PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Valdemar Friman (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Joe Gallo (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Friman kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Metallica - Damage Inc.. There are an array of beautiful celebrities at ringside tonight! I wonder if any of them paid for their tickets.

Friman
vs
Gallo

168 cm
41
160 lbs
25 - 24 - 0

190 cm
25
160 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Good gas tank

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 25 - 24 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Valdemar Friman!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Joe Gallo!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Friman swinging wildly here.
Friman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Gallo misses with a wild body shot.
Friman throws a good cross that connects.
Gallo takes one to the side of the head.
Gallo fails to land with a series of punches.
Gallo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Friman.
Gallo lands a body shot.
Gallo digs a good body shot into Friman's ribs.
Gallo throws a series of punches but Friman avoids them all with ease.
Friman misses with a combination
and Gallo makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Gallo thows a left - swing and a miss!
Friman tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Gallo with a nice cross.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Gallo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Friman.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gallo pushes forward with a 1-2 combination that forces Friman back to the cage. Gallo follows up with a solid lead hook to the liver.
Joe Gallo is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Gallo fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Friman on the side of the head.
Friman throws a head kick that misses.
Friman misses with a double jab.
Gallo throws a series of punches but Friman moves out of range.
The crowd cheers as Gallo lands an impressive looking overhand right. Friman doesn't seem phased though.
Friman takes one on the button.
Friman lands a lovely overhand right.
Gallo stuns Friman with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Friman throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Gallo scores with a body shot.
Gallo moves out of range of the body kick from Friman.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gallo throws a one two combo.
Friman throws a series of punches but Gallo avoids them all with ease.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gallo lands a nice looking body shot.
No joy there for Friman, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Friman keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Friman takes a swing at Gallo's ribcage but misses.
Friman throws a series of strikes that have Gallo backpedaling.
Friman tries to clinch but Gallo moves out of range.
Gallo tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Friman paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Gallo swings wildly with a hook that is half blocked by Friman.
A head kick misses from Friman.
Gallo works Friman's body with a nice hook.
Friman moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Gallo lands with a shot to the body.
A combination from Friman does no damage.
Gallo's corner calls for a 1-2. Gallo obliges with the 1 part as he scores the single shot and moves back out of range.
Friman on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Friman wants to clinch.
Friman throws a leg kick but Gallo checks it.
Friman walks into a left hand.
Gallo tests Friman's chin there with a solid looking shot.
Friman misses with a wild body shot.
Gallo cracks Friman with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Friman takes a really solid shot there but just smiles back and shrugs his shoulders.
Gallo has used his reach advantage pretty well so far tonight.
Friman throws a push kick but Gallo slaps the foot to one side.
Friman looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Friman gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gallo misses with a jab, cross combination.
Gallo stuffs the takedown.
Gallo is landing a lot of head punches in this opening round! Friman had better start moving his head a bit unless he wants his face to turn into pâté.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Friman doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Friman tries to close the distance and clinch but Gallo swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Gallo with a hook.
Friman takes a body punch that cleary hurt but he's trying not to show any weakness.
Friman misses with a kick to the body.
Gallo swings for the body but Friman moves out of range.
Gallo is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
The fight stays on the outside here - Friman looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Gallo misses with a body shot.
Friman's jab looks to have found its range, popping Gallo under the eye.
Friman throws a series of punches but Gallo moves out of range.
Gallo takes a swing at Friman's ribcage but misses.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Friman fails to land with a series of punches.
Gallo swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Gallo jabs Friman to the body, keeping him at a distance.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Gallo dominated that round.
That's time! Friman's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Friman on the wrong end of a vicious looking body shot.
Friman throws a right and a left that both miss.
Friman misses with a head kick.
Gallo lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Friman at a distance.
Gallo moves into range and throws a combination. A nice jab followed by a hook to the body.
Friman falls off balance throwing a combination
and Friman takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gallo has been working his punching technique in the buildup to the fight and it appears to be paying off.
Gallo scores with a shot to the body.
Friman thows a body shot but no joy.
Gallo sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
Gallo misses with a wild combination.
Gallo throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Gallo is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Friman rather than just go for the knockout.
Friman jabs at Gallo's body.
Friman avoids the body shot from Gallo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Friman looks for the body kick but Gallo saw that one coming.
Gallo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Friman.
Gallo gets cracked there but stands up to it.
Gallo dips down and scores with a jab to the body.
Friman throws a combination. Gallo tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
Gallo lands with an uppercut that bounces Friman off the cage and back into range.
Gallo connects with a lovely jab that went straight through the gap between Friman's hands.
Gallo swings for the body but Friman moves out of range.
Friman throws a push kick but Gallo slaps the foot to one side.
Friman takes a shot to the body in his stride.
Friman avoids the body shot from Gallo.
Joe Gallo seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Gallo throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gallo showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Friman.
Friman misses with a head kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gallo misses with the combination.
Gallo is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
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!
Gallo swings and misses with a shot to the body
and Friman counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Gallo moves out of range as Friman throws a body kick.
Gallo lands a nice looking body shot.
Gallo displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.
Friman misses with a wild combination.
Gallo uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Friman.
Gallo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Friman.
Gallo swings for the body but Friman moves out of range.
Gallo misses with a series of wild punches.
Gallo misses with a few strikes there.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A head kick misses from Friman.
Friman gets off balance looking for a body kick
and Gallo counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Friman throws a right and a left that Gallo avoids nicely.
Gallo thows a body shot but no joy.
Friman connects with a looping right hand.
Friman throws a leg kick that is checked
and Gallo counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Friman just misses with a punch to the body.
Gallo jabs at Friman's body.
Gallo is using his reach advantage to land shots from outside his opponent's range.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Gallo misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Friman.
Friman motions for Gallo to come forward. Friman throws a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Gallo throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Friman stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.
This entire fight has taken place on the feet so far and you wonder whether Friman might be better served trying to take this one to the ground because he's losing the standup battle so far.
Friman fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Gallo manages to avoid it.
Friman avoids the body shot from Gallo.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Friman looks shocked there as he takes a right hand to the temple.
Gallo punishes Friman's body with a nice straight punch.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Gallo just misses with a punch to the body.
Friman throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Gallo dodges the punch combination from Friman.
Gallo throws a body punch but Friman moves out of range.

Gallo takes the fight into the clinch.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Gallo tries a body shot but Friman blocks it.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Friman misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Gallo.
Friman missing with knees to the body.
Gallo avoiding damage as Friman throws knees to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Joe Gallo showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Friman avoids the body shot from Gallo.
Gallo connects with a body shot that sends Friman's belly button to the back.
Friman tries to land a leg kick but Gallo saw it coming and moves away.
Gallo lands a jab, followed by a cross and another cross, as Friman backs up against the cage.
Gallo connects with a nice looking jab.
Friman looks like he's developed a pretty tasty lump over his left eye. He'll need to avoid taking much more damage to that.

Friman closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Gallo cracks Friman with a nice body shot.
Still in the clinch, Gallo scores with a nice short uppercut.
Gallo swings wildly with an uppercut but Friman uses good head movement to avoid it.
Friman missing with knees to the body.
Friman softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Friman misses with a knee strike.
Gallo avoiding damage as Friman throws knees to the body.
Friman throws a knee to the head but misses.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Gallo wants to stall.
Gallo avoiding damage as Friman throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gallo's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Friman lands a left hand.
Friman missing with knees to the body.
Friman struggles to land a body shot inside as Gallo controls his hands.
Friman unloads a knee to the mid-section. Gallo lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Friman is looking to control Gallo's arms but Gallo gets an underhook and turns him. Now Friman has his back to the cage.
Friman struggles to land a body shot inside as Gallo controls his hands.
Gallo lands with a right to the head.
Friman is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Gallo is defending well for now.
Gallo lands with a left to the head.
Gallo scores with a shot to the side of Friman's head.
A shot in the inside from Gallo.
A nice right hand lands inside from Gallo.
Gallo tries to work over Friman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Gallo leaning against his opponent.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Friman tries a body shot but Gallo blocks it.
Gallo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
Friman wants a takedown but no success here.
Friman throws a knee to the head but misses.
Nice body punch from Gallo.
A battle for position here, against the cage.
Gallo is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Friman tries a knee to the head but Gallo blocks it.
Gallo tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
A bit of stalling here from Gallo.
Friman goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Gallo lands with a short punch from the clinch.
Gallo misses with a punch to the body.
Friman looking to throw knees to the head but Gallo is blocking nicely.
Gallo tries to work over Friman's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Gallo misses with a hook from the clinch.
Gallo softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gallo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Gallo.
Gallo manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
Gallo managing to block the knees to the body from Friman.
Friman has a couple of punches blocked by Gallo.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Friman.
Gallo swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Friman with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Friman misses with a knee strike.
The pace slowing considerably in the clinch, as Gallo takes a break from that fighting nonsense to think about the finer things in life.
A right hand to the body from Gallo.
Friman scores a nice knee to the body.
Valdemar Friman has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
With the fighters clinched against the cage, Gallo creates a bit of distance for himself and scores with a nice uppercut.
Friman looking to throw knees to the head but Gallo is blocking nicely.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Gallo is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Friman is keeping busy.
Friman looking to stall.
Gallo leaning his opponent against the cage.
Friman tries to land knees in the clinch but Gallo avoids the damage to the body.
Gallo on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Gallo stalling against the cage.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Friman lands a knee to the head there! That was nasty!
A short body shot lands from Friman as the two fighters clinch.
Joe Gallo is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.
Gallo lands with a quick shot inside that doesn't really do much damage.
Friman using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.

And that's the end of the fight!
Joe Gallo comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Gallo 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Joe Gallo!
After the fight, Joe Gallo was humble in paying tribute to his opponent but made it clear he wants to go on to bigger and better things. It seemed to go down well with the crowd who cheered him loudly.