PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Keni Susi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilkka Laitinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Susi's ring entrance music is that housewives' favourite, Metallica - Hero of the Day. Laitinen has chosen AC/DC - Thunderstruck as his entrance music. Keni Susi had a look across the cage there at his opponent. He definitely means business

Susi
vs
Laitinen

175 cm
39
158 lbs
30 - 31 - 0

177 cm
39
165 lbs
40 - 21 - 0

BJJ Red Belt
World class boxer
Granite chin

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Granite chin

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 30 - 31 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Keni Susi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 40 - 21 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilkka Laitinen!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Sam Margolis and Andrew Berry.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laitinen throws a body kick that misses.
Laitinen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Susi looks to have improved his striking defense since last time we saw him fight.

Susi closes the distance and looks for a trip takedown... aaaand he's got it - Susi lands in his opponent's guard.
We could do with one of the fighters taking the initiative a bit more on the ground - they're both waiting to capitalize on a mistake.
Laitinen is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.

Laitinen wriggles free and stands up.
Susi scores with a straight right hand, right through his opponent's guard.
Susi shoots in but no luck this time.
Susi shoots in for a takedown. He's persisting with it as Laitinen sprawls well. Laitinen wins this battle and keeps the fight standing. Susi gets slowly back to his feet.
Susi shoots in with a takedown attempt and he has Laitinen pinned against the cage. Laitinen gets the underhooks and manages to circle away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keni Susi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laitinen stuffs the takedown attempt from Susi. Susi gets slowly back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Susi shoots in but no luck this time.
Susi shoots in looking for a takedown. Laitinen tries to sprawl out of it but Susi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Laitinen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Keni Susi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Susi shoots in but Laitinen avoids the takedown attempt easily.
Susi shoots in looking for a takedown. Laitinen tries to sprawl out of it but Susi keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Laitinen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.
Laitinen pivots as if he's going to throw a leg kick but stops half way.
Susi misses with a takedown attempt - Laitinen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.

Susi shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Laitinen is trying to defend but Susi finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Susi is working for a kimura but Laitinen is defending it quite comfortably.
Laitinen tries to roll over but Susi keeps him under control.
Laitinen has his hands clasped together around Susi's back. He's all about the action.

Susi is working for a submission of some sort.
Laitinen is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Susi is working for a kimura but Laitinen is defending it quite comfortably.

Susi is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Laitinen keeping hold of Susi's head, controlling as best he can.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Laitinen slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Susi slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
You can see the frustration on Laitinen's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.

Susi is trying to get an arm triangle but Laitinen is defending well.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.

Susi tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Keni Susi will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Susi darts in and lands a nice takedown into half guard.

Susi seems to be looking for submissions.

Susi looking for a kimura but he'll have to free his other leg if he wants to finish that. Perhaps he's just using it as a distraction technique.
Susi is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Laitinen can do to turn this around?
Susi trying to pass the guard but Laitinen defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laitinen regains full guard. Nicely done.
Susi pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Laitinen is keeping the position for now.
Susi throws a big right hand that misses.
Susi tries to free his leg and advance position but Laitinen is retaining full guard.
Susi trying to control the position from guard on top but Laitinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laitinen can't keep his opponent in guard - Susi advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
The fighters are battling for position here. Laitinen manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Laitinen is looking to stand up but Susi isn't so interested in that idea.
Susi trying to control the position from guard on top but Laitinen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Laitinen is pulling down on Susi's head to control his posture.
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Laitinen is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The referee has decided to stand the fighters back up, so we'll restart on the feet.
Laitinen misses with a body kick.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Susi dives in for a single leg takedown but Laitinen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Laitinen lands a body shot.
Susi jumps guard but Laitinen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Laitinen presses Susi against the cage and delivers a mid-strength body shot.
Laitinen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Susi blocking some punches.
Susi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keni Susi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Susi tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Susi jumps guard but Laitinen turns him against the cage and keeps the fight standing.
Laitinen tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Susi's elbow.
Laitinen lands with a left to the head.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen can't find room to land a body shot as Susi controls the action.
Laitinen stalling.
Laitinen lands a nice uppercut.
Laitinen doesn't land with the attempted body shot.
Laitinen lands a left hand that snaps the head of Susi backwards.
Susi is trying to pull guard but being pressed up against the cage enables Laitinen to keep the fight standing.
Laitinen lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The pace really dropping off here, momentarily.
Boooooooooooooooooooo!!! God, this has been a terrible round. Come on you two, sort yourselves out!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ilkka Laitinen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Back to the action! This is the final round!

Susi shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in side control! That's better than Susi was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Laitinen dodges the ground and pound from Susi.
Susi throwing strikes but Laitinen manages to buck up and roll into a nice reversal - now he's on top in side control!
Susi can't do much from the bottom here.
Susi is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Laitinen throws a strike aimed at the side of Susi's head but Susi avoids it well.
Keni Susi overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Susi is looking for a sweep.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Laitinen tries to land with some ground and pound but misses.
Susi trying to remain calm as Laitinen controls from the top position.
Susi dodges the ground and pound from Laitinen.
Susi tries to bench press Laitinen off him but Laitinen keeps the position.
Laitinen trying to control the action but Susi is working from the bottom.
Susi defending against the ground and pound.
Laitinen trying to control the action but Susi is working from the bottom.
Susi is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Laitinen throws a big elbow that misses, also allowing Susi to regain full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Laitinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Susi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Susi is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Laitinen is aware though and is defending well.

Susi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

Susi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Laitinen missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Laitinen postures up in Susi's guard and throws a big left but Susi blocks it.

Susi looking for a guillotine here but Laitinen defends easily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Laitinen is looking to work some ground and pound but Susi has wrist control.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Laitinen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Susi keeping full guard, as Laitinen tries to pass.

The referee has motioned to the fighters to stand back up. He just wasn't happy with the level of activity.
A slapping body kick lands there for Laitinen.
Susi dives in and grabs Laitinen's left leg, looking for a takedown. Laitinen pushes down on Susi's head and hops out.
Susi looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Laitinen is fending him off so far but Susi persists. Nope, Laitinen circles away and we're back to standing.
Susi shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Laitinen as he jumps to the side.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Keni Susi. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Laitinen throws a low kick but his opponent is out of range.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A big left from Laitinen misses.
Susi's hands are dropping dangerously low here and Laitinen connects clean with a right hook that sends him down to one knee! Susi scrambles back to his feet.
Susi dives in for a single leg takedown but Laitinen sprawls and the fighters end up clinched against the cage.
Laitinen makes some space for himself and lands an uppercut.
A head punch on the inside from Laitinen fails to land.
Laitinen lands with a light punch inside.
Susi tries to pull guard but Laitinen forces him back to his feet, against the cage.

Laitinen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Susi with that takedown attempt.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Laitinen bobbing and weaving, closes the distance and lands a hook to the side of Susi's head.
Ilkka Laitinen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Laitinen fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Susi looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Laitinen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Laitinen wants it to stay on the feet.

And that's the end of the fight!
Ilkka Laitinen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Laitinen has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 William Gold scores the fight 28:29
Judge Sam Margolis scores the fight 28:29
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Ilkka Laitinen!
Ilkka Laitinen really struggled to get his t-shirt on before his hand was raised. Making sure that Milwaukee's Best 160 (85% laundry) logo gets some air time is pretty tricky when you're all sweaty.