PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Tommi Kauri (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Alexei Kropotkin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kropotkin has chosen Boy prodolzhaetsya by Ariya as his entrance music. Kropotkin has a niggling injury. He would have liked to come in 100% fit but that's not always possible. On his way into the cage it seems that Tommi Kauri has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Tommi Kauri seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Kauri
vs
Kropotkin

194 cm
19
217 lbs
4 - 1 - 0

190 cm
22
208 lbs
3 - 1 - 0

Good wrestling
Counter striker
Very quick

BJJ White Belt
Basic striking
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the light heavyweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 4 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tommi Kauri!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Alexei Kropotkin!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Tarja Halkonen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Kauri drops his hands momentarily and Kropotkin takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
A left and a right from Kauri both land. Nice combination.
Kropotkin falls off balance throwing a combination
and Kauri counters with a right hand to the body.
Kropotkin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
A left and a right from Kauri both land. Nice combination.
Kropotkin doesn't react quick enough there as he takes a shot to the body.
Kropotkin thows a leg kick but Kauri checks it

so Kauri counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kauri tries to free his leg and advance position but Kropotkin is retaining full guard.
Kropotkin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kropotkin utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kauri working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Kropotkin keeping full guard, as Kauri tries to pass.
Kauri trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Kauri lands a couple of digs.
Kauri keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Kropotkin's head.
Kauri distracts Kropotkin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kauri throwing strikes from guard but Kropotkin blocks nicely.
Kauri lands a couple of elbows.
Kauri cracks Kropotkin with a solid left hand.
Kauri landing with the ground and pound.
Kauri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kauri lands a couple of digs.
Kauri postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Kauri trying to control but Kropotkin is working from the bottom.
Kauri throws a strike but Kropotkin rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Kauri looking for a sweep. Not yet Kauri, not yet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kauri lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kropotkin!
Kauri scores with a couple of good head shots there.
A nice elbow there by Kauri.
Kauri cracks Kropotkin with a nasty head shot there - the crowd let out an audible gasp there, as the noise reverberated around the arena.
Kropotkin looks gassed!
Kauri in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Kauri pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
BOOM! Kauri connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Kauri working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Kauri landing strikes from the mount and Kropotkin is in trouble!
Kauri scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kropotkin?
Kauri punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kropotkin is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kauri lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Kauri working the ground and pound effectively.
Kauri lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Kauri has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Kauri lands a big elbow.
Kauri landing strikes, looking to finish!
Kauri lands with some strikes.
Kauri tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Kropotkin tries to hold on but Kauri postures up.
Kropotkin is squirming around, avoiding Kauri's attempts to control the action.
Kropotkin is in a horrible position here. Kauri smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Kauri fakes a shot to the body and cracks his opponent in the head. Nice ground and pound there!
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kropotkin taking shots to the head.
Kropotkin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kauri. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kauri breaks from Kropotkin's wrist control and lands an elbow.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kauri cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Kauri looking to control but Kropotkin is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kauri lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Kropotkin hang on?
Kauri lands a big shot there that rocks Kropotkin but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kauri working the ground and pound effectively.
Kauri scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Kropotkin?
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kauri lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kropotkin is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.
Kropotkin is in a horrible position here. Kauri smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommi Kauri dominated that round.
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.

Kauri lands with a hook. Kropotkin tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Kauri slips under a jab from Kropotkin.
Kropotkin looks to score with a jab to the body but Kauri is just out of range.
Kropotkin pushing out the jab but it's not landing.
Kauri looks for the body kick but Kropotkin saw that one coming.
Kropotkin throws a predictable looking body shot
and Kauri counters with a stiff right hand.
No joy there for Kropotkin, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Kropotkin throws a nice outside leg kick.
Kauri closes the distance and lands a one-two.
Alexei Kropotkin seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Kropotkin takes one to the chin there.

Kauri shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Kropotkin's guard.
Kropotkin keeping moving, preventing Kauri from controlling successfully.
Kauri looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kauri scoring with some ground and pound.
Kropotkin is breathing heavily.
Kauri with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kauri landing some decent shots from guard.
Kauri loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kauri postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Kauri is sitting in guard, working some ground and pound.
Kropotkin is trying to control the position but Kauri postures up.
Kropotkin has momentary wrist control but Kauri slips an elbow through the middle.
Kauri working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kropotkin's head.
Kropotkin preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Kauri works over Kropotkin with some ground and pound from guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kauri scoring with punches to the head and body.
We get told so often about how wrestlers don't like to be on their backs. Let's see if Kropotkin can do anything to dispel that myth.
Kauri wants to control from the top but Kropotkin keeps moving.
Kauri postures up and lands a big shot to Kropotkin's brow.
Kauri with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Kauri stands up over Kropotkin, holding his feet. He dives back in and lands a decent shot to the head.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Kropotkin escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Kauri gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Kauri postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Tommi Kauri overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Kauri advances to half guard.
Kauri working Kropotkin over with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kauri seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kauri working over Kropotkin with some ground and pound. Kropotkin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kropotkin has hold of Kauri's hands but Kauri slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kauri connects with a nice short shot to Kropotkin's temple.
Kauri lands with a punch from half guard.
Kauri slips a nice elbow through Kropotkin's hands, connecting with Kropotkin's forehead.
Kauri is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Ground and pound from Kauri.
Kauri is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kauri wants to take a breather but Kropotkin is having none of it.
Kropotkin is trying to stand back up but Kauri is controlling him
Kauri trying to control the action but Kropotkin is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kauri is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Kauri looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kauri looks to score some points with some ground and pound.
Kauri winds up and cracks Kropotkin with a swinging punch to the side of the head.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Kauri connects with a nice short shot to Kropotkin's temple.
Kropotkin has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Kauri is working away from the top position though.
Kauri slips a nice elbow through Kropotkin's hands, connecting with Kropotkin's forehead.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kauri is nestled in close to Kropotkin, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Kauri slips a nice elbow through Kropotkin's hands, connecting with Kropotkin's forehead.
Ground and pound from Kauri.
Kropotkin is trying to control but can't.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommi Kauri dominated that second round.
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.

Kropotkin on the wrong end of a nice jab.
Kropotkin throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Kauri counters with a crisp hook to the side of the head.
Kauri paws at his opponent with the jab and then lunges in with a straight, right on the button.

Kauri looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Kropotkin controls Kauri momentarily but Kauri frees himself.
Kauri stands and throws Kropotkin's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Kauri working the ground and pound from side control.
Kropotkin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Kauri lands a nice forearm strike.
The referee tells the fighters to keep busy.
Kropotkin is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Kropotkin on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Kauri lands a decent elbow from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kauri in side control lands a decent elbow.
Kauri grinds an elbow into Kropotkin's temple.
Kauri in side control lands a nice looking series of punches and elbows.
Kauri scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kropotkin to see if he's OK.
Kauri lands a nice forearm strike.
Kauri working the head with strikes.
Kauri working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
Kropotkin takes a big shot right to the temple there but he's taken it well.
Kauri scores with a couple of short elbows.
You can see the frustration on Kropotkin's face, being in this tough position on the bottom.
Kropotkin takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Kauri working away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kauri lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kauri scoring with punches and elbows.
Kauri wants to control but Kropotkin is keeping him busy.
Kauri lands some shots froms side control.
Kauri is working Kropotkin over with some ground and pound from side control.
Kauri slows the pace down.
Kauri lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kropotkin taking punishment in the form of punches.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kauri cracks Kropotkin with a big right hand but Kropotkin just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
Kauri is chipping away with strikes.
Kauri working the head with strikes.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kauri cracks Kropotkin with a big elbow.
Kauri working the ground and pound.
Kauri works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kauri working the body and head with strikes.
Kauri trying to control the position but Kropotkin is working away.
Kauri landing strikes.
Kauri working the head and body with strikes.
Kauri scores with a couple of short elbows.
Kropotkin struggling a bit here.
Kauri landing a few strikes.
Kauri connects with a decent looking elbow from side control that caused Kropotkin some visible discomfort.
Kauri is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Kropotkin can do to turn this around?

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kauri wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kropotkin keeps working.
Kauri landing strikes.
Kauri scores with punches from side control.
Kauri lands a nice forearm strike.
Kauri cracks Kropotkin with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Kropotkin on the wrong end of some ground and pound.
Kauri works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kauri trying to control the position but Kropotkin is working away.
Kauri scoring with punches from side control.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kauri works a knee to the body and follows up with a nice elbow to the head.
Kauri working away diligently from side control. Landing strikes effectively there - that will score him some points on the judges scorecards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommi Kauri clearly takes that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Kauri lands with an uppercut that bounces Kropotkin off the cage and back into rage.
Kropotkin ducks down and throws a hook to the body but Kauri moves away.
Kropotkin on the wrong end of an overhand right that came out of nowhere.
Kropotkin misses with a low kick as Kauri jumps back.
Kropotkin takes a shot right to the bread basket.

Kauri closes the distance and clinches up, looking for a takedown. He shifts his weight and gets a nice trip into half guard.
Kauri looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Kropotkin with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.
Kauri throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Kauri lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kauri keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Kauri lands strikes from half guard.
Ground and pound from Kauri.
Kropotkin is trying to stand back up but Kauri is controlling him
Ground and pound from Kauri.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kauri lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Kauri slips a nice elbow through Kropotkin's hands, connecting with Kropotkin's forehead.
Kauri working over Kropotkin with some ground and pound. Kropotkin looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
Kropotkin trying to control from the bottom.
Kropotkin has hold of Kauri's hands but Kauri slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Kauri has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Kauri prevents Kropotkin from getting the reversal.
Kauri is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Kropotkin is in a horrible position here. Kauri smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kauri raining down shots from the mount!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A nice elbow there by Kauri.
Kropotkin is in a horrible position here. Kauri smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Kauri lands a big shot there that rocks Kropotkin but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kauri pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Kropotkin tries to hold on but Kauri pushes him away.
The crowd growing excited in anticipation of a finish here! Right on cue, Kauri cracks his opponent with a massive right hand that draws loud cheers!
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
BOOM! Kauri connects with a massive shot to the dome!
Kropotkin is looking to get to half guard.

Kauri working for a submission but Kropotkin is keeping him at bay.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kauri has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Kropotkin's face.
Kropotkin is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Kropotkin wants to hold on but Kauri pushes him away.
Kauri raining down shots from the mount!
Kauri is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Kropotkin can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Kauri in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Kauri lands a big shot there that rocks Kropotkin but he's holding on and managing to survive for now.
Kauri lands a big elbow.
Kauri looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kropotkin is desperately trying to improve his position but Kauri has a good base and remains in mount.
Kauri punishing his opponent with strikes.
Kauri avoids the attempt from Kropotkin to control.
Kauri scoring with strikes but Kropotkin is staying in there.
Kauri is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Kauri lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kauri lands a heavy elbow.
Kauri lands a couple of nice shots there from mount.
Kauri postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kropotkin looks a forlorn figure.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Kauri avoids the attempt from Kropotkin to control.
Kauri landing strikes, looking to finish!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tommi Kauri had his way with Alexei Kropotkin in that round.
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. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Kauri feints and as Kropotkin raises his hands in defense, Kauri changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Kauri scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kropotkin is trying to keep Kauri in close.
Kauri lands a couple of elbows.
Kauri landing some decent shots from guard.
Kropotkin looking to control.
Kropotkin keeping moving, preventing Kauri from controlling successfully.
Kauri pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kropotkin is keeping the position for now.
Kauri landing with the ground and pound.
Kauri works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kropotkin tries to roll over but Kauri keeps him under control.
Kropotkin is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Kauri lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Kauri working the head and body with strikes.
Kauri wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kropotkin keeps working.

Kauri postures up and decides to stand up, from the half guard. The ref calls for Kropotkin to stand up.
Kropotkin throws a leg kick that is checked
and Kauri counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Kropotkin thinking.
Kropotkin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.
Kauri fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Kropotkin looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kauri lands a jab to the head.
Kropotkin throws a left and a right that both miss

so Kauri counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Kauri working in close now, lands a nice elbow to the side of Kropotkin's head.
Kauri tries to free his leg and advance position but Kropotkin is retaining full guard.
Kauri chips away with some ground and pound.
Kauri passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Kauri is chipping away with strikes.
Kauri scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Kropotkin to see if he's OK.
Kauri lands a knee to the body and a forearm to the face.
Kropotkin takes an elbow right on the bridge of the nose and winces in pain.
Kauri cracks Kropotkin with an elbow. That is naaassty.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Kauri postures up a little and throws a couple of hammerfists but they don't connect properly.
Kropotkin can't do much from the bottom here.
Kropotkin is looking to reverse the position.
Kropotkin struggling a bit here.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Kropotkin takes a big uppercut there. He seems a bit wobbly but no, he's OK.
Kauri with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Kauri scores to the head and body with a nice combination!
Kropotkin swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Kauri counters with a straight right hand.
Kauri throws a shot to the body.
Kauri thuds a left hand into Kropotkin's body.
Kauri lands a jab to Kropotkin's midsection.
Alexei Kropotkin has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tommi Kauri is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Kauri lands with a two punch combination before moving back out of range.
Kropotkin takes a shot to the nose. Hopefully that hasn't broken it.

Kauri decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Kauri perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Kauri working the head and body with strikes.
Kropotkin is not content to let Kauri control the position.
Kauri seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Kropotkin wants to control but Kauri is keeping busy.

Kropotkin looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kauri works his way into full mount!

And that's the end of the fight!
Tommi Kauri showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Kauri has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 50:40
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 50:40
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 50:40

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tommi Kauri!
Tommi Kauri is the new light heavyweight champion!