PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Tauno Potku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Koch (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Potku
vs
Koch

185 cm
26
201 lbs
7 - 3 - 0

187 cm
25
197 lbs
7 - 7 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Granite chin

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Heavy handed

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 7 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tauno Potku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Koch!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Matti Vanhoillinen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Potku shoots in for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Potku dives in and grabs Koch's left leg, looking for a takedown. Koch pushes down on Potku's head and hops out.
Potku ducks under a wild hook from Koch.
Koch lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Koch misses with a series of wild punches.
Michael Koch seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Potku has a takedown stuffed.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tauno Potku. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Koch looks to score with a combo but nothing lands.
Koch misses with a two punch combination.
Koch throws out a token jab with nothing on it.

Koch gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Potku to score an easy takedown into full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koch keeping moving, preventing Potku from controlling successfully.

Koch is throwing his legs up, looking for submissions. Potku is aware though and is defending well.
Potku in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Koch looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Potku trying to control the position from guard on top but Koch is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Potku throwing strikes but missing.
Potku tries to free his leg and advance position but Koch is retaining full guard.
Koch controls Potku momentarily but Potku frees himself.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Koch throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Potku sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Koch misses with a wild body shot.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Koch tries to bum rush Potku with a series of wild strikes but Potku uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Koch misses with a few strikes there.
Nice takedown defense from Koch. No joy for Potku on that attempt.
Koch misses with a few strikes there.
Koch loads up on a big right hand but Potku slips the punch.
Koch thows a body shot but no joy.
Left hook, right uppercut from Koch.

It looks like Tauno Potku has been cut.

Potku shoots in with a lovely double leg takedown. Koch manages to land in full guard to minimise the damage.
Potku scores with a decent looking elbow strike.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Koch is on top in guard.
Koch stopping the sweep attempt from Potku.
Koch throws a big right hand that misses.
Koch advances to half guard.
Koch trying to control the pace.
Koch seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Potku does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Koch is in a good position here but he's just trying to control... And he's not even managing to do that successfully.
Koch content to control rather than advance.
Potku blocking the ground and pound attempt from Koch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potku is refusing to be controlled, as Koch sits in half guard.
Potku regains full guard. Nicely done.
Potku utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Koch trying to control but Potku is working from the bottom.
Koch slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Michael Koch.
Potku looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
Potku ducks under a wild hook from Koch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Michael Koch dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tauno Potku's cut.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

The fighters circling - Koch throws out the jab but it was never going to land.
Potku slips a jab and a cross from Koch.
Potku closes the distance and takes a jab right on the nose as he does so.
Koch jabs away that one connects to the head of his opponent.
Koch uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Potku has time to react.

Potku scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Koch is looking for a sweep. Potku is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Still in half guard, Potku seems content to control.
Potku seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Potku trying to control from half guard but Koch is working away.
Koch gets back to full guard.
Potku postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Koch controlling Potku's posture.
Potku wants to pass the guard but Koch is keeping the position.
Potku working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Koch utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Potku throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Koch is looking for a triangle but Potku pushes his legs off easily.
Koch looking for a sweep. Not yet Koch, not yet.
Potku has to be careful here, sitting in the guard of a superior BJJ player.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fighter is doing enough on the ground.
Potku fails with a takedown attempt.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Koch misses with an uppercut. Potku saw that one coming.
Koch throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Koch might want to mix his strikes up a bit more. He's just going for head shots at the moment and that can become a bit predictable.
Koch misses with a hook. Potku ducked under it nicely.
A big right from Koch misses.
Koch fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Potku.
Koch looks to score with a jab to the body but Potku is just out of range.

Potku feints and as Koch raises his hands in defense, Potku changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
Koch not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Koch can't keep his opponent in guard - Potku advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Koch tries to roll over but Potku keeps him under control.
Potku not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Koch controlling the leg, holding on to half guard.
Potku not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Potku throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Koch is looking for a sweep. Potku is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Koch is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.

Potku shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Koch napping and manages to drive through into side control!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Sloppy strikes there by Potku.
The strikes coming from Potku are missing the target in this wave of attacks.
Potku working the ground and pound.
Koch is moving his hips around well on the bottom and has managed to get back to half guard.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Koch is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Potku's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Potku's back!
Will Koch go for the finish here or will he try and keep control of the position?
Koch is riding his opponent, not letting Potku buck him off.
Koch has the hooks in. Potku is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
Koch lands with a nice looking elbow that stuns Potku.
Koch has the hooks in. Potku is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Michael Koch will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The cut man is working on Tauno Potku's cut.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. This is the final round!

Potku scores with a nice takedown into half guard. Let's see what he's got on the ground.
Koch manages to get to full guard.
Tauno Potku overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
There's a bit of a scramble here and now Koch is on top in guard.
Potku manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Potku lands with some vicious ground and pound - can Koch hang on?
Potku avoids the attempt from Koch to control.
Potku sends his fist crashing into the mat - the crowd let out a collective ooooooh. Let's hope he's not broken it!
Koch tries to hold on but Potku postures up.
Potku postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Koch looks a forlorn figure.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potku looking to ground and pound his opponent to a finish here.
Potku trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Koch tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Koch sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Potku uses his free foot to push down on Koch's thigh. Eventually he works his other foot free and he's advanced to mount - this is trouble for Koch.
Koch really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Potku lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Koch is writhing around trying to get back to his feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potku breaks from Koch's wrist control and lands an elbow.
Potku unloading with bombs!
Potku putting on the heat here with some good ground and pound!
Koch sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
The fighters are battling for position here. Koch manages to regain full guard. Nice work.
Koch manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Potku manages to get himself to full guard.
Koch in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Koch stands and throws Potku's legs to the side, diving into side control.
Potku manages to land a sweep and he's now on top! Lovely Jiu Jitsu!
Koch is trying to control but can't.
Potku throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Potku thows a huge punch but Koch dodges it nicely.
Koch wants to control but Potku is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Potku prevents Koch from improving his position.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Potku lands a nice short elbow.
Koch keeping control of the leg, stopping his opponent passing to mount.
Koch blocking the ground and pound attempt from Potku.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.

Potku shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
Potku scoring with strikes but Koch is staying in there.
Koch tries to lock up and control but Potku gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Koch really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Potku lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Koch holds on to Potku around his waist, trying desperately to prevent any attacks.
Potku is in the full mount, landing strikes.
Potku is still in mount, landing shots to his trapped opponent. Koch can't stay in a position like this for much longer.
Koch really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Potku postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Koch looks a forlorn figure.
Michael Koch is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Koch is trying to escape the mount.
Potku postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Koch looks a forlorn figure.
Tauno Potku has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Potku is landing with some decent strikes but Koch is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tauno Potku showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Koch has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Marco Blurström scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Michael Koch!