PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Osmo Ikola (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Kauko Jortikka (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both these guys have really solid chins. Will we see a standup war or will they both decide that a knockout is unlikely and try to win the fight elsewhere?

Ikola
vs
Jortikka

176 cm
22
173 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

182 cm
21
170 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Dangerous GnP
Brawler
Good chin

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Osmo Ikola!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Kauko Jortikka!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Ikola clinches.
Jortikka goes for a takedown attempt but Ikola pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.

Jortikka drives through and clinches with Ikola against the cage.
Jortikka wants to break free but Ikola has control.

Ikola has picked Jortikka up - he's going for a ride! Ikola dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Jortikka wants to control but Ikola is keeping busy.
Jortikka wants to improve his position but Ikola is controlling well.
Ikola is looking to take a break and control but Jortikka is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Ikola lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Ikola seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Jortikka does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
Jortikka punching from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikola prevents Jortikka from improving his position.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Ikola takes a kick to the side of the head.

It looks like Osmo Ikola has been cut.
Ikola is breathing heavily.
Jortikka scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Jortikka defending well as Ikola loads up on a big left hand.
Jortikka has a takedown stuffed.
Jortikka tries for a takedown but Ikola sees it coming a mile off and avoids it easily.
Osmo Ikola has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Kauko Jortikka.
Jortikka lands a kick to the ribs of his opponent. Nice work there - in and out in a flash.
Jortikka keeping his hands up high there, blocking the jab from Ikola.
Ikola throws a lazy head kick

and Jortikka counters by moving into the clinch.
Jortikka drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Ikola gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Jortikka lands a nice uppercut.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ikola has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Jortikka avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Jortikka is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.

Jortikka decides to pull guard.

Jortikka scrambles and gets back to his feet.

Jortikka decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half 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!
Ikola is staying active underneath Jortikka, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Ikola is looking to control Jortikka's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Ikola avoid being mounted?
Ikola is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Jortikka controlling the action here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ikola wants to get back to full guard.
Jortikka tries to pass the half guard into mount. Ikola knows what he's doing though and prevents the attempt.
Ikola on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Ikola tries to get out of the position.
Ikola wants to get back to full guard.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Jortikka works over Ikola's head and body with a nice combination.
Jortikka shoots in but no luck this time.
Ikola misses with a leg kick

and Jortikka moves into the clinch.
Ikola goes for a takedown attempt but Jortikka pushes him away and we're back to fighting at a distance.
Ikola is looking to clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Ikola wants to clinch up but Jortikka keeps it at a distance.

Jortikka closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Ikola to the mat! Ikola manages to get full guard.
Jortikka preventing the sweep.
Jortikka trying to control the position from guard on top but Ikola is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jortikka pushing down on Ikola's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Ikola tries to kick Jortikka off but Jortikka keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Ikola moves into full guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

Ikola has his foot on Jortikka's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Jortikka works his way back into a safe position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kauko Jortikka dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Osmo Ikola's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Ikola fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Jortikka sprawls well initially but Ikola persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Ikola with the ground and pound but Jortikka uses the opportunity to regain guard.
Ikola trying to control the position from guard on top but Jortikka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Jortikka looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.
Ikola trying to control the position from guard on top but Jortikka is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Jortikka punching from the bottom.
Jortikka is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Ikola throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Jortikka works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Ikola wants to control from the top but Jortikka keeps moving.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Jortikka has his foot on Ikola's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ikola works his way back into a safe position though.
Ikola postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Jortikka wants to sweep but no luck.
Ikola trying to control but Jortikka is working from the bottom.
Jortikka looking to control.
Ikola connects with a couple of short punches.
Jortikka is looking to stand up but Ikola isn't so interested in that idea.
Jortikka is trying to keep Ikola in close.

That's two 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.
Ikola wants to control from the top but Jortikka keeps moving.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jortikka tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Ikola paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Jortikka gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Ikola counters with a single leg into guard. Jortikka didn't expect that.
Ikola preventing the sweep.
Ikola trying to control but Jortikka is working from the bottom.
Jortikka manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Ikola manages to get himself to full guard.
Ikola trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Jortikka is on the wrong end of a couple of strikes there.

Ikola looking for subs off his back but Jortikka has passed one foot through into half guard.

Ikola is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Jortikka pulls his head out easily.
Jortikka wants to lay and pray for a moment but Ikola keeps working.

Jortikka is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
It looks like Jortikka is going to stand back up.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Jortikka thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Ikola has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Jortikka is working away from the top position though.
Jortikka is keen to just control but Ikola is a slippery customer.
Ikola is trying to maintain the position but Jortikka is very close to passing his half guard.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Jortikka shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Ikola but Ikola pushes him off and we're back to square one.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Osmo Ikola dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Osmo Ikola's cut.
That's time! Back to the action! The crowd applaud as we get ready to start the final round!

Ikola gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Jortikka unloads a knee to the mid-section. Ikola lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.

Ikola has hold of one of Jortikka's legs. Jortikka is fighting the takedown attempt but Ikola gets the trip and lands the takedown into guard.
Jortikka working a defensive guard here.
Jortikka keeping full guard, as Ikola tries to pass.
Jortikka lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Ikola!
Ikola flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Jortikka fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Jortikka working to secure an arm triangle but it's not happening for him just yet.
Ikola tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Jortikka landing strikes from the mount and Ikola is in trouble!
Jortikka landing strikes from the mount and Ikola is in trouble!
Ikola is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Ikola flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Jortikka trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Jortikka looking to finish Ikola with some ground and pound. This is bad for Ikola!

Jortikka goes for an armbar but Ikola turns quickly into his guard - lovely anticipation from Ikola.
Osmo Ikola overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Ikola wants to control from the top but Jortikka keeps moving.
Jortikka wants to stand but Ikola is controlling the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Ikola wants to pass the guard but Jortikka is keeping the position.
Ikola is looking to work some ground and pound but Jortikka has wrist control.
Jortikka thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Jortikka wants to stand but Ikola is controlling the position.
Jortikka trying to control the position.

Jortikka working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Ikola doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Ikola manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Ikola closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Jortikka looks like he's trying to stand up.
Jortikka slips a foot under and gets full guard. Nice work.
Ikola is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Ikola accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Ikola is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.

Jortikka has his foot on Ikola's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Ikola works his way back into a safe position though.
Jortikka thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Ikola wants to control from the top but Jortikka keeps moving.

And that's the end of the fight!
Osmo Ikola showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Ikola has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:28
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 29:28
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Osmo Ikola!