PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a heavyweight MMA rules bout between Mikko Tahvonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Michael Corwin (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). We have two fighters making their debuts here, so let's see who comes out of this one with their first professional victory.

Tahvonen
vs
Corwin

155 cm
20
240 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

201 cm
19
287 lbs
0 - 0 - 0

Great wrestler
Counter striker
Very quick

Olympic wrestler
Basic striking
Powerful

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 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Mikko Tahvonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 0 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Corwin!
The judges for this bout are Roosa Järviläinen, Arvi Lind and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tahvonen is looking to chop away at Corwin's legs.
Tahvonen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Corwin is able to avoid easily.

Corwin closes the distance and gets a trip takedown into side control. Tahvonen quickly recovers to half guard.
Corwin is trying to control. Tahvonen wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tahvonen is holding on to half guard well.
Corwin thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tahvonen controlling the position for now.
Corwin misses with a head shot. Tahvonen uses the momentum to regain guard.
Tahvonen is trying to control the position from the bottom.
Corwin stopping the sweep attempt from Tahvonen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Corwin in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Tahvonen looking for a sweep. Not yet Tahvonen, not yet.
Tahvonen is controlling Corwin's posture.
Corwin working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Corwin loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tahvonen keeping full guard, as Corwin tries to pass.
Corwin stopping the sweep attempt from Tahvonen.
Tahvonen controls Corwin momentarily but Corwin frees himself.
Tahvonen might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.

That's two 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.
Corwin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Corwin must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Corwin postures up in Tahvonen's guard and throws a big left but Tahvonen blocks it.
Tahvonen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tahvonen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.
Tahvonen has momentary wrist control but Corwin slips an elbow through the middle.
Corwin landing with the ground and pound.
Corwin is looking to work some ground and pound but Tahvonen has wrist control.
Tahvonen on his back here. We all know that wrestlers don't like being on their back so let's see if Tahvonen tries to get out of the position.
Corwin throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Corwin works over Tahvonen with some ground and pound from guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A real slowdown in the pace of the fight for a moment, as Tahvonen holds on and takes a little breather.
Tahvonen looking for a sweep. Not yet Tahvonen, not yet.
Corwin trying to control the position from guard on top but Tahvonen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tahvonen working a defensive guard here.
Tahvonen preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tahvonen keeping moving, preventing Corwin from controlling successfully.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up.
Corwin wants to clinch but Tahvonen slips to the side

and Tahvonen counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Corwin keeping full guard, as Tahvonen tries to pass.
Tahvonen throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tahvonen distracts Corwin with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.

Corwin manages to escape and get back to his feet.
Corwin misses with a takedown

and Tahvonen counters by clinching up.
Corwin is working for takedown but Tahvonen is calmly controlling the position for now.
Corwin tries for a takedown but Tahvonen manages to get underhooks.
Mikko Tahvonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Michael Corwin.

Tahvonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
The sound of bone on bone echoes around the arena as Corwin checks a leg kick.
Corwin misses with a takedown

and Tahvonen counters with a shoot takedown into half guard.
Corwin looks gassed!
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tahvonen is trying to control. Corwin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tahvonen is really struggling to control Corwin but he's trying to hold on to the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Tahvonen dominated that round.
That's time! Back to the action!

A nice leg kick lands there from Tahvonen.
Corwin with a lazy takedown attempt
and Tahvonen counters with a thumping low kick.
A leg kick checked by Corwin.

Tahvonen looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tahvonen sitting in guard here, content to control.
Corwin keeping moving, preventing Tahvonen from controlling successfully.
Tahvonen stays in close to Corwin's body and controls the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

Mikko Tahvonen has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Corwin doesn't succeed with the takedown
and Tahvonen counters with a nice low kick that buckles Corwin's knee momentarily.

Tahvonen is looking for a takedown here. He's shot in and has managed to get it, finishing up in Corwin's half guard.
Tahvonen trying to control from half guard but Corwin is working away.
Tahvonen lands with an elbow from half guard - that looked like it hurt.
Tahvonen lands a big shot. The thud that echoes around the arena is like music to the fans' ears.
Mikko Tahvonen overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tahvonen is pressing down on Corwin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Corwin is holding on for now.
Corwin tries to kick Tahvonen off but Tahvonen keeps his base steady and stays in half guard.
Well, if Tahvonen 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.
Tahvonen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Corwin is staying active underneath Tahvonen, who seems content to just control the action from this position.
Corwin avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Tahvonen.
Corwin is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Tahvonen scores with a couple of nice shots.
Corwin keeping his head moving to avoid the ground and pound.
Tahvonen wants to pass to mount but Corwin is defending the position.
Corwin wants to improve his position but Tahvonen is controlling well.
Corwin taking some punishment here, with Tahvonen in his half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
My god... these two guys really need to pick up the pace or everyone will leave to go get a beer.
Tahvonen not landing any meaningful shots this time.
Corwin really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Tahvonen. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Corwin wants to get back to his feet.
Tahvonen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Corwin's head.
Corwin is controlling Tahvonen's position as best he can from this difficult position.
Tahvonen working Corwin over with strikes.
Corwin is refusing to be controlled, as Tahvonen sits in half guard.
Tahvonen controlling the action here.
Tahvonen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mikko Tahvonen dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Corwin misses with a takedown attempt
and he gets countered with a snapping leg kick.
Tahvonen tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Corwin is able to avoid easily.
Corwin avoids a low kick by using good footwork.
Corwin tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Tahvonen counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Tahvonen with a flurry of punches that miss.

Tahvonen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tahvonen stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Corwin swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Tahvonen controlling from the top position.
Tahvonen trying to control but Corwin is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tahvonen is pushing down on Corwin's leg trying to pass to half guard. Corwin is fighting to maintain full guard but Tahvonen has managed to sneak the leg through.
Tahvonen thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Corwin's head.
Corwin wants to improve his position but Tahvonen is controlling well.
Tahvonen takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Tahvonen is figuring out what he wants to do next.
Tahvonen is trying to control. Corwin wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
A lull in the action here being met with boos from the crowd.
Tahvonen wants to free his trapped foot but Corwin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tahvonen trying to control from half guard but Corwin is working away.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.
Tahvonen is pressing down on Corwin's thigh, looking to free his foot. Corwin is holding on for now.
The two fighters exchange a few words. I couldn't hear what they were saying but maybe it's more fun if you make it up yourself. Tahvonen connects with a nice short shot to Corwin's temple.
Tahvonen trying to mount his opponent but Corwin defends it.
It really doesn't seem like the step up in weight is hurting Tahvonen here at all. He's more than holding his own against the bigger man.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Corwin trying to control from the bottom.
Tahvonen wants to free his trapped foot but Corwin is holding on for dear life with his legs.
Tahvonen missing with some ground and pound from the half guard.
Corwin is looking to escape.
Tahvonen is trying to control the action in half guard but Corwin is working away on the bottom, looking perhaps to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
There's not a lot going on here and the crowd are letting the fighters know they're not willing to tolerate a lack of action.
Tahvonen not throwing his punches with enough precision this time.
Tahvonen wants to take a breather but Corwin is having none of it.

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

and Tahvonen counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Tahvonen.
Corwin takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Tahvonen looking to pass the guard.
Tahvonen's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tahvonen 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.
Tahvonen trying to control but Corwin is working from the bottom.
Corwin wants to get back to his feet but Tahvonen is in a dominant position and won't allow it.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mikko Tahvonen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tahvonen has outscored his opponent in every aspect of the fight today. Only a scarily incompetent judge or two will keep him from a well deserved win... Over to the ring announcer for the scorecards.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3 rounds of action, we go to the scorecards for a decision.
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:27
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Mikko Tahvonen!