PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kalevi Kostaja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Herb Tarlic (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kostaja comes to the cage accompanied by SMC Hoodrats. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Kostaja
vs
Tarlic

195 cm
24
270 lbs
3 - 4 - 1

200 cm
23
253 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid boxing
KO power

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Intelligent

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 3 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Kalevi Kostaja!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Herb Tarlic!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Matti Vanhoillinen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kostaja ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Tarlic moves away.

Kostaja shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Let's see what he's got on the mat.

Tarlic looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

Tarlic is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Kostaja trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Tarlic is working an open guard so Kostaja takes the opportunity to get back to his feet.
Kostaja tries to clinch up but Tarlic circles away and keeps his distance.
Kostaja throws a series of punches but Tarlic moves out of range.
Tarlic takes a step back and watches a body kick go sailing past his mid section.
Kostaja fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tarlic manages to avoid it.
Tarlic looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Kostaja is fending him off so far but Tarlic persists. Nope, Kostaja circles away and we're back to standing.
Tarlic avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Tarlic looks to land a right hand but Kostaja moved out of range.

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

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tarlic is nestled in close to Kostaja, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Tarlic lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tarlic winds up and cracks Kostaja with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
Kostaja on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Kostaja tries to get out of the position.
Tarlic is thwarting Kostaja's attempts to control the position.
Tarlic working over Kostaja with some ground and pound. Kostaja looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Tarlic is keen to just control but Kostaja is a slippery customer.
Tarlic thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Kostaja's head.
Kostaja is looking for a sweep. Tarlic is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tarlic has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tarlic looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kostaja looks like he's trying to stand up.
Kostaja is refusing to be controlled, as Tarlic sits in half guard.
Kostaja is looking to get full guard. It looks like he might be successful but at the last minute Tarlic jumps into side control!
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kostaja is not content to let Tarlic control the position.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Kostaja misses with a looping left.
Tarlic uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Kostaja.
Tarlic lands a glancing blow to the side of Kostaja's head.
Kostaja doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tarlic counters with a nice body shot.
Kostaja is breathing heavily.

Tarlic closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kostaja is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tarlic scores with a couple of nice shots.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kostaja has hold of Tarlic's hands but Tarlic slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Tarlic moves into full mount! Kostaja won't be happy about that!
Kostaja is desperately trying to improve his position but Tarlic has a good base and remains in mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tarlic punishing his opponent with strikes.
Tarlic with good strikes from the mount here!
Tarlic landing punches.
Tarlic breaks from Kostaja's wrist control and lands an elbow.

Tarlic is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Kostaja can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Tarlic landing strikes, looking to finish!
Tarlic lands a big shot there that rocks Kostaja but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tarlic lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Kostaja is wriggling around trying to escape.

Tarlic is working for a guillotine from mount but Kostaja frees his head quite easily.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Kostaja'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.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tarlic wants to finish this one by submission but Kostaja is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Tarlic.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kostaja is looking to improve his position but Tarlic isn't that keen on the idea.
Kostaja slips a leg in and gets back to half guard.

Tarlic seems to be working for a kimura but Kostaja defends the submission attempt.
Kostaja is in trouble now - Tarlic has advanced to mount!
Tarlic landing strikes from the mount.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tarlic lands a nice shot to the head.
Kostaja really wants to buck Tarlic off and get back to his feet.
Tarlic prevents Kostaja from getting the reversal.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Herb Tarlic dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tarlic feints and as Kostaja raises his hands in defense, Tarlic changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tarlic won't allow Kostaja to get back to his feet.
Tarlic trying to control the position from guard on top but Kostaja is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tarlic with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.

Tarlic is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Herb Tarlic has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tarlic is standing up over Kostaja. Kostaja looks to escape but Tarlic dives into side control.

Tarlic is working to tighten is grip on Kostaja's neck. He's isolated an arm and is working for an arm triangle. Kostaja has recognised the danger and is trying to turn with the submission but Tarlic is really squeezing tight and eventually Kostaja passes out! Tarlic breaks the hold and jumps onto the cage to celebrate! Submission of the night, I'd say!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:55 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Arm Triangle). Herb Tarlic!