PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Ebanij Nasos (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Turo Vatanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Nasos kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Military Soviet Hymn . The crowd seem to be enjoying Vatanen's choice of entrance music: Justice. Both fighters look fresh as a daisy as they make their way towards the cage.

Nasos
vs
Vatanen

220 cm
27
270 lbs
19 - 13 - 0

198 cm
28
277 lbs
14 - 7 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent boxer
KO power

Good wrestler
Excellent boxer
Powerful

Hell's Balls Recovery

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 19 - 13 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Ebanij Nasos!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 14 - 7 - 0, fighting out of Las Vegas, Turo Vatanen!
The judges for this bout are George Francis, Tiny Johnson and Stewart Dunkirk.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A head kick misses from Nasos.
Jab by Nasos.
Vatanen moves in looking to clinch but Nasos pushes him off.
Vatanen checks a leg kick nicely.
A good leg kick by Nasos.
Nasos fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.
Nasos throws a nice inside leg kick.
Nasos stuffs the takedown.

Vatanen rushes Nasos and presses him up against the cage.
Nasos working aggressively here.
Nasos looking to stall.
Vatanen stalling.
Good body shot from Vatanen.
Vatanen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Nasos misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Vatanen is struggling to control the position.
Vatanen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Nasos in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
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!
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Vatanen.
Nasos is breathing heavily.
Nasos swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Vatanen digs a right hand into Nasos's ribs. Those have got to be taking their toll on Nasos's gas tank.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Vatanen has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Nasos is trying to keep an underhook but Vatanen manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Vatanen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vatanen working some ground and pound from close in. He's looking to maintain this position and strike for a while by the looks of things... although he'll probably advance to full mount in a minute now I've said that.
Vatanen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vatanen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vatanen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nasos defending well though.
Vatanen lands with a punch from half guard.
Vatanen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vatanen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Nasos is looking to control Vatanen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Nasos avoid being mounted?
Vatanen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Nasos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Vatanen sitting and controlling from the half guard.
Vatanen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Nasos on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Vatanen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nasos's head.
Vatanen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nasos defending well though.
Vatanen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.
Vatanen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Vatanen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Vatanen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.

Vatanen wants to work for an arm triangle but Nasos is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Vatanen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vatanen throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Vatanen trying to control the action but Nasos is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatanen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Vatanen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nasos defending well though.
Nasos trying to control but Vatanen postures up.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Vatanen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Nasos with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Vatanen is working for a submission of some sort.
Vatanen wants to take a breather but Nasos is having none of it.
Vatanen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nasos's head.
Vatanen wants to take a breather but Nasos is having none of it.
Vatanen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.

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.
Nasos wants to get back to full guard.

Vatanen is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.
Vatanen is keen to just control but Nasos is a slippery customer.
Nasos trying to hold on to Vatanen's head to control him but Vatanen postures up.
Vatanen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Vatanen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nasos is looking for a sweep. Vatanen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Vatanen is nestled in close to Nasos, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Nasos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vatanen.
Vatanen is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Vatanen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Nasos keeps working.
Nasos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vatanen.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Turo Vatanen dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Nasos takes a body kick right on the floating rib. Ouchie.
Vatanen throws a push kick but Nasos slaps the foot to one side.
Vatanen throws a shot to the body.
Vatanen tries to clinch up.
Vatanen connects with an inside leg kick.
Nasos tries to clinch there but Vatanen circles away.

Vatanen takes the fight into the clinch.
Vatanen scores with a hook to the body.
Nasos on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
A nice left hand lands by Vatanen.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Nasos throws a head punch that misses.
A short left from Vatanen.
Vatanen scores with an uppercut up the middle.
Vatanen pushes Nasos back against the cage and unloads with a body punch.
Vatanen stalling the fight.
Vatanen lands a nice looking hook to the body, against the cage.
Vatanen cracks Nasos with a nice body shot.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Nasos avoiding damage as Vatanen throws knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A body shot lands from Vatanen.
Vatanen lands a body punch in the clinch.

Vatanen gets a trip takedown into half guard.
Nasos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vatanen.
Vatanen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nasos defending well though.
Vatanen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nasos's head.
Vatanen wants to pass to mount but Nasos is defending the position.
Vatanen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Nasos's head.
Vatanen wants to pass the guard but Nasos is defending well.
Vatanen working the head and body with strikes.
Vatanen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vatanen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nasos defending well though.

Vatanen is thinking about going for an arm triangle but he can't free his leg.
Vatanen seems to be taking a bit of a break to think of his next move. He lands a short punch in the meantime.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
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!
Vatanen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Nasos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vatanen.
Vatanen trying to control the pace.
Vatanen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vatanen is nestled in close to Nasos, controlling him well. He's worked in a nice elbow to the side of the head as well, for good measure.
Vatanen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Vatanen has been the more effective fighter overall so far.
Vatanen thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Vatanen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Nasos keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.

Nasos is defending against the submission attempts here by Vatanen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Vatanen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vatanen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Nasos avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Vatanen.
Vatanen sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Nasos defending well though.
Vatanen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Nasos blocking the ground and pound attempt from Vatanen.
Vatanen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Vatanen wants to free his trapped foot but Nasos is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Nasos is trying to get back to full guard.
Vatanen working the head and body with strikes.
Turo Vatanen has got the better of the ground game so far.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Vatanen thows a huge punch but Nasos dodges it nicely.
Vatanen throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Vatanen scores with a couple of good hammerfists.
Nasos has hold of Vatanen's hands but Vatanen slips his arm to the side and lands an elbow.
Vatanen keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Nasos controlling the position well.
Vatanen wants to control but Nasos is keeping him busy.
Nasos wants to control but Vatanen is keeping busy.
Vatanen working over Nasos with some ground and pound. Nasos looks like he wants out of this position, which is understandable.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Vatanen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Vatanen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Turo Vatanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. So, we enter the final round. Let's see if either fighter can bring us a finish, or whether we're going to the judges scorecards.

A decent looking cross lands there for Vatanen.
Some bone on bone action there as Nasos checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Ebanij Nasos seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Turo Vatanen seems to be working more effectively in the clinch in the fight so far.
Vatanen stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Vatanen cracks Nasos with a nice body shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Vatanen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Nasos avoids it.
Vatanen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Vatanen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Nasos pulls his leg out and moves away.
Vatanen turns his hip over beautifully as he lands a nice leg kick.
Vatanen thuds a mid kick into his opponent's body. That will wear on Nasos if he has to take too many more of those.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Vatanen takes a step towards his opponent and connects with a left hand, before circling away.
Vatanen throws a leg kick
and Nasos counters with a shot to the ribs. That looked like it hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A nice inside leg kick there by Vatanen. That's going to slow Nasos down.
Vatanen misses with a body kick.
Vatanen delivers a nice body kick.
Ebanij Nasos is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Vatanen looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Nasos!
Vatanen scores with a couple of good head shots there.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Vatanen with shots to the head and body - Nasos looks very uncomfortable down there.
Nasos taking shots to the head.
Vatanen postures up and throws a couple of big shots that have Nasos in real trouble here! The ref calls for Nasos to improve his position which he doesn't do, so the referee has no choice but to end the fight due to the strikes!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 1:55 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Turo Vatanen!