PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Aarre Voutilainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Solomon Burke (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Burke is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by Discoboys - I came for you. Solomon Burke has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Voutilainen
vs
Burke

185 cm
23
185 lbs
2 - 0 - 0

188 cm
19
192 lbs
3 - 2 - 0

BJJ White Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Granite chin

Combat Pro Design

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Aarre Voutilainen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Solomon Burke!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Burke avoids a punch combination nicely.
Voutilainen throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Voutilainen lands a big shot that drops Burke! Can he finish him?

It looks like Solomon Burke has been cut.
Voutilainen won't allow Burke to sweep him here.
Burke bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Voutilainen's guard.
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!
Burke trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Voutilainen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Voutilainen tries to get out of the position.
Voutilainen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Burke is controlling him.
Burke wants to pass the guard but Voutilainen is keeping the position.

Burke drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Burke jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Burke wants to control from the top but Voutilainen keeps moving.
Voutilainen is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Burke is controlling him.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Burke feints and then cracks Voutilainen's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Voutilainen down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Burke dodges the punch combination from Voutilainen.
Voutilainen misses with a straight left.
Voutilainen throws a leg kick that is checked
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Burke takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Burke defending well as Voutilainen loads up on a big left hand.
Burke slips under a jab.
Burke takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Burke cracks Voutilainen with a hook to the jaw. Both fighters smile at eachother and high-five before getting back down to business.
No joy there for Voutilainen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
A slow jab from Voutilainen misses its intended target.
Voutilainen misses with a straight left.
Burke bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Burke takes a jab right on the nose. That must have hurt but he shrugs his shoulders and looks to return the favor.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
A head kick misses from Burke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Burke showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Voutilainen.
Voutilainen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Voutilainen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Voutilainen throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Burke finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Voutilainen is breathing heavily.
Voutilainen misses with a looping right.
Voutilainen swats away the attempt to clinch by Burke.
Burke wants to clinch.
Aarre Voutilainen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Voutilainen throws a combination that misses
and Burke counters with a solid body kick.
Burke scores with a kick to the midsection.
Voutilainen is really head hunting here, hardly looking to strike to the body at all.
No joy there for Voutilainen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Voutilainen throws a hook but Burke avoids it easily.
Voutilainen throws a jab but it's blocked by Burke.
Burke defending well as Voutilainen loads up on a big left hand.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Voutilainen misses with a series of wild punches.
Voutilainen waving his hands out infront of him, looking to distract Burke.
Burke wants to clinch up but Voutilainen keeps it at a distance.
Burke lands with a kick to the ribs.
A telegraphed right hand from Voutilainen misses the target.
Burke goes for a high kick. It partially lands.
Voutilainen avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Voutilainen misses with an uppercut.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Burke misses with a short punch on the inside.
Burke throws an elbow but it's blocked.
Burke looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Voutilainen gets underhooks to prevent Burke's takedown attempt.
Voutilainen blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Burke throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Voutilainen wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Burke prevents Voutilainen from breaking the clinch.
Burke stalling.
Voutilainen wants to get back to striking at distance but Burke won't allow it.
Knees to the body from Burke.
Voutilainen is trying to break free.
Burke missing with knees to the body.
Burke tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Burke connects with a knee to the head.
Burke is pushing Voutilainen up against the cage, for a bit of lean and pray action. Action being used the in the loosest possible sense of the word.
Burke trying to land knees to the body.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Voutilainen wants to get back to striking at distance but Burke won't allow it.
Voutilainen on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Burke looking to throw knees to the head but Voutilainen is blocking nicely.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Aarre Voutilainen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Solomon Burke's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Burke doesn't manage to clinch there - Voutilainen circles away.
Aarre Voutilainen is winning the standup battle so far.
Voutilainen misses with a body shot.
Voutilainen throws a series of punches but Burke avoids them all with ease.
Voutilainen misses with a leg kick
and Burke counters with a big head kick but Voutilainen shrugs it off.
Voutilainen throws a hook but Burke avoids it easily.
Burke steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Voutilainen.
Voutilainen takes a head kick and keeps coming.
Burke is looking to clinch.
Burke fails with an attempt to clinch.
Burke is looking to clinch.
Burke moves in looking to clinch but Voutilainen pushes him off.
Burke gets his head snapped back by a nice shot there.
Voutilainen throws a right hand that Burke ducks under and follows up with a left that Burke also avoids with ease.
Burke displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Voutilainen throws out the jab.

Burke shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Voutilainen is trying to stand up here but Burke is controlling him well.
Voutilainen won't allow Burke to pass to mount.
Voutilainen tries to kick Burke off but Burke keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.

Burke wants to work for an arm triangle but Voutilainen is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Burke works his way into full mount!
Voutilainen's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Burke trying to control but Voutilainen is having none of it.

Burke working for a guillotine from mount but Voutilainen is in no mood to give up.
Burke is breathing heavily.

That's two 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.
Burke trying to control but Voutilainen is having none of it.
Voutilainen wants to hold on but Burke pushes him away.

Burke looking for a guillotine from mount but Voutilainen is having none of it.
Voutilainen really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Voutilainen's corner are shouting for him to stand up but that's bad cornering - how is he meant to stand up when he's mounted? He should be looking to improve his position on the ground before trying to stand back up.
Voutilainen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Voutilainen wants to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Voutilainen defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Burke.
Voutilainen is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Burke wants to take Voutilainen's back but he can't do it this time.

Burke is working on an americana here. Ooh, that looks pretty nasty! Nope, Voutilainen has managed to escape the submission attempt.
Burke wants to control the pace but Voutilainen is squirming around nicely.
Burke might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Voutilainen kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Voutilainen controls the position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are showing their displeasure at the lack of action as loud boos ring out around the arena.
Voutilainen is really trying hard to get back to his feet.
Voutilainen can't escape the position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Voutilainen defends a decent attempt at a guillotine from Burke.

Burke with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.
Voutilainen is trying to get to the cage to help him get back to his feet.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Burke avoids the attempt from Voutilainen to control.
Voutilainen is going to have to think about doing something other than just controlling because Burke is managing to avoid having the position dictated to him.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Solomon Burke showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Solomon Burke's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! And we move into the final round!

Voutilainen lands a jab followed by a nice looking cross.
Aarre Voutilainen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Voutilainen looks to score with a jab to the body but Burke is just out of range.
Voutilainen misses with a combination
and Burke counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Voutilainen is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Voutilainen misses with a hook.
Voutilainen looks for a takedown but Burke sprawls well.
Voutilainen misses the body punch
and Burke counters with a head kick. That will keep Voutilainen thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Voutilainen throws a big shot that misses.
Voutilainen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.

Burke fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Voutilainen, pushing him back against the cage.
Voutilainen is trying to break the clinch but Burke has him pressed against the cage.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Burke drags the fight down to the ground.
Voutilainen tries to stand but Burke is controlling from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Burke looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Burke had isolated an arm as going for an omaplata. Voutilainen is defending the submission well but is in a very vulnerable position. Burke Is leaning forward trying to finish the omaplata but decides to abandon it, and take Voutilainen's back instead.
Burke is controlling his opponent, waiting for an opportunity to finish.
Burke struggling to keep hold of the position.
Voutilainen holding both Burke 's hands and preventing any damage.

Burke is persistently looking for the submission but Voutilainen is defending it well.
Voutilainen looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Voutilainen has the hand control, trying to stop the rear naked choke.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.

Burke looking to break Voutilainen's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Voutilainen remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Burke will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Voutilainen trying to control but he's just got himself in more trouble.
Voutilainen wants to get back to his feet.

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

Voutilainen showing good submission defense here.
Voutilainen is trying to get back to his feet but Burke has full control of the position and if anything, Voutilainen has just worked his way into a worse spot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Burke looking for the RNC.
Voutilainen trying to get back to his feet but Burke is in full control for now.
Voutilainen trying desperately to get back to his feet here but he's not having any joy at all. He's going to tire himself out if he's not careful.
Voutilainen wants to control his opponent's hands but Burke gets his hands free.
The crowd hopeful of a finish here - Burke's supporters are on their feet, screaming for him to go for the rear naked choke.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.

Voutilainen defending nicely against the rear naked choke attempt.
Voutilainen trying to get back to his feet but Burke is in full control for now.
Burke wants to control but Voutilainen is keeping busy.

Voutilainen manages to stand up with Burke still on his back. Eventually Burke drops to his feet and we're back in the standing position.
Burke takes a jab on the nose there. A little bit of blood seems to be coming out. Hopefully that won't affect his breathing.
Burke fakes the leg kick and cracks Voutilainen in the body.
Burke is looking to slow Voutilainen down with leg kicks.
Voutilainen misses with a combination
and Burke counters with a nice low kick that buckles Voutilainen's knee momentarily.

And that's the end of the fight!
I would just about give that final round to Solomon Burke.
I think Burke 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 28:29
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Solomon Burke!