PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Pentti Hilkuri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and James Li (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Li has chosen Give My Bullet Back as his entrance music. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Hilkuri
vs
Li

184 cm
20
193 lbs
6 - 2 - 0

176 cm
29
192 lbs
10 - 6 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Lethal high kicks
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Counter striker
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 6 - 2 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Pentti Hilkuri!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 10 - 6 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, James Li!
The judges for this bout are Fedor Mirinova, Valeri Chadov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Good leg kick by Hilkuri there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Li shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Hilkuri as he jumps to the side.
Li fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Hilkuri manages to avoid it.
Li throws a series of punches but Hilkuri moves out of range.
Li blocks a leg kick.
A bone on bone clash there as Li blocks the leg kick.
Hilkuri throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hilkuri tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Li is able to avoid easily.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Hilkuri.
Li takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Li misses with a wild body shot.
Hilkuri tries a head kick but it misses.
Li swings for the body but Hilkuri moves out of range.
Hilkuri lands with a nice body kick.

Hilkuri gets in close and instigates a clinch.
Li drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hilkuri pulls his leg out and moves away.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hilkuri fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Li.
Hilkuri attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.

Hilkuri has Li up against the cage in a clinch.
Hilkuri lands a left hand that snaps the head of Li backwards.
Li wants a takedown.
Pentti Hilkuri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Li.
Li prevents a body shot from Hilkuri.
Li drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Li is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Hilkuri is keeping busy.
Hilkuri lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Hilkuri gets underhooks to prevent Li's takedown attempt.
Hilkuri has Li pressed against the cage.
A left hand lands to the body for Hilkuri.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice right hand lands inside from Hilkuri.
A body shot lands from Hilkuri.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Li is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Hilkuri is defending well.
Li is trying to drag Hilkuri to the mat but Hilkuri just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Li looks gassed!
Hilkuri stops a takedown attempt from Li.
Hilkuri lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hilkuri lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Hilkuri scores with a shoulder strike.
A hook to the body from Hilkuri.
Hilkuri pushes off an throws an elbow but Li leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Hilkuri breaks the clinch.

Hilkuri moves into the clinch.
Hilkuri lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
Hilkuri lands a body shot.
Hilkuri softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Li tries to score a body lock takedown but Hilkuri shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Hilkuri pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Pentti Hilkuri seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hilkuri connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Hilkuri throws a couple of head shots and lands with the final one - a decent hook, which struck Li on the side of the head.
Hilkuri looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Nice shot lands for Hilkuri.
Nice jab there from Hilkuri.
Hilkuri throws a one two combo.

It looks like James Li has been cut.

Li gets tackled into the cage by Hilkuri. Hilkuri maintains the clinch.
Hilkuri is pressed up against the cage. Li has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hilkuri down to the mat. Hilkuri avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Li's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hilkuri connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Li scrambles back to his feet.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Hilkuri lands a glancing blow to the side of Li's head.
Hilkuri is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Hilkuri chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Li shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Hilkuri.
Hilkuri cracks Li with a right hand to the side of the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Li takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Hilkuri tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Li was well out of range. Poor timing from Hilkuri.
Pentti Hilkuri is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Li takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hilkuri swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Hilkuri lands with a good body shot.
A nice inside leg kick there by Hilkuri. That's going to slow Li down.
Li gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Hilkuri fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
Li checks a low kick from Hilkuri.

Hilkuri gets taken down but at least he's managed to land in guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Li advances to half guard.
Hilkuri is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Li's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Li's back!
Li breaks Hilkuri's hooks off and manages to turn into his guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pentti Hilkuri dominated that round.
The cut man is working on James Li's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Hilkuri lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Li tries to bum rush Hilkuri with a series of wild strikes but Hilkuri uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Hilkuri throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Hilkuri misses with a straight left.
Li takes a jab on the nose. He smiles like he loves it and keeps coming.
Hilkuri throws a shot to the body.
Hilkuri lands with a nice body kick.
Li misses with a telegraphed body shot
and Hilkuri counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Hilkuri throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Hilkuri scores with a nice right hand.

Hilkuri has taken the fight to the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hilkuri lands a hook to the side of the head.
Hilkuri lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hilkuri lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Li.
Li is breathing heavily.
Li goes for a takedown attempt but Hilkuri pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Li's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Hilkuri connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Li scrambles back to his feet.
Hilkuri uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Li has time to react.
Li tries to check the leg kick but that clearly hurt him.
Hilkuri lands a head kick!
Li avoids a kick to the body.
Hilkuri lands with an overhand left.
Donk. Hilkuri catches Li right on the button with a cross.

Hilkuri moves into the clinch.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hilkuri is defending well against a takedown attempt.
Hilkuri leaning against his opponent.
Hilkuri lands with a short shot to the head.
Hilkuri is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Li can do to turn this around?
Li blocks an elbow strike from Hilkuri.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A quick uppercut on the inside from Hilkuri.
Hilkuri lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Hilkuri lands a body punch.
Hilkuri is pressed up against the cage. Li has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hilkuri down to the mat. Hilkuri avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Pentti Hilkuri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Li.
Hilkuri tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Hilkuri throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Hilkuri looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Hilkuri scores with a spinning back kick!
Hilkuri jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
An inside leg kick lands from Hilkuri.
Li takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Hilkuri lands an overhand right.

Hilkuri darts in and clinches Li up against the cage.
Li can't get the takedown.
Hilkuri lands with a short head shot on the inside.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hilkuri blocking some punches.
A right hook to the body lands for Hilkuri.
Hilkuri scores with a shoulder strike.
Li blocks an elbow strike from Hilkuri.
Hilkuri pushes Li back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
A nice left hand lands by Hilkuri.
Hilkuri blocks a body shot from Li.
Hilkuri is pressed up against the cage. Li has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Hilkuri down to the mat. Hilkuri avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Hilkuri lands a high kick!
Nice sprawl there from Hilkuri as Li shoots in.
Hilkuri tests Li's chin there with a solid looking shot.
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!
Hilkuri moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.

Li is rocked!
Li's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.

Li tries to keep at a distance but Hilkuri has taken the fight into the clinch.
A right hand to the body from Hilkuri.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hilkuri lands with a short shot to the head.
Li wants a takedown.
Pentti Hilkuri has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Li tries to score a body lock takedown but Hilkuri shows good agility there to stay on his feet.

Hilkuri escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Hilkuri throws a right and a left that both miss.
Hilkuri throws a one two combo.
Li is looking to clinch but Hilkuri is avoiding it.
No joy there for Hilkuri, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Both fighters circling a little - Hilkuri finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Hilkuri throws a leg kick which misses Li's front leg but catches the back leg as Li tries to avoid it.
Hilkuri moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Hilkuri throws a right and a left that Li avoids nicely.
Hilkuri scores with a jab.
Hilkuri misses with a few strikes there.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Pentti Hilkuri dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on James Li's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Hilkuri scores with a crisp jab that stopped Li in his tracks.

Hilkuri gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Li drops down looking for an ankle pick but Hilkuri pulls his leg out and moves away.
Li attempts a leg kick but it's missed by a good margin.
Li wants to clinch.
Hilkuri feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Li's calf.
Hilkuri fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Li takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hilkuri throws a leg kick that misses.
Li looks for a takedown but Hilkuri sprawls well.
Hilkuri stooping low to avoid any incoming strikes and then lunges in with an uppercut come cross that lands flush.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A good leg kick by Hilkuri.
Hilkuri jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Hilkuri lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
A nice leg kick lands there from Hilkuri.
Hilkuri with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Hilkuri lands with a right hand.
Hilkuri lands an overhand left. A wild punch that just about connected.
A nice combination there by Hilkuri.
Pentti Hilkuri is winning the standup battle so far.
Hilkuri lands a jab to the nose.
Li walks straight into a jab right on the nose. That one stung - he's blinking and trying to clear his head.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Hilkuri connects with a jab.
Hilkuri listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
James Li has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hilkuri misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Li.
Hilkuri scores with a jab to the jaw of his opponent.
Hilkuri lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Hilkuri fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Li.
Hilkuri throws a head kick but Li moves out of range.
Hilkuri throws a front kick that sends Li stumbling back into the cage.
Hilkuri thumps Li with a low kick.
Hilkuri throws out a powerful jab.
Hilkuri lands with a cross to side of his opponent's head.
Hilkuri feints and then cracks Li's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Li down.
Li shakes his hands off, looking to compose himself, but takes a jab to the jaw whilst he does it.
Li shoots in for a takedown but Hilkuri shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.
Pentti Hilkuri has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of James Li.
Li on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Like a baseball bat into the meat of his leg there - nice leg kick by Hilkuri.
Hilkuri is looking to slow Li down with leg kicks.
Hilkuri chopping away at his opponent's legs.
Hilkuri fakes the leg kick and cracks Li in the body.
Good leg kick by Hilkuri there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Li walks straight into an uppercut. Luckily it didn't land flush.
Li has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Hilkuri.
Li on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Hilkuri. Hilkuri obviously looking to wear him down.
Hilkuri lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Hilkuri feints a straight left to the body, then turns around with a flashy move and hits Lis jaw with a dramatic spinning back fist!
Hilkuri lands the left hand.
Hilkuri plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Hilkuri has taken the fight to the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Li wants the takedown. Hilkuri is fighting it off but Li persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Hilkuri's guard against the cage.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Li accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Li looking to pass the guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Hilkuri looking to control the pace of the fight rather than finish it.
Li throwing strikes but missing.
Li tries to free his leg and advance position but Hilkuri is retaining full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Li missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.

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

And that's the end of the fight!
Pentti Hilkuri showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Hilkuri, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Fedor Mirinova scores the fight 30:26
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 30:26
Judge Ivan Kurochkin scores the fight 30:26

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Pentti Hilkuri!
After winning the bout, Pentti Hilkuri thanked all his fans and promised he'd do even better in his next fight. The crowd seemed to love his humility.