PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Teppo Tahkojuusto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Wagner De La Cruz (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tahkojuusto's entrance music is AC/DC : T.N.T. A fine choice. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Tahkojuusto
vs
De La Cruz

185 cm
28
186 lbs
7 - 9 - 1

185 cm
21
196 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid boxing
Experienced

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Granite chin

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 - 9 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Teppo Tahkojuusto!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Wagner De La Cruz!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Johanna Lukiainen and Marco Blurström.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
De La Cruz is trying hard to land a takedown here. Tahkojuusto sprawls well and keeps this one on the feet.
De La Cruz doesn't manage to clinch there - Tahkojuusto circles away.
De La Cruz throws an overhand right that lands on Tahkojuusto's shoulder, as Tahkojuusto tries to avoid the shot.
De La Cruz moves in looking to clinch but Tahkojuusto pushes him off.

Tahkojuusto shoots in for a takedown and gets it.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Tahkojuusto seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down De La Cruz for as long as he can get away with.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
De La Cruz wants to improve his position but Tahkojuusto is controlling well.
Tahkojuusto looks over to his corner - he wants some instructions but his corner are not responding.

That's one minute gone in the round.
De La Cruz blocking the ground and pound attempt from Tahkojuusto.

We're going to have a standup here because Teppo Tahkojuusto wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
De La Cruz fails with the takedown

and Tahkojuusto counters with a single leg into guard. De La Cruz didn't expect that.
Tahkojuusto connects with a couple of short punches.

Tahkojuusto decides he's had enough of playing guard and decides to stand. Come on De La Cruz, up you get!
De La Cruz closes the distance but Tahkojuusto moves to the side

and Tahkojuusto counters with a takedown into side control.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tahkojuusto staying calm.
Tahkojuusto has knee on belly and moves into mount.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto trying to control but he's not successful this time.
De La Cruz taking shots to the head.

Tahkojuusto looking for a guillotine from mount but De La Cruz is having none of it.
Tahkojuusto has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Tahkojuusto controlling the position easily from mount.
Tahkojuusto avoids the attempt from De La Cruz to control.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.
De La Cruz is looking to get to half guard.
Tahkojuusto landing strikes, looking to finish!
Tahkojuusto with the ground and pound from mount.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tahkojuusto lands a big elbow.

Tahkojuusto is going oldschool here, as he tries to force De La Cruz to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so De La Cruz shrugs it off.
Tahkojuusto looking to finish De La Cruz with some ground and pound. This is bad for De La Cruz!
Tahkojuusto with shots to the head and body - De La Cruz looks very uncomfortable down there.

That's four 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!
De La Cruz is looking to get to half guard.
Tahkojuusto with good strikes from the mount here!
De La Cruz tries to reverse the position but Tahkojuusto maintains control.
Tahkojuusto postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. De La Cruz looks a forlorn figure.

Tahkojuusto looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.

Tahkojuusto wants to finish this one by submission but De La Cruz is holding onto his waist, trying to prevent any attacks from Tahkojuusto.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
De La Cruz is in all sorts of trouble here.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teppo Tahkojuusto dominated that round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action.

Tahkojuusto drives through with a takedown into guard.
Tahkojuusto postures up.
De La Cruz preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
De La Cruz keeping full guard, as Tahkojuusto tries to pass.
Tahkojuusto wants to control from the top but De La Cruz keeps moving.
De La Cruz is trying to stand up but he's not managed so far.
Tahkojuusto trying to control but De La Cruz is working from the bottom.
If this pace continues, the referee will definitely step in and force a standup.

Teppo Tahkojuusto has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
De La Cruz throws a leg kick

and Tahkojuusto counters with a nice double leg into half guard.

Tahkojuusto decides to stand up and try his luck on the feet.
De La Cruz misses with a body shot

and Tahkojuusto counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Tahkojuusto lands an elbow just above De La Cruz 's eye.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tahkojuusto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

De La Cruz gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tahkojuusto to score an easy takedown into full guard.
De La Cruz is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.
De La Cruz is breathing heavily.
Tahkojuusto trying to control but De La Cruz is working from the bottom.
Tahkojuusto is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that De La Cruz can do to turn this around?
Tahkojuusto engaging in some classic timewasting tactics.
De La Cruz looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Tahkojuusto puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
De La Cruz trying to control here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto slows the pace down in half guard.
Tahkojuusto trying to control the action but De La Cruz is working from the bottom.

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

Tahkojuusto gets a clinch.
Tahkojuusto fails to pull guard.
Tahkojuusto lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of De La Cruz backwards.
De La Cruz wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Tahkojuusto jumps guard but his hands slip and he falls flat on his back. Well, he's made himself look a right mug there, as De La Cruz walks away with a smile on his face. Tahkojuusto gets slowly back to his feet and shakes his head.
Nice sprawl there from De La Cruz as Tahkojuusto shoots in.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Teppo Tahkojuusto. That's going to take a lot out of him.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto avoids a lazy jab quite easily.

De La Cruz tries to sprawl but Tahkojuusto drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Tahkojuusto lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Tahkojuusto trying to control from half guard but De La Cruz is working away.
De La Cruz tries to get to full guard but Tahkojuusto has control of the leg.
Tahkojuusto stalling.
Tahkojuusto throwing shots but De La Cruz is blocking nicely.
De La Cruz is trying to stand back up but Tahkojuusto is controlling him

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto controlling the action here.

We're going to have a standup here because Teppo Tahkojuusto wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.

Tahkojuusto moves into range and clinches up with De La Cruz.
Tahkojuusto prevents De La Cruz from breaking the clinch.
Still in the clinch, Tahkojuusto scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tahkojuusto wants to stall.

Tahkojuusto breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
De La Cruz wants to clinch

and Tahkojuusto counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tahkojuusto.
Tahkojuusto slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
De La Cruz really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tahkojuusto. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tahkojuusto throwing strikes but missing.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Teppo Tahkojuusto dominated that second round.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action! Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Tahkojuusto shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in De La Cruz's guard.
Tahkojuusto preventing the sweep.
Tahkojuusto wants to pass the guard but De La Cruz is keeping the position.
Tahkojuusto advances position into side control!
A bit of a lull in the action. I'm sure it will pick up again soon... even if the ref has to physically pick them up and put them back on their feet.
De La Cruz wants to get back to his feet but Tahkojuusto is dominant here and he's now got De La Cruz's back!
Tahkojuusto lands a punch to the side of the head from the back.
Tahkojuusto biding his time, looking for the opening.
De La Cruz just trying to survive but Tahkojuusto is wriggling into a better position, looking to finish.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tahkojuusto has the hooks in. De La Cruz is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.
De La Cruz takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tahkojuusto avoiding De La Cruz 's attempts to control his hands.
Tahkojuusto lands punches and elbows.
Tahkojuusto keeps control of the position as De La Cruz tries to break free.
Tahkojuusto softening up his opponent with strikes here.
Tahkojuusto controlling well, preventing De La Cruz from escaping the position.

Tahkojuusto is cranking De La Cruz's head sideways - that looks painful. He's managed to get his other arm under the chin and this looks bad for De La Cruz! He's tightened the choke and De La Cruz is tapping out!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 2:02 of round 3, we have a winner by way of Submission (RNC). Teppo Tahkojuusto!