PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Zach Irracha (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tommi Neponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Irracha
vs
Neponen

188 cm
20
179 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

180 cm
21
177 lbs
2 - 2 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Cardio machine

BJJ Blue Belt
Good kicks
Enjoys gardening

PhoQus Sports Nutrition and Fund Transfer

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Zach Irracha!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tommi Neponen!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Neponen checks the leg kick nicely there.
Neponen avoids the head kick by Irracha.
Irracha lands with a thumping leg kick.
Neponen looks to land a combination but Irracha avoids it well.
Nice takedown defense from Irracha. No joy for Neponen on that attempt.
Irracha tries to close the distance and clinch but Neponen swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Irracha wants to clinch.
Neponen avoids the head kick by Irracha.
Neponen tries to clinch up
and Irracha counters with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Irracha scoring well with a low kick there.
Neponen plants his feet and lands a nice head kick!

It looks like Zach Irracha has been cut.
Irracha avoids the head kick by Neponen.
Irracha thumps Neponen with a low kick.

Irracha closes the distance and clinches.
Irracha controlling the action here for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neponen tries to pull guard but Irracha holds him up against the cage and eventually Neponen drops back down to his feet.
Neponen is trying to work out of this bad position, with his back against the cage.
Irracha lands a nice elbow.
Neponen tries to break free but Irracha pushes him back against the cage.
Irracha taking a breather.
Neponen lands an elbow that stopped Irracha in his tracks for a moment.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Irracha will no doubt start fighting again in a minute but for now he's just having a little rest, leaning Neponen up against the cage.
Neponen throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.

Neponen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Neponen with a lazy takedown attempt
and Irracha counters with a body kick.
Zach Irracha has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tommi Neponen.
Neponen looks gassed!
Irracha connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
A nice inside leg kick there by Irracha. That's going to slow Neponen down.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Irracha closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Neponen is trying to stall.
Neponen takes an elbow to the forehead.
With the fighters up against the cage, Neponen throws an elbow but misses.
Irracha connects with a nasty looking knee right to Neponen's face.
Irracha comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Neponen has had enough of the clinch but Irracha keeps him there for the moment.
Neponen stalling in the clinch but Irracha improves position.
Irracha comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Irracha stalling the fight.
Irracha lands an elbow inside.
Irracha lands an elbow that stopped Neponen in his tracks for a moment.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.
Neponen throws an elbow but it misses.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Neponen.
An uppercut on the inside fails to land for Neponen.
Neponen throws an elbow but it misses.
Both guys are working to get underhooks.
Neponen wants to break the clinch but can't.
Irracha lands an elbow just above Neponen 's eye.

Irracha pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A nice leg kick lands there from Irracha.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Irracha dodges an elbow strike from Neponen.
Irracha lands a nice elbow.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

Irracha breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Both fighters are looking to counter, which isn't making for the most exciting fight in the world.
Neponen misses with a head kick.
Irracha scores with a kick to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Zach Irracha dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Zach Irracha's cut.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business.

Irracha gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Neponen tries to land knees in the clinch but Irracha avoids the damage to the body.

Neponen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Neponen avoids the head kick by Irracha.
A thudding body kick lands there by Irracha!
Neponen avoids the head kick by Irracha.
Zach Irracha is winning the standup battle so far.
Neponen sees a low kick coming and goes to check it, but it's actually a body kick and it thuds into his unprotected ribs.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Irracha thumps Neponen with a low kick.

Irracha darts in and clinches Neponen up against the cage.
Neponen is breathing heavily.
Irracha lands a damaging elbow.
Irracha lands a nice knee to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Neponen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Good anti-grappling being displayed by Irracha as Neponen tries to tie him up.
Irracha using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Irracha lands an elbow inside that Neponen shrugs off.
Irracha lands an elbow inside.
A left hand lands to the body for Irracha.
Neponen tries to land knees in the clinch but Irracha avoids the damage to the body.
Irracha leaning against his opponent.
Irracha is leaning against Neponen and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Neponen takes a knee right on the jaw!
Nice elbow from Irracha.

Neponen is rocked!

It looks like Tommi Neponen has been cut.
Irracha comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
Neponen is still on wobbly legs! Can Irracha finish him?
Knees to the body from Irracha.
Irracha lands an elbow inside that Neponen shrugs off.
Irracha has the Thai clinch. He lands a big knee to the head that stumbles Neponen - he's in trouble! Another big knee to the head from Irracha, and another! Neponen is out on his feet - the ref jumps in to save him and ends the fight!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:54 of round 2, we have a winner by way of TKO (Knees). Zach Irracha!