PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Kimmo Kivipaa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilkka Laitinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kivipaa comes to the cage accompanied by Kivipää. Laitinen has chosen AC/DC - Thunderstruck as his entrance music. Both these guys have solid standup skills and neither is particularly fantastic on the ground, so let's hope for a nice standup war!

Kivipaa
vs
Laitinen

180 cm
22
158 lbs
9 - 2 - 0

177 cm
22
164 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very strong

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™
MADE IN GERMANY

Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™
Fight Club Clothing Helsinki™

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 9 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kimmo Kivipaa!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilkka Laitinen!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laitinen getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Laitinen misses with a straight left.
Laitinen misses with a body shot.
Kivipaa scoring well with a low kick there.

Kivipaa closes the distance and pushes Laitinen back into the cage.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kivipaa.

Kivipaa breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Kivipaa lands a jab to the head.
A punch combination from Laitinen misses.
Laitinen missing with a left hand there. Kivipaa was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Laitinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kivipaa.
Kivipaa slips under a jab.
Laitinen misses with an uppercut.
Kivipaa connects with a looping right hand.
Nice shot by Laitinen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laitinen looks to land a right hand but Kivipaa moved out of range.
Laitinen thows a body shot but no joy.
Kimmo Kivipaa seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
A big right from Kivipaa misses.
Kivipaa throws a quick head kick that skims the top of Laitinen's head.
Laitinen throws a jab when Kivipaa was well out of range.
Laitinen misses with a series of wild punches.
Laitinen misses with a wild combination.
Kivipaa lands a jab to the nose.
Kivipaa is looking to clinch but Laitinen is avoiding it.
Kivipaa throws a low kick, looking for Laitinen's leg but Laitinen calmly moves out of range.
Kivipaa misses with a body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kivipaa tries to clinch there but Laitinen circles away.
The fight stays on the outside here - Kivipaa looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Laitinen looks to throw the jab but Kivipaa is out of range.
Kivipaa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Laitinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kivipaa misses the jab.
Laitinen throws a looping overhand right but Kivipaa ducks down to avoid it.
Kivipaa throws a combination that misses
and Laitinen counters with a thumping low kick.
Kivipaa tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Laitinen paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Kivipaa throws a shot from downtown. Laitinen moves away and avoids it.
Kivipaa misses with a body kick.
Laitinen keeps the fight on the outside.
Laitinen swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Kivipaa counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Laitinen thinking.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivipaa lunges in with swinging rights and lefts but Laitinen circles away quickly and effectively.
Kivipaa tries to close the distance and clinch but Laitinen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Laitinen looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.

Kivipaa clinches.
Laitinen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
A nice right hand lands inside from Kivipaa.
Laitinen takes a shot to the head.
Laitinen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Laitinen misses with some punches.

Kivipaa escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
A big right from Laitinen misses.
Laitinen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Kivipaa.
A jab from Kivipaa misses.
Kivipaa misses with a straight right.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Nice shot lands for Kivipaa.

Kivipaa moves into range and clinches up with Laitinen.
Kivipaa misses with a hook to the ribs.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Kivipaa.
The referee is keeping an eye on Laitinen - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Laitinen lands a body punch.
Kivipaa being controlled against the cage.
Laitinen is trying to maintain a safe position but Kivipaa gets an underhook and turns Laitinen into the cage.
A nice left hand lands by Kivipaa.
Kivipaa is struggling to control the position.
Laitinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kivipaa lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Laitinen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kivipaa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Kivipaa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Kivipaa looks to land a right hand but Laitinen moved out of range.

Kivipaa moves into the clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kimmo Kivipaa dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Laitinen thuds a left hand into Kivipaa's body.
Kivipaa throws a nice looking combination but Laitinen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kivipaa misses with a straight right.
A slow jab from Laitinen misses its intended target.
A looping hook to the body misses from Laitinen. Kivipaa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kivipaa uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Laitinen.
Kivipaa uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Kivipaa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Laitinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Laitinen swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Laitinen is looking to score with low kicks.
Laitinen's corner calls for a 1,2 combination and Laitinen duly obliges.

It looks like Kimmo Kivipaa has been cut.
Kivipaa swings away but doesn't land with a series of punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivipaa misses with a body shot.
Kivipaa tries to bum rush Laitinen with a series of wild strikes but Laitinen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Laitinen lands a right hook to the body.
Kivipaa has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Kivipaa takes one to the chin there.
Laitinen throws a series of punches but Kivipaa moves out of range.
Kivipaa tries to clinch there but Laitinen circles away.
Laitinen moves in looking to clinch but Kivipaa pushes him off.
Laitinen circles away from the clinch attempt.
Kivipaa is looking to clinch but Laitinen is avoiding it.
Kivipaa misses with an uppercut.
Laitinen 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.

The fight moves into the clinch position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen lands with a short shot to the head.
Laitinen blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Nice body punch from Kivipaa.
Laitinen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kivipaa is leaning against Laitinen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Laitinen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Kivipaa fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Nice body punch from Laitinen.
Kivipaa misses with some punches.
Laitinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Nice body punch from Kivipaa.
A body shot lands from Kivipaa.
Laitinen throws a head punch that misses.
Kivipaa wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Laitinen lands a body punch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Laitinen lands with a short shot to the head.
Kivipaa is working Laitinen over against the cage.
Kivipaa swings wildly with an uppercut but Laitinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kivipaa working aggressively here.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Kivipaa works on Laitinen's body with a couple of short punches.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivipaa scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Laitinen swings wildly with an uppercut but Kivipaa uses good head movement to avoid it.
Laitinen cracks Kivipaa with a nice body shot.
Kivipaa lands a shoulder strike.
A right hand to the body from Kivipaa.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kivipaa.
Laitinen is breathing heavily.
Kivipaa lands a right hand.
Kivipaa lands a body punch.
A shot in the inside from Laitinen.

Kivipaa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Laitinen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Laitinen tries to clinch up but Kivipaa circles away and keeps his distance.
Kivipaa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Laitinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Laitinen tries to keep at a distance but Kivipaa has taken the fight into the clinch.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Kivipaa.
Kivipaa throws a punch but it's blocked by Laitinen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen misses with a hook to the ribs.
Laitinen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.

Kivipaa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kivipaa keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kivipaa wants to clinch up but Laitinen keeps it at a distance.
Laitinen throws a predictable looking body shot
letting Kivipaa counter with a right hand.
Kimmo Kivipaa is winning the standup battle so far.
Kivipaa throws a looping overhand right but Laitinen ducks down to avoid it.
Kivipaa on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kimmo Kivipaa is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Kivipaa throws a jab but it's blocked by Laitinen.
Laitinen throws a hook but Kivipaa blocks it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kivipaa misses with a wild combination.
Kivipaa scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close second round but I would say that Kimmo Kivipaa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kimmo Kivipaa's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Laitinen misses with a body shot.
Kivipaa throws the left hand but Laitinen avoids the punch easily.
Laitinen slips a jab from Kivipaa.
Kivipaa takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.
Kivipaa misses with a double jab
and Laitinen counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kivipaa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Kivipaa misses with a series of wild punches.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kivipaa slips under a jab.
Kivipaa avoids the body shot from Laitinen.
Kivipaa scores with a hook to the body. Laitinen takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivipaa digs a good body shot into Laitinen's ribs.
Laitinen misses with a wild body shot.
Kivipaa throws a jab but it's blocked by Laitinen.
Kivipaa lands a two punch combo.
Laitinen slips a jab and a cross from Kivipaa.
Laitinen with poor footwork there. He got himself in a bit of a tangle, enabling Kivipaa to score with a decent uppercut.
Kivipaa throws a sloppy body shot
and Laitinen counters with a nice uppercut.
Laitinen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

Kivipaa instigates a clinch.
Kivipaa lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Kivipaa lands on the inside with an uppercut.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Laitinen.
Laitinen misses with a punch to the body.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Laitinen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Kivipaa is keeping busy.
Laitinen stalling.
Kivipaa lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Laitinen throws a head punch that misses.
Laitinen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Kivipaa pushes Laitinen back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Kivipaa misses with a short punch on the inside.
Laitinen misses with a punch on the inside.
Laitinen working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Laitinen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Kivipaa softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Kivipaa lands a body shot.
Laitinen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kivipaa scores with a nice hook to the head.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Kivipaa has Laitinen pressed against the cage, preventing Laitinen from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Kivipaa blocks a couple of punches on the inside.
Kivipaa misses with a punch on the inside.

Kivipaa breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Kivipaa throws a series of punches but Laitinen moves out of range.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivipaa closes the distance but Laitinen moves to the side

and Laitinen counters by moving into the clinch.
Kivipaa swings wildly with an uppercut but Laitinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kivipaa throws a head punch that misses.
A short uppercut from Laitinen.
Kivipaa swings wildly with an uppercut but Laitinen uses good head movement to avoid it.
Kivipaa stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Kivipaa presses Laitinen against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kivipaa lands a right hand that snaps the head of Laitinen backwards.
Kivipaa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Kivipaa lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Laitinen backwards.
Kivipaa throws a punch but it's blocked by Laitinen.
Kivipaa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Kivipaa lands a right hand.
Kivipaa misses with the head strike.
Kivipaa lands a left hand.
Laitinen tries a body shot but Kivipaa blocks it.
Laitinen taking a breather.
Laitinen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kivipaa working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kivipaa scores with an uppercut up the middle.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Kivipaa misses with a punch on the inside.
Laitinen blocks a punch to the side of the head.
Kivipaa scores with a shoulder strike.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Laitinen as Kivipaa tries to tie him up.
Kimmo Kivipaa has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Laitinen's head jolts backwards as he takes an uppercut right on the button!
Kivipaa working aggressively here.

Kivipaa breaks the clinch.

Kivipaa closes the distance and clinches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kivipaa lands a right hand.
Kivipaa cracks Laitinen with a nice body shot.
Kivipaa working some nice short punches in the clinch.
Laitinen presses Kivipaa against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Kivipaa lands a shot to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Kivipaa lands a shot to the body.

Kivipaa breaks the clinch.
Kivipaa dips to his left and cracks Laitinen with an uppercut!
Kivipaa tries to clinch but Laitinen is having none of it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kimmo Kivipaa clearly takes that round.
The cut man is working on Kimmo Kivipaa's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Kivipaa scores with a hook.
Laitinen moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Kivipaa throws a combination that misses
and Laitinen cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Laitinen slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.
Kivipaa lands a nice hook to Laitinen's body. Laitinen takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.
Laitinen tests Kivipaa's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Kivipaa fails in his attempt to clinch.
Kivipaa moves in looking to clinch but Laitinen pushes him off.
Laitinen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Laitinen misses with a body shot.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivipaa throws a series of punches but Laitinen moves out of range.
Kivipaa just misses with a punch to the body.
Laitinen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Laitinen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Laitinen moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Laitinen lands a slapping body shot.
Laitinen slips under a jab.
Laitinen walks into a jab.
Kivipaa tries to clinch but Laitinen moves out of range.
Kivipaa tries to clinch but Laitinen is having none of it.
Kivipaa waving his hands out in front of him, looking to distract Laitinen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Laitinen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kivipaa.
Kivipaa tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kivipaa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Laitinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kivipaa falls off balance throwing a combination
enabling Laitinen to counter with a crisp jab.
A slow jab from Kivipaa misses its intended target.
The fight stays on the outside here - Laitinen looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Laitinen misses with a looping right.
Kivipaa fails with an attempt to clinch.
Laitinen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Laitinen keeps the fight on the outside.
Kivipaa throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
Kivipaa rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Laitinen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Laitinen looks to score with a jab to the body but Kivipaa is just out of range.
Kivipaa blocks a jab.
Kivipaa throws a hook but Laitinen blocks it.
Laitinen moves forwards but Kivipaa connects with a nice, crisp jab.
Laitinen comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Kivipaa slips a jab from Laitinen.
Laitinen throws a hook to the side of Kivipaa's head but Kivipaa sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen swats away the attempt to clinch by Kivipaa.
Kivipaa tries to clinch but Laitinen is having none of it.
Laitinen avoids a punch combination nicely.
Kivipaa looks to land a right hand but Laitinen moved out of range.
Kivipaa tries to clinch up.
Kivipaa misses with an attempted mid kick.
Kivipaa connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
A telegraphed right hand from Kivipaa misses the target.
Laitinen needs to keep his hands up - Kivipaa had a free shot at his head there.
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 Kimmo Kivipaa will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Kimmo Kivipaa's cut.
That's time! Kivipaa's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

A looping hook to the body misses from Laitinen. Kivipaa does a little dance to reset his feet.
Kivipaa slips a straight right by Laitinen.
Kivipaa tries to clinch but Laitinen moves away
and Laitinen counters with a straight right hand.
Laitinen throws an overhand right that lands on Kivipaa's shoulder, as Kivipaa tries to avoid the shot.
Laitinen misses the shot to the body.
Kivipaa dodges the punch combination from Laitinen.
Laitinen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Kivipaa was well out of range. Poor timing from Laitinen.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Kivipaa tries to close the distance and clinch up but Laitinen swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kivipaa darts in trying to clinch
and Laitinen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kivipaa moves away from the strike by Laitinen.
Kivipaa will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Kivipaa tries a head kick but it misses.
Kivipaa uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Laitinen.
Laitinen keeps the fight on the outside.
Laitinen misses with an uppercut.
Kivipaa throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Kivipaa lands with an overhand left.

Kivipaa fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Laitinen, pushing him back against the cage.
Laitinen is trying to stall.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kivipaa tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Laitinen throws a head punch that misses.
Laitinen misses with a punch to the body.
Kivipaa prevents a body shot from Laitinen.

Kivipaa pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Laitinen takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Laitinen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kivipaa throws a head kick but Laitinen moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Kivipaa lands an impressive looking overhand right. Laitinen doesn't seem phased though.
Laitinen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Kivipaa.
Laitinen circles away from the clinch attempt
and Laitinen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Ilkka Laitinen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kivipaa walks into a stiff left hand from Laitinen.
Laitinen dodges the punch combination from Kivipaa.
Laitinen throws a body punch but Kivipaa moves out of range.
Kivipaa defending well as Laitinen loads up on a big left hand.
Kivipaa steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Laitinen.
Laitinen ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Laitinen loads up on a big right hand but Kivipaa slips the punch.
Laitinen lands with a nice body punch.
Kivipaa misses with a straight right.
Laitinen dodges the punch combination from Kivipaa.
Kimmo Kivipaa is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Kivipaa is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Kivipaa does a little shimmy and throws a leg kick. The leg kick missed by a considerable margin though, making him look a little bit silly for doing the shimmy.
Kivipaa tries to clinch up but Laitinen circles away and keeps his distance.
Laitinen swings wildly with a right hand that was never going to find it's target.
Kivipaa thows a left - swing and a miss!
Laitinen misses with a wild combination.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
Kivipaa scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Laitinen takes one to the side of the head.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Kimmo Kivipaa.
Well Kivipaa 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 50:45
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 49:46
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 50:45

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kimmo Kivipaa!
Kimmo Kivipaa retains his lightweight title!