PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Pekka Lipponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Keijo Richards (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Lipponen comes to the cage accompanied by Rainbow - Man on the Silver Mountain. Richards is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Rolling Stones - Paint It Black. Pekka Lipponen has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Lipponen
vs
Richards

191 cm
24
279 lbs
12 - 2 - 0

210 cm
25
280 lbs
12 - 6 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
Good low kicks
Powerful

Perkele!
Perkele!

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Pekka Lipponen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 12 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Keijo Richards!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Arvi Lind and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good work by Lipponen as he checks the leg kick.
Lipponen lands a nice shot to the body.
Richards scores with a leg kick.
A clash of legs there as Lipponen blocks the low kick.
Lipponen connects with a leg kick. Richards looked like he was expecting something else and didn't defend it.
Lipponen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Lipponen jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Richards throws a leg kick
and Lipponen counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Lipponen wings a very wild body shot but it does the job and lands to the midsection.
Richards keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Richards misses with an attempted mid kick.
Lipponen throws out a leg kick but Richards moves out of range and Lipponen only half commits.
A head kick by Richards misses
and Lipponen counters with a right hand to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Lipponen wants to clinch up but Richards keeps it at a distance.
Lipponen steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Richards.
A clash of legs there as Richards blocks the low kick.
Jab by Lipponen.
Lipponen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Richards's calf.
Lipponen missing with a left hand there. Richards was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Richards throws a right high kick that is partially blocked by Lipponen.

It looks like Pekka Lipponen has been cut.
Lipponen looks to land a combination. Richards sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Richards scoring well with a low kick there.
Lipponen misses with a wild body shot.
Lipponen scores with a kick to the midsection.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Lipponen ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Richards moves away.
Lipponen lands with a nice body kick.
Richards looks gassed!
A head kick by Richards misses
and Lipponen counters with a body kick.
Keijo Richards is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Lipponen moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Pekka Lipponen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Lipponen scores with a leg kick.
Lipponen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Richards's calf.
Lipponen connects nicely with a jab. Noted by the judges no doubt.
Lipponen closes the distance and clinches up with Richards, looking for a takedown. Lipponen pushes Richards against the cage but Richards circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.

Lipponen cracks Richards with an uppercut from hell and Richards crumples to the canvas, he's out! Oh no, he's recovered and he's grabbed one of Lipponen's legs and pulled him into guard. The ref thought about stopping it there but he's let it go - good reffing!

Richards is rocked!

Richards throws his legs up looking for a submission but Lipponen uses it to pass to side control.
Richards is still in real trouble! Can Lipponen finish him?
A lull in the action here as Lipponen stalls from top position.
A big shot lands for Lipponen! That's hurt Richards! Will he recover? Lipponen fires away with more strikes and the referee has to step in to stop the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:04 of round 1, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Pekka Lipponen!
Pekka Lipponen retains his heavyweight title!