PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Heiki Tihinen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ardel Dixon (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Fingers crossed for an exciting fight - I'm sure both fighters are looking for a nice under the table bonus!

Tihinen
vs
Dixon

213 cm
18
272 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

225 cm
22
275 lbs
1 - 1 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Granite chin

BJJ White Belt
Decent boxing
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 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Heiki Tihinen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ardel Dixon!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tihinen looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Heiki Tihinen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Dixon will need to tighten up his combinations if he doesn't want to gas himself out, swinging at thin air.
Tihinen shoots in for a double leg but Dixon sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dixon looks to land a combination. Tihinen sees it coming but can only parry a couple of the shots.

It looks like Heiki Tihinen has been cut.
Tihinen showing good head movement there, avoiding the strikes from Dixon.
Tihinen shoots for a double leg takedown but Dixon sprawls well. He's pushed Tihinen's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Heiki Tihinen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Tihinen shoots for a takedown but Dixon saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
Tihinen is breathing heavily.
Dixon stuffs a takedown. It's all about dictating where the fight takes place and Dixon wants it to stay on the feet.
Tihinen shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
A punch combination from Dixon misses.

Dixon looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dixon seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Dixon throwing shots but Tihinen is blocking nicely.
Tihinen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dixon.
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. Dixon connects with a nice short shot to Tihinen's temple.
Dixon not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Dixon lands strikes from half guard.
Tihinen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dixon scores with a couple of nice shots.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dixon lands a nice short elbow.
Dixon seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dixon seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Dixon lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Dixon thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Tihinen's head.
Dixon throwing shots but Tihinen is blocking nicely.
Dixon is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dixon throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Dixon missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Dixon slips a nice elbow through Tihinen's hands, connecting with Tihinen's forehead.
Tihinen is trying to maintain the position but Dixon is very close to passing his half guard.
Dixon takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tihinen on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tihinen is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Dixon scores with a couple of nice shots.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Dixon lands a nice short elbow.
Dixon wants to pass the guard but Tihinen is defending well.
Tihinen blocking the ground and pound attempt from Dixon.
Tihinen manages to get to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Tihinen looking to hit a scissor sweep but Dixon is one step ahead there.
Dixon really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tihinen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Dixon postures up and lands a big shot to Tihinen's brow.
Tihinen controlling the position.
Dixon throwing strikes from guard but Tihinen blocks nicely.
Dixon with a flurry of punches that miss.
Dixon throwing strikes but missing.
Dixon postures up in Tihinen's guard and throws a big left but Tihinen blocks it.

That's four 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.
Dixon thows a big elbow that misses.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Tihinen gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Dixon counters with a takedown into side control.
Tihinen takes a nasty elbow to the side of the head.
Dixon throwing strikes but missing, from side control.
Tihinen manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Tihinen is trying to control the action in half guard but Dixon is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tihinen is just content to waste time from the top position. Dixon takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Tihinen throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ardel Dixon dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Heiki Tihinen's cut.
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.

Left hook, right uppercut from Dixon.
Dixon misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Tihinen shoots and misses

and Dixon counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Dixon makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tihinen tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tihinen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dixon postures up and scores with a shot to the body and a follow up elbow to the head.
Dixon chips away with some ground and pound.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Dixon content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Tihinen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Dixon working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

Tihinen is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dixon is in close to Tihinen's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Dixon has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Dixon lands a nice shot whilst sitting in his opponent's guard.
Dixon scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Dixon in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dixon thows a big elbow that misses.
Tihinen wants to stand but Dixon is controlling the position.
Dixon connects with a couple of short punches.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Tihinen is on top in guard.
Tihinen trying to control the position from guard on top but Dixon is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tihinen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Dixon swivels though and keeps the full guard.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tihinen accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tihinen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tihinen looking to pass the guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tihinen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dixon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tihinen trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tihinen throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Dixon works some decent striking defense from the bottom.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tihinen shoots and misses

so Dixon counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.
Tihinen throws a couple of weedy looking strikes off his back.
Dixon chips away with some ground and pound.
Tihinen pulls Dixon in to control the position.
Tihinen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dixon looking to pass the guard.
Dixon is fighting to break Tihinen's control of his arms but Tihinen is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
Dixon lands a couple of decent looking shots.
Tihinen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dixon cracks Tihinen with a solid left hand.
Ardel Dixon has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tihinen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dixon must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Dixon content to strike from guard, landing some decent shots.
Dixon connects with a couple of short punches.
Dixon trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.

Tihinen has his feet on Dixon's thighs here. He's pushed Dixon off and worked for a very quick armbar from the bottom! He's flipped onto his stomach and he's cranking hard on the arm! Dixon screams in pain and taps out! This one is all over!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:59 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Heiki Tihinen!