PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Thiago Oliveira (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Antti Itkonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Antti Itkonen is staring across the cage at his opponent, tweaking his nipples.

Oliveira
vs
Itkonen

170 cm
19
150 lbs
1 - 4 - 0

175 cm
20
145 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Can Moonwalk

FinnFighter Nutrition (Five 160Q supps!)
KAISER

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Thiago Oliveira!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Los Angeles, Antti Itkonen!
The judges for this bout are Jeff Smith, Colin Fray and Micheangelo Fripello.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Oliveira gets caught flat footed, as Itkonen shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Oliveira looks exhausted already! Oh dear, he should have come in in better shape than this!
Itkonen looking to control the position here, rather than advance.
Itkonen passes Oliveira's left leg - he's now in half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Oliveira is refusing to be controlled, as Itkonen sits in half guard.
Oliveira is in trouble now - Itkonen has advanced to mount!
Itkonen really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Oliveira. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Oliveira squirming around on the bottom, looking to escape.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Itkonen controlling the position easily from mount.
Oliveira is bucking up trying to escape but Itkonen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Itkonen working the ground and pound effectively.
Oliveira is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Itkonen controlling the position easily from mount.
Itkonen tries to control but Oliveira wriggling away.
Oliveira can't escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itkonen looking to control and managing it successfully.
Itkonen wants to stand but Oliveira is holding on to him, trying to stop him posturing up.
Oliveira tries to lock up and control but Itkonen gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Oliveira is bucking up trying to escape but Itkonen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
Oliveira is bucking up trying to escape but Itkonen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Itkonen looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Oliveira is working to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Itkonen wants to finish this one by submission but Oliveira is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Itkonen.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Itkonen cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Itkonen dominating with strikes here.
Itkonen is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Oliveira can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Oliveira tries to hold on but Itkonen pushes him away.
Itkonen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira taking shots to the head.
Itkonen controlling from mount.
Itkonen prevents Oliveira from getting the reversal.
Itkonen can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Oliveira is looking to escape.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Oliveira is bucking up trying to escape but Itkonen cracks him with another couple of good strikes.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Itkonen dominated that round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Itkonen looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Itkonen with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Itkonen tries to stand but his hand is stuck under Oliveira.

Oliveira pushes Itkonen off and gets back to his feet.
Itkonen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Itkonen closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Itkonen lands in his opponent's guard.
Itkonen seems content to control from guard here. He's going to have to remain active though if he doesn't want to get stood back up.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Oliveira throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Itkonen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Oliveira, up you get!

Itkonen shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Oliveira napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Oliveira is not content to let Itkonen control the position.

Itkonen decides to take the fight back to the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Itkonen gets the takedown into side control.
Oliveira taking punishment in the form of punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Itkonen throws a knee to the body but it doesn't do much damage.
Oliveira is in a tricky position but he's been working on his transitions down at 11th Planet Fitness ($300/wk), so we'll see if he gets out of it.
Itkonen trying to control the position but Oliveira is working away.

Itkonen is looking to finish here, going for an Americana. Oliveira knows the correct defense though, so he's OK.
Oliveira is trying to control Itkonen's posture but Itkonen avoids it.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Itkonen is trying to get an arm triangle but Oliveira is defending well.
Itkonen trying to control the action but Oliveira is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Itkonen tries to stand but Oliveira is controlling his head.
Oliveira manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Itkonen pushes Oliveira off looking to stand but Oliveira dives back in and keeps control.
Oliveira is trying to control. Itkonen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Itkonen trying to control but Oliveira postures up.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Antti Itkonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Oliveira darts in looking for a takedown but Itkonen gets double underhooks and turns Oliveira into the cage.

Itkonen jumps into guard, dragging Oliveira to the mat.
Oliveira stopping the sweep attempt from Itkonen.
Itkonen controlling the position.
Itkonen lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Oliveira!
Oliveira tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Itkonen lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Itkonen looking to control but Oliveira is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Itkonen controlling the position easily from mount.
Itkonen lands with some strikes.
Itkonen lands a nice shot to the head.

Itkonen looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
BOOM! Itkonen connects with a massive shot to the dome!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Itkonen content just to control the position here.
Oliveira taking shots to the head.

Itkonen has hold of Oliveira's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Oliveira manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Oliveira wants to hold on but Itkonen pushes him away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Itkonen landing strikes, looking to finish!
Itkonen cracks Oliveira with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Itkonen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Oliveira is trying to escape the mount.
Itkonen content just to control the position here.

Oliveira defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Itkonen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Oliveira is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.

Itkonen working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Itkonen punching from mount but Oliveira doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Thiago Oliveira has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Antti Itkonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Oliveira is looking to get back to his feet - it's going to be hard from this position.

And that's the end of the fight!
Antti Itkonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Itkonen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Jeff Smith scores the fight for Antti Itkonen!
Judge Colin Fray scores the fight for Antti Itkonen!
Judge Micheangelo Fripello scores the fight for Antti Itkonen!

Antti Itkonen wins by unanimous decision!