PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Kalle Kala (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Slava Tikhonov (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Well, I have no idea who's going to take this one!

Kala
vs
Tikhonov

180 cm
23
180 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

180 cm
24
177 lbs
4 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
Brawler
Very quick

BJJ Brown 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, Kalle Kala!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Slava Tikhonov!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kala swings and misses with a hook to the body.
Tikhonov throws a nice looking combination but Kala bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Kala tries to clinch but Tikhonov moves out of range.
Kala fails miserably with a takedown attempt.
Kala throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Tikhonov's waist but Tikhonov gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Kala off to one side.
A left lands for Kala.
Tikhonov tries to grapple but his opponent circles
and Kala counters with a straight right hand.

Kala closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kala looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Kala lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tikhonov is pressing down on Kala's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikhonov looking to control.

Tikhonov looking for a guillotine here but Kala defends easily.

Tikhonov is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Kala is aware though and is defending well.

Kala got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tikhonov has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Kala has managed to get both his arms back between Tikhonov's legs - danger averted.
Tikhonov working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Kala.
Tikhonov tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Kala showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Tikhonov keeping moving, preventing Kala from controlling successfully.
Kala is looking to work some ground and pound but Tikhonov has wrist control.

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.
Kala tries to free his leg and advance position but Tikhonov is retaining full guard.
Kala is working hard here to advance position.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kala fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tikhonov manages to avoid it.
Kala tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tikhonov was well out of range. Poor timing from Kala.
Tikhonov throws a series of punches but Kala avoids them all with ease.
Kala thows a body shot but no joy.
Tikhonov tries to close the distance and clinch up but Kala swats him away and circles back towards the center.

Tikhonov fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Kala, pushing him back against the cage.
Kala is trying to drag Tikhonov to the mat but Tikhonov just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Kalle Kala. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Tikhonov wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Kala tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Tikhonov smiles and moves away.
Tikhonov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.

Tikhonov clinches up with Kala and pushes him back against the cage.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tikhonov breaks the clinch.
No joy there for Tikhonov, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kala dives in and grabs Tikhonov's left leg, looking for a takedown. Tikhonov pushes down on Kala's head and hops out.
Nice sprawl there from Kala as Tikhonov shoots in.
Kala has his takedown stuffed

and Tikhonov moves into the clinch.
Tikhonov is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Tikhonov is pressed up against the cage. Kala has hold of a leg and is looking to drag Tikhonov down to the mat. Tikhonov avoids the attempt though and has circled away. We're back to striking at a distance.
Tikhonov throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Kala sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Kala swings for the body but Tikhonov moves out of range.
Kala closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.

Kala shoots in looking for a single leg takedown. Tikhonov is trying to defend but Kala finishes it well and ends up in half guard. Let's see if he can advance position further.
Kala working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kala thows a huge punch but Tikhonov dodges it nicely.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Kala is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tikhonov landing strikes from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kala is trying to control. Tikhonov wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tikhonov punching from the bottom.
Tikhonov is trying to get back to full guard.
Tikhonov is trying to maintain the position but Kala is very close to passing his half guard.

Kala is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Tikhonov swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kala counters with a nice body shot.
Kala scores with a hook to the body. Tikhonov takes a step back and tries to catch his breath.
Kala throws a right and a left that both miss.

Tikhonov takes the fight into the clinch.
Tikhonov stops a takedown attempt from Kala.
Kala is breathing heavily.

Tikhonov escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

Kala scores with a takedown into Tikhonov's guard.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kala thows a big elbow that misses.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Kalle Kala dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tikhonov misses with a double jab
and Kala counters with a three punch combo that has Tikhonov backing up. Tikhonov nods at Kala to acknowledge the strikes.
Kalle Kala seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Nice takedown defense from Kala. No joy for Tikhonov on that attempt.
Kala cracks Tikhonov with a nice right hand that draws applause from the crowd.
Tikhonov misses with a jab, cross combination.
Kala displaying good standup as he scores with a three punch combination.

It looks like Slava Tikhonov has been cut.
Tikhonov gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kala makes him pay by landing a nice hook to the body before moving out of range.

Kala drops down and drives through with a powerful takedown into guard.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tikhonov keeping moving, preventing Kala from controlling successfully.
Tikhonov keeping full guard, as Kala tries to pass.
Tikhonov controls Kala momentarily but Kala frees himself.
Tikhonov is breathing heavily.
Tikhonov utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikhonov keeping moving, preventing Kala from controlling successfully.
Tikhonov is trying to control the position but Kala postures up.
Tikhonov looking to hit a scissor sweep but Kala is one step ahead there.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tikhonov keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Kala just misses with a punch to the body.
Kala throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tikhonov misses with a combination

and Kala counters with a single leg into guard. Tikhonov didn't expect that.
Kala stands up over Tikhonov, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.

Tikhonov escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kala gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.

Tikhonov looking for submissions from the bottom but instead Kala passes into half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kala slips a nice elbow through Tikhonov's hands, connecting with Tikhonov's forehead.
Tikhonov on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Kala lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kala trying to control from half guard but Tikhonov is working away.
Tikhonov misses with some strikes from the bottom.
Tikhonov manages to get to full guard.
Kala trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kala pushing down on Tikhonov's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kala passes the half guard and he's now in mount! Big trouble for Tikhonov!
Tikhonov tries to lock up and control but Kala gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Kala tries to control but Tikhonov wriggling away.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Tikhonov wants to control but Kala is having none of it.
Tikhonov taking shots to the head.
Kala can't control as he wanted to and Tikhonov manages to get the fight back to his half guard.
Kala wants to pass to mount but Tikhonov is defending the position.
Tikhonov wants to get back to full guard.
Kala trying to control from Tikhonov's half guard. Tikhonov has other ideas though and has regained full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikhonov keeping moving, preventing Kala from controlling successfully.
Kala stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Tikhonov swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tikhonov wants to improve his position but instead Kala has moved into half guard.
Tikhonov wants to get back to full guard.
Tikhonov gets back to full guard.
Kala is stalling in the full guard.
Kala knows he needs to get back to his feet asap. He's simply no match for Tikhonov on the ground.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kala trying to control the position from guard on top but Tikhonov is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Tikhonov is looking to sinch up a triangle. Kala throws the leg off to one side though and gets in tight to Tikhonov's body to avoid the submission. Tikhonov has instead reached around Kala's neck and now has a guillotine! Oh, this is biiiig trouble! Tikhonov arches his back and squeezes and forces the tap from his hapless opponent.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:56 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Guillotine). Slava Tikhonov!