Masseria working for a choke but Ilisko is defending well.
Masseria is throwing punches to the body, looking to soften Ilisko up.
Joe Masseria is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ilisko is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.
You know, I was talking to some of our celebrities at ringside tonight and they were split right down the middle on who was going to win this fight.
Masseria landing with strikes.
Ilisko controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
Masseria has the hooks sunk in and you can see the will to fight slowly draining out of Ilisko's body.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Joe Masseria just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Masseria rushes Ilisko and presses him up against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Masseria works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Masseria slows down the pace here.
Ilisko avoiding damage as Masseria throws knees to the body.
Masseria pushes Ilisko back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Masseria is leaning against Ilisko and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Masseria looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.

Masseria pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Alberts Ilisko seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Masseria thows a body shot but no joy.
Joe Masseria is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.

Masseria takes the fight into the clinch.
Masseria's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.

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

Masseria has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Ilisko clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Ilisko holding both Masseria 's hands and preventing any damage.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
Masseria is looking to finish with some ground and pound!
Masseria scores with punches and elbows.
Masseria is throwing strikes from the back here. Oh that last one was to the back of the head. Masseria gets a warning from the referee. He throws another strike to the back of the head straight away though and the referee has seen enough. He breaks up the two fighters and stands them back up. Masseria gets a real talking to here and is lucky not to get a point deducted. Masseria apologises and we restart here on the feet.
Masseria tries to land a front kick but Ilisko steps back. That was a bit too telegraphed.
Ilisko tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Masseria moves into the clinch.

Masseria escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Alberts Ilisko has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ilisko dodges the punch combination from Masseria.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Masseria showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Masseria has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:25
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:26
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Masseria!