PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Abula Babu (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Uljas Tossavainen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tossavainen has chosen Eläkeläiset - Elän humpalla as his entrance music. The crowd giving both fighters a great reception on their way into the arena. That's good to see.

Babu
vs
Tossavainen

190 cm
28
195 lbs
12 - 9 - 0

180 cm
26
190 lbs
13 - 4 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Excellent boxer
Very strong

BJJ Brown Belt
Decent boxing
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 5 rounds, for the middleweight championship of the world!
Introducing the champion to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Abula Babu!
And introducing the challenger to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 13 - 4 - 0, fighting out of Montreal, Uljas Tossavainen!
The judges for this bout are Dillan Fox, Ian Loll and William Peck.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Nice uppercut lands for Babu. That snapped Tossavainen's head back.
Tossavainen wants to clinch.
Babu shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Tossavainen as he jumps to the side.
Tossavainen moves in looking to clinch but Babu pushes him off.
Babu throws a body punch but Tossavainen moves out of range.
Babu fakes a jab and then connects with a hook.

It looks like Uljas Tossavainen has been cut.
Tossavainen tries to close the distance and clinch but Babu swats him to one side with an open hand palm strike and circles away.
Tossavainen doesn't manage to clinch there - Babu circles away.

Tossavainen forces Babu back against the cage and clinches.
A left hand lands to the body for Babu.

Babu has moved round to his opponent's back and is looking for a suplex! Oh snap! He's tossed Tossavainen clear over his head and slammed him to the mat!
Babu keeps control of the position easily here as Tossavainen tries to buck him off.
Babu trying desperately to keep hold of the dominant position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tossavainen wants to escape the position.
Babu scores with punches from the back.
Even with his hooks in, Babu manages to miss with strikes from the back.
Babu is landing with strikes. Tossavainen can't take much more of this.
Babu wants to control but Tossavainen manages to buck him off and is now in Babu's guard! Nice work there by Tossavainen!

Babu is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tossavainen in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tossavainen trying to control but Babu is working from the bottom.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Babu working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tossavainen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tossavainen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

Babu has his foot on Tossavainen's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Tossavainen works his way back into a safe position though.
Tossavainen won't allow Babu to sweep him here.

Tossavainen drops back for a leg! It's a sloppy attempt though and Tossavainen jumps back into guard quickly, to retain the dominant position.
Babu utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Babu looking for a guillotine here but Tossavainen defends easily.
Babu keeping moving, preventing Tossavainen from controlling successfully.
Tossavainen pushes down on Babu's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Babu is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tossavainen scores with a couple of nice shots.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tossavainen trying to control the action but Babu is working from the bottom.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!
Babu regains full guard. Nicely done.
Tossavainen is in close to Babu's body, working some short punches and elbows.

Tossavainen drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Babu dives on top into guard.
Babu looking to pass the guard.
Babu throwing strikes from guard but Tossavainen blocks nicely.
Tossavainen trying to control the position.
Babu wants to control from the top but Tossavainen keeps moving.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tossavainen seems keen to control Babu's posture.
Babu throwing strikes but missing.
Tossavainen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Babu keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tossavainen's head.
Babu trying to control the position from guard on top but Tossavainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Abula Babu dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Uljas Tossavainen'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.

Tossavainen shoots in and gets a takedown into Babu's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tossavainen with a flurry of punches that miss.
Babu looking to control.
Tossavainen pushing down on Babu's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.

Babu looking for submissions from an awkward position here.
Babu is trying to control but can't.

Tossavainen wants to work for an arm triangle but Babu is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Babu is looking to control Tossavainen's leg but it's slowly edging free. Can Babu avoid being mounted?
Tossavainen works his foot free and advances to mount.
Tossavainen postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Babu looks a forlorn figure.
Tossavainen landing strikes from the mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Babu is wriggling around trying to escape.

Tossavainen looks like he's working for a submission but he's not found anything just yet.
Tossavainen lands a nice shot to the head.

Tossavainen is in full mount, looking to secure a guillotine but Babu is surviving well by controlling Tossavainen's body position as best he can.

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

Tossavainen has hold of Babu's left arm, perhaps looking for a submission. The two fighters tussle over control of the isolated limb and Babu manages to get his arm back to his side and away from danger.
Babu is working to get back to half guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Tossavainen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Babu can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Babu is controlling an arm, preventing Tossavainen from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Tossavainen pausing momentarily but resumes with a couple of decent strikes that do a bit of damage.
Tossavainen raining down shots from the mount!
Babu keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Tossavainen throws some wild stikes that Babu manages to avoid easily.
Babu wants to improve position but instead he's given up his back.

Tossavainen looking for the choke from the back.
Babu tries to roll but Tossavainen sticks to his back.

Tossavainen is working for the rear naked choke. He has one arm under the chin but Babu has hold of the other arm. A bit of a stalemate here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babu looks to control his opponent's hands but he's not mananging it at the moment.
Babu wants to escape the position.
Can Babu hold on?! Tossavainen is landing more strikes to his hapless foe.

Tossavainen looking to break Babu's wrist control so he can sink in the choke. Babu remaining controlled and patient though - he really has to keep calm otherwise Tossavainen will wrap this one up with the rear naked choke!
Babu rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Nice strikes from Tossavainen there.
Tossavainen prevents Babu from improving his position.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

Tossavainen is sneakily working for an arm triangle but Babu sees it coming and defends easily.
Tossavainen wants to lay and pray for a moment but Babu keeps working.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tossavainen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Babu moves into full guard.
Babu tries to strike from the bottom.
Babu looking for a sweep. Not yet Babu, not yet.
Tossavainen loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tossavainen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Babu looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Babu keeping moving, preventing Tossavainen from controlling successfully.
Babu preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uljas Tossavainen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Uljas Tossavainen's cut.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Tossavainen wants to clinch.
Tossavainen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Babu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tossavainen avoids the body shot from Babu.
Tossavainen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Babu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
Tossavainen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Babu.
Babu scores with a sloppy punch to the body. Not much technique there but it did the business.
Babu misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tossavainen.
Tossavainen tries to clinch up.
Tossavainen moves in looking to clinch but Babu pushes him off.
Babu with a jab.
Babu smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.
Tossavainen is looking to clinch but Babu is avoiding it.
Babu shoots for a double leg takedown but Tossavainen sprawls well. He's pushed Babu's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Abula Babu is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Tossavainen tries to clinch but Babu moves out of range.
Tossavainen keeps the fight standing with a nice sprawl.
Tossavainen is looking to clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Tossavainen instigates a clinch.
Tossavainen has a couple of punches blocked by Babu.
Babu tries for a takedown but Tossavainen manages to get underhooks.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abula Babu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Babu.
Babu tried to land a shot to the body but connects with Tossavainen's elbow.
Babu is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tossavainen pulls him back up using the underhooks.
Tossavainen misses with some punches.
Tossavainen tries a shoulder strike but it doesn't do any damage.
Tossavainen swings away with an uppercut that misses.
Babu tries to score a body lock takedown but Tossavainen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Tossavainen lands an uppercut.
An uppercut to the body lands inside from Tossavainen.
Tossavainen misses with a shot to the kidneys.
Tossavainen misses with a punch on the inside.

Tossavainen pulls guard effortlessly.

Babu got a little sloppy there for a moment and Tossavainen has worked his way into a loose triangle - can he finish it?! No, Babu has managed to get both his arms back between Tossavainen's legs - danger averted.
Tossavainen working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Babu.
Tossavainen has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tossavainen managing to control the position.
Babu is looking to advance position but Tossavainen has hit a scissor sweep - now he's on top in mount!
Babu tries to hold on but Tossavainen postures up.
Babu working to try and regain half guard.
Babu is in a horrible position here. Tossavainen smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Tossavainen lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Tossavainen takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tossavainen avoids the attempt from Babu to control.
Babu is looking to improve his position but Tossavainen isn't that keen on the idea.

Tossavainen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Babu can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Tossavainen is landing with some decent strikes but Babu is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.

Tossavainen is thinking about an arm triangle here, looking to tighten it up before moving to side control. Babu can see it coming though and defends well with a couple of strikes to the head and some good arm positioning.
Tossavainen raining down shots from the mount!
Tossavainen with the ground and pound from mount.
Tossavainen wants to control the pace but Babu is squirming around nicely.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Babu is desperately trying to improve his position but Tossavainen has a good base and remains in mount.
Tossavainen forces the positional change into back control.
Tossavainen wants to control but Babu is keeping busy.

Tossavainen looking for the RNC.
Tossavainen is trying to stick to Babu's back but Babu is turning into Tossavainen. He's managed to reverse the position - now he's in Tossavainen's guard. Polite applause from the crowd in appreciation of some nice Jiu Jitsu by Babu.

Babu drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Tossavainen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Babu has Tossavainen in his guard.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tossavainen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uljas Tossavainen really dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Uljas Tossavainen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tossavainen tries to clinch there but Babu circles away.
Tossavainen is looking to clinch.
Tossavainen takes a jab right on the kisser.
Tossavainen is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Babu fakes a head shot and lands one to the body.
Tossavainen tries to clinch but Babu moves out of range.
Babu circles away from the clinch attempt.
Babu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tossavainen sees it coming and avoids it easily.
Babu moving in and out of range nicely, whilst landing the scoring shot.
Tossavainen slips under a jab.
Tossavainen tries to clinch there but Babu circles away.
Babu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tossavainen blocks a jab.
Babu will have to do better than that with his takedown attempts.
Babu has his front leg slapped to the side - a nice low kick landing there from Tossavainen.
Babu takes a swing at Tossavainen's ribcage but misses.
Abula Babu seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
It's got to the stage where if one of these guys blows hard enough, the other might fall over.
Babu takes a shot to the eye socket. That's gotta hurt.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tossavainen tries to clinch up but Babu circles away and keeps his distance.
Babu throws an uppercut from half a mile away. Tossavainen sees it coming and avoids it easily.

Tossavainen moves into range and clinches up with Babu.
A head punch blocked on the inside by Babu.
Babu is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
A head punch on the inside from Tossavainen fails to land.
Tossavainen struggles to land a body shot inside as Babu controls his hands.
Tossavainen lands a short shot on the inside that snaps the head of Babu backwards.
Babu drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Some stalling of biblical proportions here from Tossavainen.
Babu takes a shot to the head.
Babu taking a breather.
Tossavainen pushes Babu back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.
Tossavainen tries a body shot but Babu blocks it.
Tossavainen misses with a hook from the clinch.
Tossavainen swings wildly with an uppercut but Babu uses good head movement to avoid it.

Tossavainen pulls Babu into guard.
Babu throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Babu preventing the sweep.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tossavainen trying to keep a closed guard but Babu is proving a slippery customer.
Babu throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tossavainen works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tossavainen controlling the position.
Tossavainen bucks up whilst keeping hold of a body lock, managing to reverse the position. Now he's in top in Babu's guard.

Tossavainen drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Babu manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Tossavainen has Babu in his guard.
Babu throws a big right hand that misses.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Babu trying to control the position from guard on top but Tossavainen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Babu postures up in Tossavainen's guard and throws a big left but Tossavainen blocks it.
Uljas Tossavainen has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tossavainen pulls Babu in close to his closed guard and prevents Babu from doing any damage or advancing position.
Babu wants to control from the top but Tossavainen keeps moving.
Babu throws a strike but Tossavainen rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Well. There's a bit of a lull in the action here and the crowd are starting to get restless.
Tossavainen keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Babu's head.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tossavainen's corner. There ya go! There ya go!

Tossavainen is trying to work a guillotine from the top, or something like that? Don't know how he thinks he's going to get a finish from there.
Tossavainen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Babu swivels though and keeps the full guard.

Babu escapes his hips to the side and looks to be working for an armbar. Tossavainen gives him a little smile and shakes his head. No chance.
Babu controls Tossavainen momentarily but Tossavainen frees himself.
Tossavainen trying to control but Babu is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Uljas Tossavainen dominated that fourth round.
The cut man is working on Uljas Tossavainen's cut.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. This is the final round!

Babu fails with a takedown attempt.
Tossavainen tries to clinch up but Babu circles away and keeps his distance.
Tossavainen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Babu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tossavainen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Babu paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tossavainen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tossavainen uses some good footwork to avoid the body shot by Babu.
Babu throws a hook to the side of Tossavainen's head but Tossavainen sees it coming and ducks under it beautifully.
Tossavainen gets cracked with a nice right hand there by Babu.
Tossavainen tries to close the distance and clinch up but Babu swats him away and circles back towards the center.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Babu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Tossavainen slips a jab and a cross from Babu.
Babu misses with a takedown attempt - Tossavainen sprawls well and throws a nice strike on the way out which just misses.
Both of our modern day gladiators look out of it here - an gruelling 5 rounds of action taking it's toll on them, no doubt.
Tossavainen moves in looking to clinch but Babu pushes him off.
Babu avoids the clinch attempt nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tossavainen fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tossavainen slips under a jab from Babu.

Tossavainen closes the distance and clinches.
Tossavainen lands punches inside but they're not really causing much damage.
A nice left hand lands by Tossavainen.
Still in the clinch, Tossavainen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tossavainen scores with a shot to the side of Babu's head.
Tossavainen lands a nice elbow from the clinch.
Tossavainen lands a nice uppercut.
Babu is trying to drag Tossavainen to the mat but Tossavainen just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Abula Babu. That's going to take a lot out of him.
A right handed body shot lands from Tossavainen.
Tossavainen lands a shoulder strike.
Tossavainen tries a knee to the head but Babu blocks it.
Tossavainen fails to land with a short punch on the inside.
Tossavainen lands a right hand.
Tossavainen cracks Babu with a nice body shot.
Tossavainen softening up his opponent with strikes, against the cage.
Babu has Tossavainen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tossavainen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tossavainen tries to stall but Babu uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Tossavainen pushes Babu back against the cage and lands a hook to the side of the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Babu blocks an elbow strike from Tossavainen.
Tossavainen lands with a short head shot on the inside.

Tossavainen has managed to pull guard. Let's see whether he can work an aggressive guard. It will also be interesting to see what tactics Babu uses from the top position.
Babu preventing the sweep.
Babu thows a big elbow that misses.
Babu with a flurry of punches that miss.
Babu postures up in Tossavainen's guard and throws a big left but Tossavainen blocks it.
Babu wants to control from the top but Tossavainen keeps moving.
Babu throws and elbow that misses. Tossavainen uses the momentum to reverse the position. He's now in Babu's guard. Nice move by Tossavainen!

Tossavainen avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Abula Babu has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tossavainen postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tossavainen throws a big right hand that misses.

Babu has an active guard here but Tossavainen has managed to pass into half guard.
Tossavainen missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Tossavainen looks towards his corner to check for any instructions. The corner give him nothing to work with, so he cracks Babu with a short hammerfist. I guess that's as good as any advice he could get in this position.

Tossavainen is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Babu doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tossavainen.
Babu tries to get to full guard but Tossavainen has control of the leg.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tossavainen seems to be working for a kimura but Babu defends the submission attempt.
Tossavainen is thwarting Babu's attempts to control the position.
Babu is looking for a sweep. Tossavainen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tossavainen lands with a punch from half guard.
Babu on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.

Tossavainen is trying for a guillotine from the top but the pressure isn't in the right place so Babu is just riding it out for now. Tossavainen eventually gives up the hold.
Babu taking some punishment here, with Tossavainen in his half guard.

And that's the end of the fight!
Uljas Tossavainen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tossavainen 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 5 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.

Judge Dillan Fox scores the fight for Uljas Tossavainen!
Judge Ian Loll scores the fight for Uljas Tossavainen!
Judge William Peck scores the fight for Uljas Tossavainen!

Uljas Tossavainen wins by unanimous decision!
Uljas Tossavainen is the new middleweight champion!