PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Thioon Phitch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Aleksi Hihnavaara (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Hihnavaara has chosen Kallio Vice as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Phitch
vs
Hihnavaara

174 cm
21
163 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

175 cm
35
158 lbs
16 - 15 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Fenrir Fightgear - Steel Penn

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Thioon Phitch!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 16 - 15 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Aleksi Hihnavaara!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Phitch moves in looking to clinch but Hihnavaara pushes him off.
Hihnavaara takes an uppercut right on the button but keeps his composure.
Hihnavaara fails with a takedown attempt from distance.
Phitch misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Phitch tries to close the distance and clinch up but Hihnavaara swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Phitch misses with a double jab.
Hihnavaara loads up on a big right hand but Phitch slips the punch.
Phitch connects with a body shot.
Phitch comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Hihnavaara shoots for a takedown but Phitch saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Hihnavaara misses the shot to the body.

Phitch pushes Hihnavaara up against the cage in a clinch.

Hihnavaara successfully pulls guard.
Phitch not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.

Hihnavaara escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Phitch gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Phitch showing good wrestling skills to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Phitch got a little sloppy there for a moment and Hihnavaara has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Phitch has managed to get both his arms back between Hihnavaara's legs - danger averted.

Hihnavaara is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Phitch defends well.

Hihnavaara had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Phitch defends it easily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hihnavaara has an omoplata and is looking to use it perhaps as a submission or perhaps to transition. Phitch is in a bit of discomfort here, but he's managed to free himself and has dived into side control! That didn't work out too well for Hihnavaara.
Hihnavaara is trying to stand back up. He's worked his way up against the cage but Phitch has just dragged him back down to the mat.
Hihnavaara tries to work a leg under to get back to half guard but Phitch wriggles his own leg back out and remains in side control.
Hihnavaara wants to control but Phitch postures up.
Hihnavaara is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Phitch off and has taken his back!

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Phitch fending off the submission attempt from Hihnavaara.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Hihnavaara has his hand under the chin of his opponent looking for the choke. He's nearly got it! This one could be all over! But no, Phitch has freed his hand and lives to survive another… well, another couple of seconds at least!

Phitch showing good submission defense here.

Hihnavaara working for a RNC but it's not happening just yet.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Hihnavaara looking for the RNC.

Phitch showing good submission defense here.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Hihnavaara is staying calm and holding on to the back position, whilst working on a rear naked choke. Phitch is defending well though. Hihnavaara let's go of the attempt for now.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Hihnavaara looking for the RNC.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksi Hihnavaara dominated that round.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Hihnavaara changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Phitch tries to avoid it but Hihnavaara manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Phitch to the ground. Phitch escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Phitch misses with a few strikes there.
Phitch tries to clinch but Hihnavaara moves away

and Hihnavaara counters with a single leg into guard. Phitch didn't expect that.
Hihnavaara tries to stand but Phitch is controlling from the bottom.
Phitch keeping full guard, as Hihnavaara tries to pass.
Hihnavaara slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
Hihnavaara pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Phitch is keeping the position for now.
Hihnavaara wants to control from the top but Phitch keeps moving.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Phitch controlling Hihnavaara's posture.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Aleksi Hihnavaara was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Hihnavaara misses with a series of wild punches.
A looping hook to the body misses from Phitch. Hihnavaara does a little dance to reset his feet.
Hihnavaara keeps the fight on the outside.
Phitch pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Hihnavaara closes the distance and pushes Phitch back into the cage.
Phitch using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Hihnavaara tries to pull guard but can't drag his opponent to the mat. Phitch just stands there and leans against the cage.
Hihnavaara on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Hihnavaara is working on a leg, looking for a takedown but Phitch is defending well.
Thioon Phitch has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Aleksi Hihnavaara.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Hihnavaara is working on a single leg takedown against the cage. Phitch can't fight it off and eventually Hihnavaara manages to take the fight to the floor. Phitch looks annoyed but at least he's managed to land in guard.
Phitch looking to control.
Hihnavaara wants to control from the top but Phitch keeps moving.
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!
Hihnavaara throwing strikes from guard but Phitch blocks nicely.

Hihnavaara drops back looking for a leg! Phitch is in trouble here! The fighters roll with the hold and Phitch manages to kick Hihnavaara off! Hihnavaara jumps back into Phitch's guard.
Hihnavaara throws a big elbow that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hihnavaara looking to pass the guard.

Hihnavaara has gone for a leg lock! Phitch slips out almost immediately though and dives into Hihnavaara's guard.
Hihnavaara controlling Phitch's posture.

Hihnavaara is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Phitch stopping the sweep attempt from Hihnavaara.

Phitch gets to his feet - Hihnavaara follows without any prompting.
Hihnavaara looks for a takedown but Phitch sprawls well.
Hihnavaara swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Phitch counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Hihnavaara misses with a series of wild punches.
A really sloppy takedown attempt there from Hihnavaara.
Phitch moves to clinch but Hihnavaara breaks away

and Hihnavaara counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aleksi Hihnavaara showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Phitch moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Phitch throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Phitch smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Hihnavaara wants to clinch.
Nice shot lands for Phitch.
Hihnavaara looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Phitch is fending him off so far but Hihnavaara persists. Nope, Phitch circles away and we're back to standing.
Phitch tries to clinch up but Hihnavaara circles away and keeps his distance.
Hihnavaara takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
Hihnavaara looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.

Phitch gets caught flat footed, as Hihnavaara shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Hihnavaara takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Hihnavaara working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Hihnavaara being controlled here momentarily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Hihnavaara trying to control but Phitch is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Hihnavaara throws a big elbow that misses.
Hihnavaara slows down the pace of the fight for a moment. He'll need to remain active if he doesn't want to see the fight stood back up.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Aleksi Hihnavaara hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Phitch darts in trying to clinch

and Hihnavaara counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Phitch's guard now.
Phitch tries to land a sweep but no joy.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Hihnavaara trying to control the position from guard on top but Phitch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Hihnavaara is holding a leg here, probably looking for an ankle lock - he drops back and goes for it! Phitch is in trouble! Is it all over??? No! Phitch has escaped and now he's on top!

Phitch avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Hihnavaara looks to be working for a triangle here. Oh, it looks like he might have it! Phitch has picked Hihnavaara up and slammed him! Hihnavaara can't keep hold of the triangle and Phitch manages to pass to side control!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Hihnavaara struggling a bit here.
Hihnavaara tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Phitch remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Hihnavaara is putting a lot of effort into getting back to his feet here.
Aleksi Hihnavaara is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Hihnavaara is trying to control Phitch's posture but Phitch avoids it.
Phitch slows the pace down.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Hihnavaara tries to bench press Phitch off him but Phitch keeps the position.
Thioon Phitch has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Hihnavaara looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Hihnavaara shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Phitch as he jumps to the side.

And that's the end of the fight!
Aleksi Hihnavaara comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Hihnavaara winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Aleksi Hihnavaara!