PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Heikki Kanttori (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Jean Thomas (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Jean Thomas has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Kanttori
vs
Thomas

192 cm
18
210 lbs
1 - 0 - 0

194 cm
20
265 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Good takedowns
Counter striker
Cuts easily

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Inexperienced

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 1 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Heikki Kanttori!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Jean Thomas!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Sergei Dronov and Ivan Kurochkin.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Thomas forces Kanttori back against the cage and clinches.

Thomas turns his back and goes for a hip toss. It's a bit messy but it gets the job done and Thomas manages to end up in side control.
Thomas controlling the position.
Kanttori manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.

Kanttori looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Kanttori is breathing heavily.
Thomas seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Thomas is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Kanttori tries to roll over but Thomas keeps him under control.

Kanttori is looking to sinch up a gullotine here but Thomas pulls his head out easily.
Thomas prevents Kanttori from improving his position.
Still in half guard, Thomas seems content to control.
Kanttori wants to get back to full guard.

It looks like we're going to have a standup here. Neither fight is doing enough on the ground.
Kanttori shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Thomas but Thomas pushes him off and we're back to square one.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Kanttori gets a takedown into half guard.
Thomas misses with some strikes from the bottom.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Thomas is looking to regain full guard. Not this time though.

Kanttori is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Thomas is just riding it out for now. Kanttori eventually gives up the hold.
Thomas is positioning himself well to prevent Kanttori advancing to mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas wants to control but Kanttori is keeping busy and won't allow it.
Thomas is looking to improve his position.
Kanttori tries to pass to full mount but Thomas defends it.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.

Thomas takes the fight into the clinch.

Thomas has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Kanttori is trying to keep an underhook but Thomas manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Thomas is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Thomas frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Thomas really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Kanttori. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Kanttori is trying to escape the mount.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Thomas trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Thomas might have to switch it up a bit here because his efforts to control Kanttori kaven't been going to plan, at least at the current moment in time.
Thomas punching from mount but Kanttori doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kanttori working to try and regain half guard.
Thomas tries to control but Kanttori wriggling away.
Kanttori really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Thomas landing shots from mount.
Thomas can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kanttori is looking to escape.
Kanttori keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Thomas controlling from mount.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Thomas pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Kanttori tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Thomas controlling his opponent.
Kanttori is in all sorts of trouble here.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Kanttori manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Thomas wants to lay and pray for a moment but Kanttori keeps working.
Kanttori moves into full guard.
Thomas trying to control but Kanttori is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Jean Thomas dominated that round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Kanttori shoots in and drives through. Thomas sprawls well.

Thomas looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Thomas sitting in guard here, content to control.
Thomas wants to control from the top but Kanttori keeps moving.
Thomas is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Thomas in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Thomas controlling from the top position.
Thomas scoring with punches to the head and body.
Kanttori looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Thomas trying to control but Kanttori is working from the bottom.

Despite being in the dominant position, Jean Thomas just isn't active enough and the referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Kanttori misses with a takedown

and Thomas counters with a nice double leg into guard.

Kanttori working for a triangle but Thomas defends it easily.
Thomas showing good wrestling skills to control the position.
Thomas trying to control but Kanttori is working from the bottom.
Kanttori tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Thomas trying to control the position from guard on top but Kanttori is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

Kanttori throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.
Thomas must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.

Kanttori looking for submissions off his back, moving his hips, looking for an opening.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Thomas trying to control but Kanttori is working from the bottom.

Kanttori working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Thomas doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Oh but Kanttori is tightening it up a little... Thomas has to be careful here... He's got his foot tucked under now, this looks tight! Thomas reacted too slowly and this one could be over in a matter of seconds! YES! Thomas taps out! nice BJJ there by Kanttori!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:32 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Triangle Choke). Heikki Kanttori!