PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Jorma Kovanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Arto Takalaukaus (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?

Kovanen
vs
Takalaukaus

182 cm
24
180 lbs
8 - 1 - 0

178 cm
24
180 lbs
7 - 2 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

Syndicate Drugs

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the welterweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Jorma Kovanen!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Arto Takalaukaus!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Ben Zyskovitsi and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Takalaukaus missing with a left hand there. Kovanen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kovanen avoids a lazy jab quite easily.
Takalaukaus avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Takalaukaus scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Kovanen is looking to clinch.
Kovanen doesn't manage to clinch there - Takalaukaus circles away.
Kovanen is looking to clinch.
Kovanen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takalaukaus swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kovanen swings away with a leg kick that misses.
Takalaukaus fails to land with a series of punches.
Takalaukaus misses with a wild combination.
Takalaukaus missing with a left hand there. Kovanen was out of range so wasted energy throwing that one.
Kovanen tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Takalaukaus throws a body punch but Kovanen moves out of range.
Kovanen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Kovanen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Kovanen takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Takalaukaus misses with an uppercut. Kovanen saw that one coming.
Kovanen connects with a high kick.

It looks like Arto Takalaukaus has been cut.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Takalaukaus misses with a jab, cross combination.
Takalaukaus looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Arto Takalaukaus seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Takalaukaus throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kovanen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Takalaukaus swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Kovanen tries to clinch but Takalaukaus is having none of it.
A telegraphed right hand from Takalaukaus misses the target.
Takalaukaus misses the shot to the body.
Takalaukaus throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Kovanen.
Takalaukaus gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Kovanen.

Kovanen forces Takalaukaus back against the cage and clinches.
Kovanen is trying to slow down the pace of the fight but Takalaukaus is keeping busy.
Kovanen lands a knee to the body.
Takalaukaus looks gassed!
Takalaukaus tries to break free but Kovanen pushes him back against the cage.
Takalaukaus tries to break the clinch but Kovanen is controlling the position.
Kovanen scores with a knee to the head.
Kovanen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Kovanen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Takalaukaus gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Kovanen throws a knee to the head but misses.
Kovanen lands a good knee to the midsection. Takalaukaus won't want to take too many of those.
Takalaukaus wants to break the clinch but can't.
Takalaukaus dodges an elbow strike from Kovanen.
Kovanen is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Takalaukaus pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Takalaukaus wants to break free but Kovanen has control.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kovanen misses with a knee to the head.
Kovanen goes for a takedown in the clinch but Takalaukaus prevents it.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Jorma Kovanen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Kovanen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Takalaukaus has had enough of the clinch but Kovanen keeps him there for the moment.
Kovanen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Takalaukaus's face.
Kovanen with a knee to the head.

That has opened up Arto Takalaukaus's cut even more.
Kovanen with the Thai clinch. He's looking to land a big knee but he's not managed it this time.
Kovanen connects with a knee to the head.
Kovanen tries to land knees in the clinch but Takalaukaus avoids the damage to the body.
Kovanen lands a nice knee to the body.
Kovanen lands a knee to the head.
Kovanen with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Kovanen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Kovanen misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Takalaukaus.
Takalaukaus blocks an uppercut.
Kovanen misses with a body punch.
Takalaukaus tries to break free but Kovanen pushes him back against the cage.
Takalaukaus wants to break free but Kovanen has control.
Kovanen tries to land knees in the clinch but Takalaukaus avoids the damage to the body.
Takalaukaus tries to circle away but Kovanen has him pinned against the cage.
Takalaukaus on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A frustrated look appears on Takalaukaus's face as he tries to break the clinch.
Takalaukaus working hard to break the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takalaukaus tries to break free but Kovanen pushes him back against the cage.
Kovanen misses with a knee to the head.
Kovanen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Takalaukaus is defending well for now.
Takalaukaus tries to break the clinch but Kovanen is controlling the position.
Kovanen misses with a knee to the head.
Kovanen lands a knee to the head.
Kovanen tries for a takedown. No joy.
Takalaukaus tries to circle away but Kovanen has him pinned against the cage.
Kovanen is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.
Takalaukaus working hard to break the clinch.
Kovanen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Takalaukaus backwards.
Kovanen lands a knee to the body.
Kovanen prevents Takalaukaus from breaking the clinch.
Takalaukaus tries to break the clinch but Kovanen is controlling the position.
Takalaukaus tries to circle away but Kovanen has him pinned against the cage.
Kovanen landing knees to the head.
Kovanen tries for a takedown but Takalaukaus manages to get underhooks.
Takalaukaus takes a knee right on the jaw!
Kovanen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Takalaukaus has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Takalaukaus tries to break free but Kovanen pushes him back against the cage.
Kovanen looking for a takedown.
Kovanen tries to work over Takalaukaus's body with a swooping hook but it only glances the target.
Takalaukaus is trying to break free.

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.
Takalaukaus looks like he'd prefer to be striking at range right now.
Takalaukaus is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Kovanen scores with a knee to the head.
Kovanen tries for a takedown but Takalaukaus manages to get underhooks.

Takalaukaus breaks the clinch.
Takalaukaus scores with a decent looking hook.
Kovanen tries to clinch but Takalaukaus moves out of range.

Kovanen gets a clinch.
Takalaukaus is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Takalaukaus managing to block the knees to the body from Kovanen.
Knees to the body from Kovanen.
Kovanen misses with a knee to the head.

Takalaukaus manages to break the clinch.
Takalaukaus throws a hook but Kovanen avoids it easily.
Kovanen uses decent footwork to sidestep a right hand from Takalaukaus.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Takalaukaus rushes forward with a series of wild hooks but Kovanen moves out of range and avoids them all easily.
Kovanen has his head slapped from side to side by a 3 punch combination. That must have hurt him.
Kovanen tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Kovanen wants to clinch.
Kovanen doesn't manage to clinch there - Takalaukaus circles away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jorma Kovanen dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Arto Takalaukaus's cut.
That's time! Kovanen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Takalaukaus clobbers Kovanen with an overhand right that has the crowd gasping. That made a horrendous noise.
Kovanen dodges the punch combination from Takalaukaus.

Kovanen changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Takalaukaus looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.

Kovanen is trying to land an Americana. He has the arm isolated but Takalaukaus is keeping cool and he's avoided the danger for now.
Kovanen is looking to take a break and control but Takalaukaus is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Kovanen is trying to ground and pound but Takalaukaus uses the momentary lack of control by Kovanen to regain half guard.
Takalaukaus is breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Takalaukaus is in trouble now - Kovanen has advanced to mount!

Kovanen has hold of Takalaukaus's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Takalaukaus manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Kovanen takes Takalaukaus's back. Could be looking for a rear naked choke here - either way, Takalaukaus is in trouble.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Kovanen has his arm under Takalaukaus's chin here. Game over son! Kovanen squeezes tightly and Takalaukaus is forced to tap out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:21 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Jorma Kovanen!
Jorma Kovanen retains his welterweight title!