PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ica Paliki (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keijo Lerppa (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Paliki
vs
Lerppa

178 cm
18
205 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

210 cm
20
209 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Determined

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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ica Paliki!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Keijo Lerppa!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Paliki keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.

Paliki closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Paliki throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Paliki throwing shots but Lerppa is blocking nicely.
Paliki slips a nice elbow through Lerppa's hands, connecting with Lerppa's forehead.
Lerppa moves into full guard.

Paliki got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lerppa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Paliki has managed to get both his arms back between Lerppa's legs - danger averted.
Paliki with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Paliki might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Paliki won't allow Lerppa to sweep him here.
Paliki postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.

Lerppa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Paliki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Paliki manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.
Paliki tries to free his leg and advance position but Lerppa is retaining full guard.
Paliki trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Lerppa wants to sweep but no luck.

Lerppa has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Paliki can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.

Lerppa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Paliki defends well.
Lerppa looks gassed!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lerppa has momentary wrist control but Paliki slips an elbow through the middle.
Lerppa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Paliki!
Paliki is desperately trying to improve his position but Lerppa has a good base and remains in mount.

Lerppa is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Paliki has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Paliki!
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Paliki stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Lerppa swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Paliki lands a couple of decent looking shots.

Lerppa looking for a guillotine here but Paliki defends easily.
Paliki postures up and lands a big shot to Lerppa's brow.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Paliki works over Lerppa with some ground and pound from guard.
Paliki could do with loosing a few pounds - he looks very soft around the mid section, to put it politely.
Lerppa looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Paliki lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Paliki looking to pass the guard.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lerppa is on top in guard.
Lerppa throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Lerppa drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Paliki dives on top into guard.
Lerppa tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Paliki knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Lerppa on the ground.
Paliki is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Paliki postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.

Lerppa looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
Paliki works over Lerppa with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paliki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Paliki distracts Lerppa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Lerppa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Paliki defends it easily.

Lerppa throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Lerppa looking for a guillotine here but Paliki defends easily.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Paliki's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Lerppa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Paliki lands a couple of digs.

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.
Paliki landing some decent shots from guard.

Lerppa looking for a guillotine here but Paliki defends easily.
Paliki postures up and lands a big shot to Lerppa's brow.

Lerppa looking for a guillotine here but Paliki defends easily.

Lerppa has his foot on Paliki's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Paliki works his way back into a safe position though.
Paliki lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.

Lerppa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Lerppa is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Paliki makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.

Lerppa is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Paliki defends well.
Paliki postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Ica Paliki will probably get the nod.
That's time! Paliki's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Paliki shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Lerppa manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Lerppa lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Paliki!
Paliki is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Lerppa sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Paliki is trying to escape but when you're mounted that's not too easy.
Lerppa throwing strikes here but Paliki is writhing around nicely and avoiding any serious damage.

Lerppa is working for a guillotine from mount but Paliki frees his head quite easily.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lerppa misses with a head shot.
Paliki wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Lerppa.

Paliki defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Lerppa.
Paliki tries to hold on but Lerppa pushes him away.
Ica Paliki overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Lerppa fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!

Lerppa is looking to secure an arm. He's managed it! He's pivoting for an armbar - that looks tight! But Paliki has managed to get out of it and now he's in a dominant position. Nice work from Paliki!
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lerppa is on top in guard.
Lerppa throws and elbow that misses. Paliki uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Lerppa's guard. Nice move by Paliki!
Paliki distracts Lerppa with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Paliki got a little sloppy there for a moment and Lerppa has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Paliki has managed to get both his arms back between Lerppa's legs - danger averted.
Paliki is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Paliki postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Lerppa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Paliki works over Lerppa with some ground and pound from guard.

Paliki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.

Lerppa looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Paliki avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Lerppa is on top in guard.

Lerppa thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Lerppa lands a couple of digs.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Lerppa in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Lerppa throwing strikes from guard but Paliki blocks nicely.

Lerppa is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.

Lerppa drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Paliki dives on top into guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Keijo Lerppa showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Lerppa gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Paliki to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Paliki landing with the ground and pound.

Lerppa had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Paliki defends it easily.
Lerppa keeping full guard, as Paliki tries to pass.

Lerppa working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Paliki doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Lerppa is tightening it up a little... Paliki has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Paliki reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Paliki taps out! nice BJJ there by Lerppa!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:54 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Keijo Lerppa!