PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tapio Tapsanen (ranked 25466 p4p, 5694 weight class) and Vito Gambini (ranked 707 p4p, 594 weight class). The key to victory for Tapio Tapsanen has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Tapsanen
vs
Gambini

221 cm
19
277
0 - 5 - 0

190 cm
18
264
1 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent MT
Very strong

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Tends to cut

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 0 - 5 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Tapio Tapsanen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of The Island, Vito Gambini!
The judges for this bout are Dirk Anderson, Peter Branson and Bart Greer.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tapsanen checks the leg kick.
Gambini moves into range and lands a nice leg kick.
Tapsanen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Tapsanen misses with a hook
and Gambini counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
Both fighters circling a little - Gambini finishes the exchange with a kick to the body.
Gambini throws a hook but Tapsanen avoids it easily.
Tapsanen throws a big counter combination but Gambini scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Gambini swings wildly with a couple of big hooks

and Tapsanen counters with a single leg into guard. Gambini didn't expect that.

Tapsanen decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on Gambini, up you get!
Tapsanen dodges the punch combination from Gambini.
Gambini throws a right and a left that Tapsanen avoids nicely.
Gambini throws a one two combo.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gambini throws a lazy right hand but Tapsanen sees it coming a mile off and sidesteps it easily.
Tapsanen was looking to counter that move with a punch but didn't quite pull the trigger.
Gambini looks to land a body kick but Tapsanen moved away.
Tapsanen seem to be loading up, looking for a big counter.
Vito Gambini is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Tapsanen tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Gambini was well out of range. Poor timing from Tapsanen.
Tapsanen with a hook.
Gambini fails to land with a series of punches.
Tapsanen lands a nice shot that snaps Gambini's head back.
Vito Gambini seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tapsanen scores with a decent looking hook.
Gambini misses with a looping right.
Gambini misses with a combination
and Tapsanen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
Tapsanen staying out of range there.
Tapsanen lands a right hook to the body.
We can't be sure of the tactics at this early stage but we have heard that Gambini has been working on his takedowns a lot in the buildup to the fight and we can only assume he's going to look to take this to the mat.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Gambini swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Tapsanen counters with a lovely shot to the body.
Tapsanen blocks a head kick by Gambini.
Gambini looks winded!

Tapsanen decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.

Gambini makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
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!
Tapsanen misses with a hook.
Gambini let fly with a counter punch to the body but it didn't land.
Gambini throws a right and a left that Tapsanen avoids nicely.
Tapsanen is looking for a counter combo.
Gambini swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tapsanen was looking to counter that last move with a shot to the body but he didn't commit.
Tapsanen throws an overhand right that lands on Gambini's shoulder, as Gambini tries to avoid the shot.
Gambini misses with the combination.

Tapsanen closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Gambini did well to prevent Tapsanen getting side control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tapsanen stands up out of the half guard.
Gambini misses with a low kick.
A quick step to the side and Tapsanen tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.
Gambini takes a punch right to his stomach. That took the wind out of him momentarily.
Tapsanen throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Gambini misses with a combination
and Gambini takes a counter punch right on the button for his troubles.
Gambini slips a straight right by Tapsanen.
Gambini misses with the combination.
Tapsanen keeps his opponent at a distance with a nice jab.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tapsanen scores with a nice right hand.
A combination from Gambini does no damage.
Gambini throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Tapsanen counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Tapsanen lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Gambini at a distance.
Gambini keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Tapsanen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.

Gambini manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
The crowd applaud the fighters' efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Gambini falls off balance throwing a combination
and Tapsanen makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.
And that is the end of the round. The fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Tapio Tapsanen will probably get the nod.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action.

Tapsanen misses with a head kick.
Tapsanen avoids a kick to the body.
Gambini misses with a two punch combination.
Tapsanen definitely looks more muscular than last time we saw him fight.
Gambini misses with a kick to the body.
Tapsanen throws a big counter combination but Gambini scrambles out of danger and avoids any damage.
Tapsanen throws a jab when Gambini was well out of range.

Tapsanen shoots in and scores a nice double leg takedown into half guard.

Tapsanen stands up from half guard... He's had enough of that ground malarky for the time being.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tapsanen throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Gambini sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Tapio Tapsanen is winning the standup battle so far.
Gambini misses with the combination.
A quick step to the side and Tapsanen tries to counter with a shot to the body but it doesn't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Gambini throws a left and a right that both miss
and Tapsanen connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tapsanen lands a pitter patter jab to the forehead of his opponent.
Gambini throws a left and a right that both miss
and Tapsanen counters with a left to the body.
Gambini is breathing heavily.
Gambini throws a left and a right that both miss
and Tapsanen counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.
Tapsanen looks to land a left hand but Gambini moved out of range nicely.
Gambini follows through with a counter body kick but it doesn't land.
Tapsanen with a hook.

It looks like Vito Gambini has been cut.
Gambini should think about turning a few of those tyres round his middle into muscle if he wants people to take him seriously as an athlete.
Gambini throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Tapsanen counters with a one-two to the body.
Vito Gambini is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tapsanen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Gambini has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Gambini there as he acknowledges the shot.

Gambini is rocked!
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tapsanen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Gambini is still on wobbly legs! Can Tapsanen finish him?
Tapsanen cracks Gambini with a nasty uppercut that draws ooohs from the crowd and sends Gambini tumbling backwards onto the mat. He tries to recover but Tapsanen pounces and lands a hail of unanswered strikes that forces the referee to step in to end the fight! Gambini is not happy but he gave the referee no choice!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Tapio Tapsanen!