PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Juha Tappio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Ilkka Wasama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tappio comes to the cage accompanied by Kari Tapio - Juna kulkee vaan. Wasama is bouncing up and down as he enters the arena, backed by The Prodigy - Take Me to the Hospital. Man, I cannot wait for this one!

Tappio
vs
Wasama

180 cm
23
165 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

170 cm
22
158 lbs
4 - 12 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Very quick

BJJ Blue Belt
Decent boxing
Knockout power

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juha Tappio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 12 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ilkka Wasama!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A slow jab from Tappio misses its intended target.
Wasama thows a body shot but no joy.
Wasama misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Tappio.

Tappio shoots in and gets a takedown into Wasama's guard.
Tappio controls from within his opponent's guard.
Tappio trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tappio is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Tappio works over Wasama with some ground and pound from guard.

Tappio postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Wasama is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Tappio, into his guard.
Wasama prevents Tappio from getting back to his feet.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wasama tries to stand but Tappio is controlling from the bottom.
Tappio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Wasama.
Wasama wanted to stand there but Tappio had control of the position.
Wasama must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Tappio pulls Wasama in close to prevent any damage.
Wasamais looking to pass into half guard but Tappio pushes him away with his feet and jumps on top - now Tappio is in guard.
Tappio trying to control the position from guard on top but Wasama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Wasama wants to stand but Tappio is controlling the position.
Wasama keeping moving, preventing Tappio from controlling successfully.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Wasama looking to control.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Tappio keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Wasama throws a monster uppercut resembling something out of street fighter but it doesn't land.
Wasama ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Tappio looks to land a left hand but Wasama moved out of range nicely.
Wasama misses with an uppercut

and Tappio counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Wasama's guard now.
Wasama looks gassed!
Tappio in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tappio throwing strikes from guard but Wasama blocks nicely.
Tappio trying to control the position from guard on top but Wasama is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tappio won't allow Wasama to get back to his feet.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Wasama works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tappio sitting in guard here, content to control.
Tappio pushes down on Wasama's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Wasama avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tappio.

Tappio is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Wasama defends it well.
Tappio controlling the pace.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tappio trying to mount his opponent but Wasama defends it.
Tappio throwing shots but Wasama is blocking nicely.

Tappio is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Wasama doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tappio.
Tappio keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tappio shoots in and drives through. Wasama sprawls well.
Tappio keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
A looping hook to the body misses from Wasama. Tappio does a little dance to reset his feet.
Wasama swings widly with a right hand

and Tappio counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Tappio wants to free his trapped foot but Wasama is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Wasama trying to control here.
Wasama is trying to stand.
Tappio trying to control from half guard but Wasama is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tappio controlling the pace.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wasama wants to control but Tappio is keeping busy.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

Well, the referee has seen enough. Neither fighter is active enough on the ground so he's stood them back up.
Wasama throws a low kick, looking for Tappio's leg but Tappio calmly moves out of range.
Wasama misses with a shot to the body

and Tappio counters with a shoot takedown. Wasama fights it but they end up in guard.
Wasama is breathing heavily.
Wasama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tappio.
Tappio trying to control but Wasama is working from the bottom.
Tappio advances position into side control!
Wasama regains half guard there - taking advantage of Tappio's attempt to lay and pray for a moment.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tappio missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Tappio keeping composed on the top, looking to control the action.
Tappio is scoring with some nice ground and pound from the dominant position.
Tappio landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Well, if Tappio is going to just lie there, perhaps we should talk about what we're having for dinner tonight… I'm having a ham and pineapple pizza… Yum. Can't wait.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappio sitting in half guard, looking to land shots. Wasama defending well though.

Wasama makes some distance and scrambles quickly back to his feet. Nice work!
Wasama is throwing a lot of body shots here, looking to wear down Tappio rather than just go for the knockout.
Tappio lands a glancing blow to the side of Wasama's head.

It looks like Ilkka Wasama has been cut.
Wasama swings widly with a right hand

and Tappio counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Wasama working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tappio.
Tappio is just sitting in guard, looking to avoid any submissions.
Tappio postures up in Wasama's guard and throws a big left but Wasama blocks it.
Tappio controlling from the top position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.
Tappio trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wasama avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tappio trying to control but Wasama is working from the bottom.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Juha Tappio dominated that second round.
The cut man is working on Ilkka Wasama's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Wasama with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tappio counters with a three punch combo that has Wasama backing up. Wasama nods at Tappio to acknowledge the strikes.
Wasama doesn't succeed with the takedown

and Tappio counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tappio.
Tappio controls the pace of the fight for a moment.
Tappio slips nicely into half guard.

Tappio is looking for a kimura here.

Wasama is defending against the submission attempts here by Tappio.
Wasama takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tappio slips a nice elbow through Wasama's hands, connecting with Wasama's forehead.
Tappio 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.
Tappio landing with strikes to the body and head, softening up his opponent.
Wasama has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tappio is working away from the top position though.
Juha Tappio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Tappio thows a huge punch but Wasama dodges it nicely.

Tappio is looking for a kimura but he's never going to get it from there.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Tappio has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Tappio landing strikes from the mount.
Tappio punching from mount but Wasama doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Tappio content just to control the position here.

Tappio is going oldschool here, as he tries to force Wasama to tap using a forearm choke. This isn't 1993 though, so Wasama shrugs it off.
Ilkka Wasama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wasama is in a horrible position here. Tappio smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Tappio working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Tappio landing strikes from the mount and Wasama is in trouble!

Wasama is rocked!
Tappio postures up and connects with a big shot that has rocked Wasama badly. He's trying desperately to grab hold of Tappio around the waist but Tappio pushes him off and unloads with more strikes, forcing the referee to jump in and save him! Tappio is the winner by TKO! Tappio jumps onto the cage and shouts into the camera. "We did it momma!"

Ladies and gentlemen, after 4:01 of round 3, we have a winner by way of TKO (Strikes). Juha Tappio!