PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Timo Hirvikangas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and John Kicker (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). John Kicker is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Hirvikangas
vs
Kicker

175 cm
21
165 lbs
8 - 3 - 0

178 cm
24
160 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Good kicks
Powerful

Katukauppa.com

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the lightweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Timo Hirvikangas!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, John Kicker!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Hirvikangas shoots for a takedown but Kicker saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Kicker keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Hirvikangas.
Kicker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Hirvikangas connects with a lovely right hand, straight down the pipe.
Hirvikangas takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.

Kicker drives through and clinches with Hirvikangas against the cage.
Hirvikangas stalling against the cage.
Kicker throws an elbow that misses.
Hirvikangas fails to pull guard.
Kicker tries to land knees in the clinch but Hirvikangas avoids the damage to the body.
Kicker is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Hirvikangas is defending well for now.
Kicker holding his opponent close, against the cage.

Hirvikangas pulls guard effortlessly.

Hirvikangas has his foot on Kicker's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Kicker works his way back into a safe position though.
Hirvikangas is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
Kicker's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Hirvikangas trying to keep a closed guard but Kicker is proving a slippery customer.
Kicker wants to control from the top but Hirvikangas keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kicker wants to get up but he can't break Hirvikangas's closed guard. He needs to be careful trying to break the legs open, as he's open to submissions here.
Kicker controlling from the top position.
Kicker trying to control but Hirvikangas is working from the bottom.
Hirvikangas is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Hirvikangas thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Hirvikangas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kicker keeps working.
Hirvikangas wants to pass to mount but Kicker is defending the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kicker wants to control but Hirvikangas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Kicker tries to get to full guard but Hirvikangas has control of the leg.
Hirvikangas wants to pass the guard but Kicker is defending well.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hirvikangas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kicker keeps working.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Kicker goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Hirvikangas throws a right hand that Kicker ducks under and follows up with a left that Kicker also avoids with ease.
A head kick misses from Kicker.
Kicker misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Hirvikangas.
John Kicker seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Hirvikangas throws a series of punches but Kicker avoids them all with ease.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirvikangas smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Kicker tries to move into range but Hirvikangas moves to the side and lands with a nice right hand.
Hirvikangas swinging wildly here.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kicker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kicker fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kicker slips a jab from Hirvikangas.
Kicker misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Hirvikangas fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Kicker manages to avoid it.
Hirvikangas misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kicker misses with a double jab
and Hirvikangas cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Kicker tries to clinch
and Hirvikangas makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Kicker closes the distance looking to clinch

The fighters are starting to get sweaty, which will make takedowns a bit more tricky.
and Hirvikangas counters with a takedown into side control.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hirvikangas is looking to take a break and control but Kicker is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kicker is in a bad spot here and he knows it... just holding on for now.
Hirvikangas throwing shots but missing, from side control.
Hirvikangas sitting in side control, looking to soften his opponent up with elbows and hammerfists but Kicker is avoiding damage well and looking to escape the position.
Hirvikangas trying to control the position but Kicker is working away.
Kicker is trying to get back to half guard.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kicker can do anything to dispel that myth.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Hirvikangas 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.

Kicker defending well as Hirvikangas loads up on a big left hand.
Kicker takes one on the chin but keeps coming.
Kicker misses with a head kick.
Kicker looks to clinch
and Hirvikangas counters with a nice uppercut.
Kicker looks to clinch

and Hirvikangas counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kicker's guard now.
Hirvikangas won't allow Kicker to get back to his feet.
Hirvikangas working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Hirvikangas postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kicker wants to stand up but Hirvikangas is controlling him.
Kicker has his hands on Hirvikangas's head, controlling the position.
Kicker wants to control but Hirvikangas passes easily into half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Hirvikangas lands a nice short elbow.
Hirvikangas wants to free his trapped foot but Kicker is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Hirvikangas is working hard here to advance position.
Hirvikangas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kicker's head.
Hirvikangas works his foot free and advances to mount.
Hirvikangas unloads with some shots from mount but Kicker bucks and avoids them well.
Hirvikangas looking to control but Kicker is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two 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.
Kicker tries to hold on but Hirvikangas pushes him away.
Kicker manages to work a leg through to get back to half guard here. Good work there by Kicker, under a barage of strikes from Hirvikangas.
Kicker looks like he's trying to stand up.
Hirvikangas is thwarting Kicker's attempts to control the position.
Hirvikangas perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kicker is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kicker tries to clinch but Hirvikangas moves away

and Hirvikangas counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Kicker's guard now.
Kicker controls Hirvikangas momentarily but Hirvikangas frees himself.
Kicker keeping full guard, as Hirvikangas tries to pass.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kicker avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Hirvikangas wants to control from the top but Kicker keeps moving.
Hirvikangas passes Kicker's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Hirvikangas thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kicker's head.
Hirvikangas throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Hirvikangas throwing shots but Kicker is blocking nicely.
Kicker really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Hirvikangas. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Kicker lands with a head kick! That's gotta hurt.

It looks like Timo Hirvikangas has been cut.
Kicker avoids a punch combination nicely.
John Kicker is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kicker misses with a jab to the body

and Hirvikangas counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Hirvikangas.
Hirvikangas missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Hirvikangas pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kicker is keeping the position for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kicker looking to control but Hirvikangas passes into half guard.
Hirvikangas is pressing down on Kicker's thigh, looking to free his foot. Kicker is holding on for now.
Kicker tries to kick Hirvikangas off but Hirvikangas keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Kicker trying to hold on to Hirvikangas's head to control him but Hirvikangas postures up.
Kicker is looking to escape.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Hirvikangas misses with a double jab.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Hirvikangas dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Timo Hirvikangas's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kicker tries to clinch but Hirvikangas moves away
and Hirvikangas counters with a right hand to the body.
Hirvikangas connects with a right hand. Kicker shakes it off.
Hirvikangas shoots for a double leg takedown but Kicker sprawls well. He's pushed Hirvikangas's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Hirvikangas works the jab nicely.
Kicker throws and low kick but Hirvikangas moves out of range easily.
Kicker throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
A decent looking cross lands there for Hirvikangas.
Hirvikangas throws out a loose jab but Kicker uses good head movement to avoid it.
Hirvikangas circles away from the clinch attempt
enabling Hirvikangas to counter with a crisp jab.
Hirvikangas takes a swing at Kicker's ribcage but misses.
Hirvikangas blocks a head kick by Kicker.
Kicker connects with a solid leg kick.
Kicker throws a head kick but Hirvikangas moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kicker throws a lazy head kick

and Hirvikangas counters with a takedown into side control.
Kicker is trying to control Hirvikangas's posture but Hirvikangas avoids it.
Hirvikangas is putting a hurting on Kicker here, landing some big shots from side control.
A lull in the action here as Hirvikangas stalls from top position.
Hirvikangas throws an elbow but Kicker slips to the side and avoids it well.
Kicker is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Hirvikangas has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Kicker tries to get back to his feet but has found himself mounted instead. Damn, that's gotta suck.
Kicker is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kicker tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Kicker taking shots to the head.
Kicker really wants to buck Hirvikangas off and get back to his feet.
Kicker takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
A nice elbow there by Hirvikangas.
Hirvikangas fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Timo Hirvikangas overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Hirvikangas working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Hirvikangas with good strikes from the mount here!
Hirvikangas wants to control the pace but Kicker is squirming around nicely.
Hirvikangas looking to finish with strikes here!
Hirvikangas throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kicker is bucking up trying to escape but Hirvikangas cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Hirvikangas postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kicker looks a forlorn figure.
Hirvikangas working the ground and pound effectively.
Hirvikangas thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Kicker is in a horrible position here. Hirvikangas smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Hirvikangas is landing with some decent strikes but Kicker is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
A nice elbow there by Hirvikangas.
Hirvikangas wants to control the pace but Kicker is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kicker tries to lock up and control but Hirvikangas gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Hirvikangas lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kicker hang on?
Kicker regains half guard.
Kicker regains full guard. Nicely done.
Kicker looking for a sweep. Not yet Kicker, not yet.
Kicker working a defensive guard here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Hirvikangas wants to control from the top but Kicker keeps moving.
Kicker is pulling down on Hirvikangas's head to control his posture.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Timo Hirvikangas clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Timo Hirvikangas's cut.
That's time! Back to the action!

Kicker throws a lazy head kick
and Hirvikangas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Hirvikangas throws a leg kick
and Kicker counters with a head kick. That will keep Hirvikangas thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Hirvikangas jabbing away but nothing is landing.
Hirvikangas scores with a sloppy right hand. Kicker should have avoided that one.
Hirvikangas throws a jab when Kicker was well out of range.
Kicker looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Kicker instigates a clinch.
Kicker has a couple of punches blocked by Hirvikangas.
Kicker throws a knee to the head but misses.
Hirvikangas blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Kicker tries a knee to the head but Hirvikangas blocks it.
A head punch on the inside from Hirvikangas fails to land.
Kicker lands a nice knee to the body.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Hirvikangas.
Kicker with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kicker missing with knees to the body.
Kicker tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Kicker is absolutely dripping with sweat - he looks exhausted.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Hirvikangas creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Hirvikangas fails to land.
Hirvikangas scores with an uppercut up the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kicker has a couple of punches blocked by Hirvikangas.
A short right from Hirvikangas.
Hirvikangas working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Hirvikangas on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.

Hirvikangas breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A low kick from Kicker misses

and Hirvikangas counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kicker won't be happy with that.
Hirvikangas 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.
Hirvikangas lands a few punches from side control.
A control attempt from Kicker but he's now mounted!
Kicker is bucking up trying to escape but Hirvikangas cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Hirvikangas landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kicker holding onto his opponent's waist for dear life, as Hirvikangas tries to land some strikes to get him to release his grip.
Hirvikangas avoids the attempt from Kicker to control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kicker is trying desperately to improve position.
Hirvikangas looking to finish Kicker with some ground and pound. This is bad for Kicker!

Hirvikangas goes for an armbar but he's fallen flat on his backside there and now Kicker is on top in guard.
Kicker won't allow Hirvikangas to sweep him here.
Kicker sitting in guard here, content to control.
Hirvikangas wants to sweep but no luck.
Hirvikangas working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirvikangas tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Hirvikangas working for a triangle but Kicker defends it easily.
Kicker sitting in guard here, content to control.
Kicker must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Kicker stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Hirvikangas swivels though and keeps the full guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kicker throws a head kick that looked like it stung.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Both fighters circling a little - Kicker finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hirvikangas.
Kicker darts in trying to clinch
and Hirvikangas counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
John Kicker is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Nice body punch from Hirvikangas.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hirvikangas.
Kicker tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Kicker lands with a kick to the temple. Hirvikangas shrugs as if to say "is that all you've got?"
Kicker fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kicker tries a head kick but it misses.
Hirvikangas ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Hirvikangas takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close fourth round but I would say that Timo Hirvikangas will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Timo Hirvikangas's cut.
That's time! Hirvikangas's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Hirvikangas tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kicker was well out of range. Poor timing from Hirvikangas.
Nice uppercut there from Hirvikangas.
Kicker misses with an attempted mid kick.
Hirvikangas lands a vicious shot with the stealth of a sniper and the strength of a viper. Are vipers that strong? I can think of lots of things that are stronger than a viper - not many rhyme with sniper though.
Hirvikangas fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kicker looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Hirvikangas looks to score with a jab to the body but Kicker is just out of range.
Hirvikangas looks to throw the jab but Kicker is out of range.
Hirvikangas throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Kicker throws a head kick that misses.
Hirvikangas fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kicker looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Kicker misses with a kick to the body.

Hirvikangas shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hirvikangas is trying to control the action in half guard but Kicker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kicker is trying to get back to full guard.
Hirvikangas is trying to control the action in half guard but Kicker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
Kicker keeping control of the position.
Kicker wants to control but Hirvikangas is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Hirvikangas is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kicker is holding on to half guard well.
John Kicker has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

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.
Hirvikangas trying to control from half guard but Kicker is working away.
Kicker keeping control of the position.
Hirvikangas trying to control the action but Kicker is working from the bottom.
Hirvikangas is looking to advance position but Kicker won't allow it.
Kicker is looking for a sweep. Hirvikangas is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hirvikangas is trying to control the action in half guard but Kicker is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Nice takedown defense from Kicker. No joy for Hirvikangas on that attempt.

Hirvikangas closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kicker to the mat! Kicker manages to get full guard.
Hirvikangas prevents Kicker from getting back to his feet.
Hirvikangas preventing the sweep.
Kicker has control of Hirvikangas's left arm, preventing Hirvikangas from doing any damage.
Kicker looking to control.
Hirvikangas works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Timo Hirvikangas is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Hirvikangas frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kicker wants to control but Hirvikangas is having none of it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kicker is squirming around, avoiding Hirvikangas's attempts to control the action.
Kicker is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Hirvikangas sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Hirvikangas 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.
Hirvikangas tries to control but Kicker wriggling away.
Kicker regains half guard.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Kicker is looking to get back to full guard here but Hirvikangas has managed to pass to side control instead.

And that's the end of the fight!
Timo Hirvikangas showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hirvikangas, 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 49:46
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 50:46
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Timo Hirvikangas!
Timo Hirvikangas retains his lightweight title!