PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Lisandro Licha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Veli Pirinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Licha comes to the cage accompanied by In Bloom. The fight MMA fans around the world have waited their entire lives for!

Licha
vs
Pirinen

181 cm
21
180 lbs
6 - 4 - 0

192 cm
19
180 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

BJJ Brown Belt
Excellent boxer
Big right hand

BJJ Brown Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Full Metal Gear (Top Quality, Low Price)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Lisandro Licha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Veli Pirinen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
An inside leg kick lands from Pirinen.
Licha looks to throw the jab but Pirinen is out of range.
A solid leg kick lands there for Pirinen.
Lisandro Licha seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Pirinen darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.
Pirinen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Licha looks like he's trying to stand up.
Licha wants to control but Pirinen is keeping busy.
Pirinen trying to advance position but Licha counters by regaining guard.
Pirinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Licha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Pirinen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Licha is keeping the position for now.
Licha might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Pirinen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Pirinen controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Pirinen won't allow Licha to sweep him here.
Licha wants to get back to his feet but Pirinen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Pirinen stopping the sweep attempt from Licha.

Pirinen 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.
Pirinen passes easily into side control. Nice work.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two 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.

Pirinen looking for an arm triangle but it's way too loose to do anything.
Licha is looking for a sweep.
Pirinen has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Pirinen fails to take his opponent's back.
Licha tries to reverse the position but Pirinen maintains control.
Pirinen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Licha is looking to escape.
You get the feeling that Licha really doesn't like being in this position too much.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pirinen controlling his opponent.
You get the feeling that Licha really doesn't like being in this position too much.
Licha has given up his back. Will we see Pirinen going for some submissions?
Will Pirinen go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?

Pirinen is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Licha defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Pirinen is persistently looking for the submission but Licha is defending it well.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Licha is trying to get back to his feet but Pirinen has full control of the position and if anything, Licha has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Pirinen is remaining active here, looking for the choke. The more discerning members of the crowd will appreciate his efforts.
What can Licha do to escape this position? He's going to have to figure it out pretty quick if he wants to stay in the fight!
Licha rolls, trying to escape but Pirinen keeps control of the position.
Licha is trying to get back to his feet but he's not managed it yet.

Pirinen looking for the choke from the back.
Licha controlling the position well but he knows he's in a bad position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Veli Pirinen dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Pirinen has closed the distance and engaged Licha in a clinch.
Licha avoids a wild elbow strike from Pirinen.
Pirinen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Licha is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.

Pirinen manages to pull guard.
Licha tries to free his leg and advance position but Pirinen is retaining full guard.
Licha stopping the sweep attempt from Pirinen.
Licha tries to stand but Pirinen is controlling from the bottom.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Licha wants to pass the guard but Pirinen is keeping the position.

Pirinen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Licha drops back, looking for a kneebar! Pirinen looks panicked! The fighters roll across the mat, one looking to finish, one looking to escape. Pirinen looks to have wriggled free... Yes, he's got his leg free and he's dived into side control! Good work there from Pirinen!

Pirinen tries for a kimura but Licha is defending well.
Licha tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Pirinen wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.

Pirinen tries for an arm triangle. That looks pretty tight to me. Is this one over!?! Possibly, maybe, no Pirinen has let go of the choke. Obviously it wasn't as tight as we thought!
Pirinen has knee on belly and moves into mount.
Pirinen controlling the position easily from mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Pirinen wants to control the action but instead Licha gets a body lock and reverses into Pirinen's guard! Nice work!

Licha drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Pirinen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Licha has Pirinen in his guard.

Pirinen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Licha dives on top into guard.

Pirinen is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Licha is aware though and is defending well.

Pirinen has his foot on Licha's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Licha works his way back into a safe position though.
Licha sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Pirinen's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pirinen avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Licha.
Pirinen keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Licha throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Licha sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Pirinen defending well though.
Licha is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Pirinen is trying to control but can't.

Pirinen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Licha pulls his head out easily.
Pirinen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Pirinen.
Licha landing some decent shots from guard.

Pirinen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Pirinen is breathing heavily.
Licha wants to stand but Pirinen has a closed guard, so he can't escape.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pirinen not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.

Pirinen looking for a guillotine here but Licha defends easily.
Licha wants to pass the guard but Pirinen is keeping the position.
Licha advances position into side control!
Licha laying and praying for a moment but Pirinen takes advantage and regains half guard.
Pirinen trying to control but Licha postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Veli Pirinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

A low kick from Licha misses
and Pirinen counters with a low kick, right behind Licha 's knee.

Pirinen closes the distance and pushes Licha back into the cage.
Pirinen is stalling here.
Licha managing to block the knees to the body from Pirinen.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Pirinen.
Licha has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Pirinen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Pirinen trying to land knees to the body.
Pirinen throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Pirinen taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Licha takes an elbow to the forehead.
Pirinen prevents Licha from breaking the clinch.
Pirinen tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Pirinen keeps the fight in the clinch, despite Licha's efforts to push away.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Pirinen taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Licha blocks the elbow strike.
Pirinen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Licha.
Pirinen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Pirinen taking a break, stalling in the clinch.
Pirinen misses with an elbow strike.
Pirinen slows down the pace here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
With the fighters up against the cage, Pirinen throws an elbow but misses.
Licha tries to break the clinch but Pirinen is controlling the position.
Pirinen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Licha has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Licha wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Pirinen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Licha.
The referee calls for Pirinen to work.
Pirinen takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Licha blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Pirinen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Licha is looking to break free of the clinch but Pirinen has double underhooks.
A frustrated look appears on Licha's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Pirinen trying to land knees to the body.
Pirinen lands a nice elbow.
Licha tries to circle away but Pirinen has him pinned against the cage.
Licha on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Pirinen stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
Licha avoiding damage as Pirinen throws knees to the body.
Pirinen creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Pirinen looking to stall.

Licha breaks the clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Licha digs a good body shot into Pirinen's ribs.
Licha tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Pirinen was well out of range. Poor timing from Licha.
Licha ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Licha darts in and out, connecting with a jab.
Licha thows a body shot but no joy.
Licha connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Pirinen's hands.
Licha circles away from the clinch attempt.
Licha scores with a hook.
Licha fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Licha shoots in but no luck this time.

Pirinen clinches.
Licha blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Pirinen has Licha pressed against the cage, preventing Licha from circling away and getting back to striking at range.
Pirinen'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.
Pirinen lands an elbow just above Licha 's eye.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Pirinen tries to pull guard but Licha holds him up against the cage and eventually Pirinen drops back down to his feet.
Pirinen lands an elbow that stopped Licha in his tracks for a moment.
Licha is looking to break free of the clinch but Pirinen has double underhooks.
Pirinen misses with a knee strike.
Pirinen prevents Licha from breaking the clinch.
Licha wants to get back to striking at distance but Pirinen won't allow it.
Pirinen fails to pull guard.
Lisandro Licha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Veli Pirinen.

Pirinen pulls guard.
Licha looking to sit in guard and control but Pirinen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
Veli Pirinen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Pirinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Licha is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Licha wants to get back to his feet but Pirinen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Pirinen passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Pirinen is keen to just control but Licha is a slippery customer.
Pirinen has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Pirinen has hold of Licha's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Licha manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.

Pirinen is working for a guillotine from mount but Licha frees his head quite easily.
Pirinen wants to control the pace but Licha is squirming around nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Lisandro Licha showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Pirinen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight for Veli Pirinen!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Veli Pirinen!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Veli Pirinen!

Veli Pirinen wins by unanimous decision!