PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kaarlo Vihtala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Matto Monni (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Vihtala's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Pohjois-Karjala. Monni has chosen Focus - Hocus Pocus as his entrance music. This should be a great matchup!

Vihtala
vs
Monni

202 cm
24
286 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

188 cm
29
225 lbs
14 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Decent boxing
Powerful

Perkele!
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kaarlo Vihtala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Matto Monni!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Monni gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Vihtala lands a hook to the body. It's hard to tell if that hurt Monni or not.
Monni goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vihtala prevents it.
Monni trying to stall but Vihtala improves his position.
Vihtala scores with a knee to the head.

It looks like Matto Monni has been cut.
Vihtala stops a takedown attempt from Monni.
Monni looks gassed!
Vihtala pushes Monni back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Vihtala working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Monni is trying to force a seperation but Vihtala has the dominant position.
Vihtala has Monni pressed against the cage.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Monni misses with some punches.
Vihtala presses Monni against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Vihtala lands with a short head shot on the inside.
Vihtala with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Monni fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Kaarlo Vihtala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Matto Monni.
A real battle for position is taking place between these two warriors.
Vihtala stalling the fight.
Vihtala lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Vihtala stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Vihtala scores with a shoulder strike.
Vihtala lands a body shot in the clinch.
Vihtala scores with a knee to the head.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vihtala with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Vihtala working on landing some head shots here - that one got through nicely.
Vihtala scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Vihtala lands with a light punch inside.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Vihtala lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!

Monni is rocked!
Vihtala presses Monni against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Vihtala lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
Monni is still on wobbly legs! Can Vihtala finish him?
Vihtala has Monni pressed against the cage.
Monni seems to have recovered his senses.
Monni tries to pull guard but Vihtala won't allow it.
Vihtala misses with a knee to the head.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Monni.
Monni tries for a takedown. No joy.
Nice body punch from Vihtala.
A short body shot lands from Vihtala as the two fighters clinch.
A knee to the head by Vihtala.
Vihtala pushes Monni back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Vihtala pushes Monni back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Still in the clinch, Vihtala scores with a nice short uppercut.
Vihtala lands a knee to the head.
Vihtala with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
A body shot lands from Vihtala.
Knees in the clinch landing for Vihtala.
Vihtala with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Monni fails to pull guard.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Vihtala obliges.
A short left from Vihtala.
Vihtala landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Vihtala just leaning against Monni, taking a breather.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Vihtala has Monni pushed against the cage.
Vihtala looking to throw knees to the head but Monni is blocking nicely.
Monni swings wildly with an uppercut but Vihtala uses good head movement to avoid it.
Vihtala taking a breather.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vihtala lands a body punch.
Vihtala landing knees to the head.
Vihtala tries a knee to the head but Monni blocks it.
Monni scores with a shoulder strike.
Monni goes for a takedown in the clinch but Vihtala prevents it.
Monni lands a left hand.
Vihtala can't find room to land a body shot as Monni controls the action.
Monni drops down looking for an ankle pick but Vihtala pulls his leg out and moves away.
Monni shoots in but doesn't get the takedown

and Vihtala counters with a nice double leg into side control. Monni won't be happy with that.
Vihtala working the head with strikes.
Monni tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee asks Vihtala politely if he wouldn't mind getting on with it and actually doing something. Vihtala prefers to stall for the moment though.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Vihtala wants to control but Monni is keeping him busy.
Vihtala wants to take a breather but Monni manages to regain guard - a lesson learnt for Vihtala.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaarlo Vihtala dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Matto Monni's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Monni misses with a takedown

and Vihtala counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Monni's guard now.
Monni has a butterfly guard looking to sweep but Vihtala has passed into side control.
Monni is looking for a sweep.
Vihtala will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Monni is looking to slip a leg under and get half guard but Vihtala is one step ahead and moves to full mount!

Vihtala goes for an armbar but he's not got it… Monni turns into him and now he's in Vihtala's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Monni trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Vihtala is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Monni stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Vihtala swivels though and keeps the full guard.

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

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Vihtala stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Monni swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Monni working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Vihtala.
Vihtala looking to pass the guard.

Monni has his foot on Vihtala's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vihtala works his way back into a safe position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Monni has his foot on Vihtala's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Vihtala works his way back into a safe position though.
Monni is breathing heavily.
Vihtala trying to control the position from guard on top but Monni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Vihtala stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Monni swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Vihtala is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Monni can do to turn this around?
Monni wants to sweep but no luck.
Vihtala lands a couple of elbows.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Monni looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Monni looking for subs off his back but Vihtala has passed one foot through into half guard.
Vihtala lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Vihtala passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Monni!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kaarlo Vihtala dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Matto Monni's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Vihtala drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Monni is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Vihtala off and has taken his back!
Vihtala wants to escape the position.
Monni not allowing Vihtala to control his hands.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Monni working for the choke.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Vihtala trying to control the hands but Monni won't let him.
Vihtala tries to break free.

Monni working for a choke but Vihtala reverses nicely into Monni 's guard.
Monni utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kaarlo Vihtala is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

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.

Monni looking for a guillotine here but Vihtala defends easily.
Vihtala trying to control the position from guard on top but Monni is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vihtala postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Vihtala engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.

Monni is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Vihtala defends well.
Vihtala is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Monni looking for a sweep. Not yet Monni, not yet.
Vihtala content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.

Monni has an active guard here but Vihtala has managed to pass into half guard.
Matto Monni has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Vihtala is pressing down on Monni's thigh, looking to free his foot. Monni is holding on for now.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

And that's the end of the fight!
Kaarlo Vihtala showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Vihtala 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 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:26
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:26
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Kaarlo Vihtala!