PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ville Ojala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommy Rees (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Ojala
vs
Rees

162 cm
21
139 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
18
135 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ville Ojala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tommy Rees!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Rees throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Ojala tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Ojala lunges in with an uppercut that skims his opponent's chin.
Rees will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Ojala throws a combination that misses

and Rees counters by moving into the clinch.
Rees is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Rees trying to land knees to the body.
Ojala misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rees.
Rees jumps guard but Ojala turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Rees on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rees managing to block the knees to the body from Ojala.
Ojala lands an elbow just above Rees 's eye.

It looks like Tommy Rees has been cut.
Knees to the body from Ojala.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Ojala utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Rees looks gassed!
Ojala pressing his opponent against the cage.
Ojala unloads a knee to the mid-section. Rees lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ojala lands a nice knee to the body.
Ojala putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Rees in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Ojala has Rees pressed against the cage.
Ojala landing knees to the body.
Ojala misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rees.
Ojala landing some nice looking knees to the body.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ojala missing with knees to the body.
Ojala is struggling to control the position.
Ojala connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rees's face.
Rees on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Ojala creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Rees's defenses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ojala landing knees to the body.
Ojala utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Ojala leaning his opponent against the cage.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Ojala.
Ojala using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Rees has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Ojala just leaning against Rees, taking a breather.
Knees to the body from Ojala.
Rees managing to block the knees to the body from Ojala.
Ojala lands an elbow that stopped Rees in his tracks for a moment.
Ojala looking to throw knees to the head but Rees is blocking nicely.
The referee is keeping an eye on Ojala - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ojala trying to stall but Rees improves his position.
Rees has had enough of the clinch and is looking to separate.
Rees blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Come on Ojala - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Ojala misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rees.
Rees is trying to force a seperation but Ojala has the dominant position.
Rees is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Rees has Ojala pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Ojala manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Ville Ojala has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommy Rees.
Ojala tries to land a knee to the head but Rees blocks with his arms.
Ojala stalling against the cage.
Ojala throws a knee to the head but misses.
Rees looking for a takedown.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ojala lands a knee to the body.
Ojala controlling the action here for a moment.
Ojala misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rees.
Knees in the clinch landing for Ojala.
Ojala misses with a knee strike.
Ojala slows down the pace here.
Ojala connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rees's face.

That has opened up Tommy Rees's cut even more.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Ojala with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Ojala misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rees.
Ojala landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ville Ojala dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tommy Rees's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Rees on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.

Rees closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Ojala quickly recovers to half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Ojala wants to improve his position but Rees is controlling well.
The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Rees tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ojala knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Rees is trying to control. Ojala wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Ojala trying to control here.
Rees is breathing heavily.
Rees tries to stand and escape but Ojala is controlling the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ojala avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Rees.
Rees wants to advance to full mount but Ojala doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Ojala trying to keep a closed guard but Rees is proving a slippery customer.
Ojala wants to sweep here but Rees controlling him for the moment.
Ojala keeping moving, preventing Rees from controlling successfully.
Ojala working a defensive guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Ojala throws a hook to the side of Rees's head but Rees sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Rees takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Ville Ojala is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Rees avoids the head kick by Ojala.
Rees slips under a jab.
Ojala will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Rees avoids the head kick by Ojala.
Ojala connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Ojala uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Ojala is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Ojala scores with a nice one two combo and darts back out of range to avoid anything coming in the opposite direction.

Rees is rocked!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ojala tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Rees paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Rees is still on wobbly legs! Can Ojala finish him?
Ojala stalks Rees and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Rees's face. Rees staggers backwards, shaken.
Rees swings and misses with a hook to the body.

Rees closes the distance and clinches.
The referee calls for Rees to work.
Rees fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Ojala crunches a lovely knee into Rees's ribcage.
Ojala is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Rees misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Ojala.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ojala obliges.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ojala obliges.
Ojala scores with a knee to the head.
Ville Ojala has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Ojala landing knees to the body.
Ojala is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Rees can do to turn this around?
Ojala stalling the fight.
Ojala landing knees to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ojala connects with a nasty looking knee right to Rees's face.
Rees blocks the elbow strike.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Rees avoids a wild elbow strike from Ojala.
Rees leaning against his opponent.
Ojala landing knees to the head.
Ojala looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Ojala looking to throw knees to the head but Rees is blocking nicely.
Rees on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Rees working hard to break the clinch.
Rees seems to have recovered his senses.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Ojala obliges.
Rees lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Ojala missing with knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Rees tries to pull guard but Ojala won't allow it.
Ojala lands a damaging elbow.
Ojala misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Rees.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ville Ojala dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Tommy Rees's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Ojala takes a swing at Rees's ribcage but misses.

Ojala gets caught flat footed, as Rees shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Rees wants to control from the top but Ojala keeps moving.
Rees is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Ojala looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Ojala manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Rees manages to get himself to full guard.
Ojala stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Rees swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Ojala is working hard here to advance position.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ojala is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Ojala wants to control from the top but Rees keeps moving.
Ojala stopping the sweep attempt from Rees.
Ojala pushing down on Rees's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Rees can do anything to dispel that myth.
Rees gets back to full guard.
Rees keeping moving, preventing Ojala from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ojala throws a big right hand that misses.
Ojala lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Ojala being controlled here momentarily.
Rees controls Ojala momentarily but Ojala frees himself.
Ojala advances position into side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
You can see the frustration on Rees's face as Ojala controls the position.
The strikes coming from Ojala are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Ojala controlling from side mount.
Ojala scores with punches from side control.
Ojala trying to control the position but Rees is working away.
Ojala tries to advance to mount but Rees denies him.
Ojala wants to lay and pray for a moment but Rees keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Ojala is putting a hurting on Rees here, landing some big shots from side control.
Rees manages to get back to half guard.
Ojala is looking to stall here but Rees recovers full guard.

Rees throws his legs up looking for a submission but Ojala uses it to pass to side control.
Ojala knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Rees on the ground.
Rees is looking for a sweep.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Rees wants to get back to his feet.
Tommy Rees has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Ville Ojala is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Ojala controlling the position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ville Ojala showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Ojala 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 30:27
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ville Ojala!