PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Alexander Larsen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Toni Valtonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Larsen
vs
Valtonen

200 cm
18
250 lbs
0 - 2 - 0

186 cm
18
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Good in bed

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
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 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexander Larsen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Toni Valtonen!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Marco Blurström and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Larsen tries to score a power double leg takedown but Valtonen sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Larsen somewhat.
Valtonen cracks Larsen with a right hand to the side of the head.
Larsen slips a jab and a cross from Valtonen.
Larsen shoots for a double leg takedown but Valtonen sprawls well. He's pushed Larsen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Valtonen fakes a head punch and goes low to the body. Nicely done.
Larsen shoots for a takedown but Valtonen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Larsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A slow jab from Valtonen misses its intended target.
Valtonen pushing out the jab but it's not landing.

Larsen feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Larsen pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Valtonen is keeping the position for now.
Valtonen pulls Larsen in to control the position.
Larsen won't allow Valtonen to sweep him here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Larsen trying to control but Valtonen is working from the bottom.
Larsen is breathing heavily.
Valtonen trying to keep a closed guard but Larsen is proving a slippery customer.
Valtonen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

Valtonen working for a triangle but Larsen defends it easily.
Larsen stopping the sweep attempt from Valtonen.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Larsen postures up.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Valtonen can't keep his opponent in guard - Larsen advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Valtonen is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.
Larsen is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.
Larsen looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Larsen is trying to control the action in half guard but Valtonen is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Valtonen holds on for dear life, maintaining half guard for now.
Larsen stalling away here and it's allowed Valtonen to slip out his trapped foot and regain full guard.
Larsen showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Larsen wants to control from the top but Valtonen keeps moving.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Alexander Larsen just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
A nice combination there by Valtonen.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Valtonen misses with a wild combination.
Valtonen leaves Larsen with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Valtonen throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
A combination from Valtonen does no damage.
Valtonen stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Valtonen wants it to stay on the feet.
Valtonen works Larsen's body with a nice hook.
Valtonen fails to land with the punch combination there - jab, cross, hook, miss, miss, miss.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toni Valtonen dominated that round.
That's time! Larsen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight.

Valtonen stuns Larsen with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Valtonen will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Donk. Valtonen catches Larsen right on the button with a cross.
Larsen changes levels and looks for a double leg takedown. Valtonen tries to avoid it but Larsen manages to keep hold of a leg and drag Valtonen to the ground. Valtonen escapes though and pops straight back up to his feet.
Larsen shoots in for a double leg but Valtonen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Valtonen scores with a punch to the gut of his opponent.
Larsen dodges the punch combination from Valtonen.
Valtonen swings for the body but Larsen moves out of range.
Valtonen throws a jab to the body, straight down the pipe. Boom. That sent Larsen stumbling backwards but he manages to regain his composure quickly.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valtonen throws a right and a left that Larsen avoids nicely.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Valtonen closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Valtonen swinging wildly here.
A nice combination there by Valtonen.
Valtonen is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Larsen rather than just go for the knockout.
Valtonen throws a right hand that Larsen ducks under and follows up with a left that Larsen also avoids with ease.
Larsen shoots in and drives through. Valtonen sprawls well.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Larsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Valtonen throws a nice looking combination but Larsen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Valtonen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Valtonen misses with a jab, cross combination.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Valtonen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Larsen.
Valtonen 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.
Valtonen takes a swing at Larsen's ribcage but misses.
A punch combination from Valtonen misses.
Larsen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Valtonen's waist but Valtonen gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Larsen off to one side.
Valtonen throws a nice looking combination but Larsen bobs and weaves to avoid any damage.
Valtonen tries to bum rush Larsen with a series of wild strikes but Larsen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Valtonen throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.

Larsen shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
Valtonen wants to control but Larsen is keeping busy.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsen tries to pass to full mount but Valtonen defends it.
Larsen is keen to just control but Valtonen is a slippery customer.
Larsen is looking to advance position but Valtonen won't allow it.
Larsen wants to take a breather but Valtonen is having none of it.
Valtonen wants to control but Larsen is keeping busy and won't allow it.

Larsen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Larsen looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Larsen displays some good footwork, moving neatly out of range as Valtonen throws out the jab.
Valtonen defends well against a solid takedown attempt from Larsen.
Valtonen misses with a series of wild punches.
Larsen shoots in for a double leg but Valtonen sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Larsen closes the distance and clinches up with Valtonen, looking for a takedown. Larsen pushes Valtonen against the cage but Valtonen circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Valtonen throws a right hand that Larsen ducks under and follows up with a left that Larsen also avoids with ease.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Toni Valtonen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Larsen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Valtonen avoids it really well and circles away.
Valtonen misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Valtonen looks to land a combination but Larsen avoids it well.
Toni Valtonen seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Larsen slips a jab and a cross from Valtonen.
Valtonen misses with a body shot.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Larsen shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Valtonen as he jumps to the side.
Larsen staying out of range there.
Horrible takedown by Larsen or perhaps it was just good defense by Valtonen which made him look bad.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Alexander Larsen. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Valtonen misses with a two punch combination.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Valtonen uses good footwork to get in and out, landing a nice hook.
Some wild striking there from Valtonen.
Valtonen throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Valtonen stuffs the takedown.
Toni Valtonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Valtonen swings for the body but Larsen moves out of range.
Valtonen lands with an overhand left.
Larsen shoots in looking for a takedown. Valtonen tries to sprawl out of it but Larsen keeps driving through. The fighters are pinned against the cage. Valtonen manages to get underhooks and after a bit of a struggle, circles away and we're back to standing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Some wild striking there from Valtonen.
Alexander Larsen is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Valtonen scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Larsen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Larsen shoots for a takedown but Valtonen saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Valtonen lands a head shot.
Toni Valtonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Valtonen misses with a wild body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Larsen tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Valtonen swivels and escapes.
Valtonen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Larsen.
A left and a right from Valtonen both land. Nice combination.
Valtonen scores with a three punch combo!
Larsen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Larsen fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Valtonen misses the shot to the body.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
No luck for Larsen with that takedown attempt.
Valtonen tries to bum rush Larsen with a series of wild strikes but Larsen uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Alexander Larsen has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
No joy there for Valtonen, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Larsen fakes high and shoots in for a takedown but Valtonen avoids it really well and circles away.
Valtonen fails to land with a series of punches.
Toni Valtonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Larsen connects with a jab.

And that's the end of the fight!
Toni Valtonen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Valtonen winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 27:30
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Toni Valtonen!