PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Mika Soutukorva (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Santi Jimara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The crowd seem to be enjoying Jimara's choice of entrance music: Killing in the name. . Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Soutukorva
vs
Jimara

177 cm
27
160 lbs
5 - 4 - 0

177 cm
23
167 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Good chin

Good wrestler
Excellent MT
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mika Soutukorva!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Santi Jimara!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Soutukorva shoots for a takedown but Jimara saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.

Soutukorva gets a double leg takedown into Jimara's guard.
Jimara 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.
Soutukorva thows a big elbow that misses.
Soutukorva preventing the sweep.
Soutukorva is fighting to break Jimara's control of his arms but Jimara is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Jimara avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Jimara wants to get back to his feet but Soutukorva is in a dominant position and won't allow it.
Soutukorva being controlled here momentarily.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Jimara has momentary wrist control but Soutukorva slips an elbow through the middle.
Jimara wants to sweep but no luck.
Jimara working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Soutukorva.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jimara is on top in guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jimara stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Soutukorva swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Jimara engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
Jimara must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Jimara trying to stand up but can't free himself from Soutukorva's guard.
Jimara slips nicely into half guard.
Jimara stalling.

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.
Soutukorva wants to get back to his feet.
Jimara tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Soutukorva.
Soutukorva has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jimara is working away from the top position though.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Jimara falls off balance throwing a combination

and Soutukorva counters with a nice double leg into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Jimara trying to control but Soutukorva postures up.
Jimara keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Jimara is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Soutukorva's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Soutukorva's back!
Jimara really has the hooks in deep now - there seems like no escape for Soutukorva.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jimara's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

Jimara looking for the choke but no joy.
Jimara slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
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 Mika Soutukorva will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Jimara throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Soutukorva.
Jimara leaves Soutukorva with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Jimara connects with a slap. Keep your fist closed son.
Soutukorva avoids the body shot from Jimara.
Soutukorva takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Jimara misses with a leg kick.
A slapping leg kick lands for Jimara.
Jimara misses with a lunging right hand

and Soutukorva counters by moving into the clinch.
Soutukorva on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Soutukorva tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Jimara smiles and moves away.
Jimara throws a jab when Soutukorva was well out of range.
Jimara misses with a straight right.
Soutukorva closes the distance and clinches up with Jimara, looking for a takedown. Soutukorva pushes Jimara against the cage but Jimara circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mika Soutukorva. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Jimara shuffles to his left behind two crisp jabs. Soutukorva eats them both and turns towards Jimara to reposition himself and eats a stinging right hand-left hook combo.
Jimara connects with a looping left hand that seems like it dazed Soutukorva momentarily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jimara throws a left and a right that both miss

and Soutukorva counters by clinching up.
Jimara misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Soutukorva.
Soutukorva has a body lock and is looking for a takedown. Jimara is bouncing around trying to prevent the takedown and somehow he has indeed managed to stay on his feet.
Jimara lands with a right to the head.
Soutukorva using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Jimara has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Jimara misses with a short punch on the inside.
A short right from Jimara.
Soutukorva is trying to drag Jimara to the mat but Jimara just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Jimara.
A head punch on the inside from Jimara fails to land.
Jimara swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Jimara lands a hook that snaps the head of Soutukorva backwards.

Jimara breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Jimara loads up on a big right hand but Soutukorva slips the punch.
Jimara misses with a left hand

and Soutukorva counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Soutukorva thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Jimara's head.
Jimara is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jimara looks like he's trying to stand up.
Soutukorva landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Soutukorva throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

Jimara makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Soutukorva takes one on the button.
Soutukorva looks for a takedown but Jimara sprawls well.
Soutukorva shoots in looking for a takedown but Jimara manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Soutukorva's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Jimara throws a head kick that misses

and Soutukorva counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jimara utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Soutukorva 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.
Jimara looking for a sweep. Not yet Jimara, not yet.
Jimara is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Jimara is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Jimara is taking a breather. Soutukorva 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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Jimara postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Soutukorva to stand up.
Soutukorva ducks under a wild hook from Jimara.
Soutukorva displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Jimara throws out the jab.
Soutukorva checks a leg kick nicely.
Soutukorva gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Soutukorva staying out of range there.
Soutukorva takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Jimara misses.
Jimara lands with a cross.
Jimara throws a leg kick but Soutukorva checks it.
Jimara tries a head kick but it misses.
Santi Jimara seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Jimara throws a low kick, looking for Soutukorva's leg but Soutukorva calmly moves out of range.
Soutukorva takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Sloppy strikes from Jimara. Those never looked like landing.
Soutukorva takes a shot right to the bread basket.
Jimara throws out a loose jab but Soutukorva uses good head movement to avoid it.
Jimara thows a left - swing and a miss!
Jimara connects with an inside leg kick.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
A low kick from Jimara is predictable there

and Soutukorva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Jimara is looking to break free of the clinch but Soutukorva has double underhooks.

Soutukorva breaks the clinch.
Jimara throws an ugly left hook that misses

and Soutukorva counters with a nice double leg into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Soutukorva trying to control the position from guard on top but Jimara is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Santi Jimara showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! This is the final round!

Soutukorva on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Jimara throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Jimara lands with a right hand.
Nice body punch from Jimara.
Jimara misses the shot to the body.
Jimara throws a lazy body kick

and Soutukorva holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Jimara misses with a hook from the clinch.
Jimara working aggressively here.
Jimara throws a blind hook that connects with the side of Soutukorvas head.
A body shot lands from Jimara.
Jimara lands a right uppercut that snaps the head of Soutukorva backwards.
Jimara tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

Jimara pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Jimara is looking to slow Soutukorva down with leg kicks.
Jimara throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Soutukorva counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Soutukorva with a flurry of punches that miss.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Jimara is on top in guard.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Jimara won't allow Soutukorva to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jimara slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
The referee must be thinking about standing these guys back up.

Soutukorva scrambles and gets back to his feet.
Jimara throws a hard body shot but it just misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Jimara fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Soutukorva on the side of the head.
Jimara throws a body kick, spinning off balance

and Soutukorva counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Jimara wants to get back to full guard.
Jimara keeping control of the position.
Jimara is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Soutukorva wants to pass to mount but Jimara is defending the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jimara blocking the ground and pound attempt from Soutukorva.
Jimara is trying to get back to full guard.
Jimara avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Soutukorva.

Soutukorva decides to stand and escape the position.
Jimara connects with a body shot.
Jimara misses with a hook

and Soutukorva counters with a takedown into full mount! That could mean trouble for Jimara!
Jimara is wriggling around trying to escape.
Mika Soutukorva overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Jimara is trying to stand.
Jimara is in all sorts of trouble here.
Jimara tries to buck Soutukorva off but he can't manage it.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Soutukorva.
Soutukorva looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Soutukorva tries to control but Jimara wriggling away.
Soutukorva landing punches.
Soutukorva looking to ground and pound but Jimara is blocking nicely.
Jimara really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Jimara is bucking up trying to escape but Soutukorva cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Soutukorva wants to control the pace but Jimara is squirming around nicely.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Jimara keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Jimara tries to buck Soutukorva off but he can't manage it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mika Soutukorva showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Soutukorva has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

The fight is ruled a draw!