PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Sami Salama (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Raimo Tikkari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Salama
vs
Tikkari

180 cm
25
165 lbs
10 - 5 - 0

172 cm
27
160 lbs
7 - 9 - 0

BJJ Purple Belt
Excellent MT
Very quick

Decent wrestler
Excellent MT
Powerful

Fightworld Formula

NFC War Gear

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 10 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Sami Salama!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 7 - 9 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Raimo Tikkari!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Johanna Lukiainen and Tarja Halkonen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tikkari throws a poor cross that misses
and Salama counters with a lovely straight right hand!
Salama misses the body punch
and Tikkari counters with a one-two to the body.
Tikkari throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tikkari throws a nice hook to the body that draws an oooh from the crowd.
A low kick from Tikkari misses
and Salama counters with a nice kick to the body.
Tikkari throws a body kick despite being completely out of range
and Salama finishes the little exchange by landing a big kick to the body.
Tikkari throws a hook to the body but it doesn't connect.
Tikkari throws an overhand right that lands on Salama's shoulder, as Salama tries to avoid the shot.
Salama takes a jab right on the kisser.
Nice body kick from Salama.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Oooooooooooh, not good. A low kick from Tikkari lands where it shouldn't have, right in the... well, you know what he did? He kicked him in the penis. He's injured, injured bad. The referee sends both fighters to their corners and Salama has 5 minutes to recover. He's OK now though... a thumbs up from Salama and we're back underway with a touch of gloves.
Salama throws a nice outside leg kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Salama throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Salama tries to land a body kick
and Tikkari counters with a nice body kick.
Salama bobs and weaves well there to avoid the strikes.
Salama throws a low kick but it's checked well by Tikkari.
Salama scores with a head kick. Tikkari tried to block it but didn't get his arm up in time.
Some bone on bone action there as Tikkari checks a low kick. Luckily it wasn't a particularly hard one.
Salama tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Tikkari stuns Salama with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Salama throws a lazy body kick
and Tikkari makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Tikkari cracks the inside of Salama's front leg.
Salama is breathing heavily.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Ouch! a nice leg kick from Tikkari, right into the meat.
Salama moves to clinch but Tikkari breaks away
and Tikkari counters with an inside leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tikkari throws a head kick that misses.
Tikkari throws a leg kick
and Salama counters with a solid body kick.
Salama throws a leg kick
and Tikkari counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Tikkari lands a nice leg kick that just misses Salama's sensitive parts.
Tikkari scoring well with a low kick there.
Tikkari throws an off balance right hand
and Salama counters with a good low kick that Tikkari was not able to check.
Tikkari looking to land some kicks to the body here.
Tikkari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Nice shot by Salama.
Tikkari tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Salama is able to avoid easily.
Salama moves out of range as Tikkari throws a body kick.
Tikkari throws a head kick that misses
and Salama counters with an outside leg kick.
Salama with a nice looking leg kick. You could hear that one land in a back row.
Tikkari just misses with a punch to the body.
A low kick from Salama misses
and Tikkari counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Salama tries to clinch but Tikkari moves out of range.
Tikkari lands a leg kick and bounces back out of range.
Tikkari connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikkari throws a low kick but it's checked well by Salama.
Tikkari comes forward and lands a shot to the body, then darts back out of range.
Tikkari lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tikkari throws a leg kick which misses Salama's front leg but catches the back leg as Salama tries to avoid it.
Tikkari fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tikkari fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Salama is out of range.
Tikkari bobs and weaves and then throws a good body kick.
Tikkari tests Salama's chin there with a solid looking shot.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tikkari fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Salama manages to avoid it.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimo Tikkari dominated that round.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business.

Tikkari misses with an uppercut. Salama saw that one coming.
Salama misses with a hook
and Tikkari counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Salama is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Tikkari wants to slow Salama down by chopping away at his legs.
Tikkari lands a head kick. Salama smiles back at him and beckons him forward.
Raimo Tikkari is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Salama is looking to take this fight into the clinch.
Salama throws a body kick that digs right into the meat.
Tikkari lands a nice looking body shot.
Salama throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tikkari counters with a thumping low kick.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tikkari tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Salama looks to land a left hand but Tikkari moved out of range nicely.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkari lands with a thumping leg kick.
Salama just misses with a punch to the body.
Salama is hobbling a little on that front leg after taking quite a few leg kicks so far in this fight.
Tikkari misses with a jab and misses with a cross straight after too.
Salama tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tikkari tries a head kick but it misses.
Salama throws a leg kick but Tikkari checks it.
Salama is looking to land body kicks.
Tikkari tries to bum rush Salama with a series of wild strikes but Salama uses good footwork to avoid the assault.
Good work by Tikkari as he checks the leg kick.
Salama blocks a head kick by Tikkari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
A head kick by Tikkari misses

and Salama counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Salama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tikkari is defending well for now.
Both fighters working to control the clinch.
Tikkari wants to break free but Salama has control.
Salama is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Tikkari is defending well for now.
Salama slows down the pace here.
Tikkari landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tikkari wants to break the clinch but can't.

Tikkari breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tikkari throws a sloppy body shot
and Salama counters with a straight right hand.
Tikkari misses with a leg kick
and Salama counters with a thumping low kick.
Salama has not gone for a single takedown so far in this fight, which seems like a very strange tactic when you consider that he has the superior wrestling and BJJ.
Tikkari scores with a body shot.
Tikkari scores with a crisp jab that stopped Salama in his tracks.
Salama uses good footwork to avoid the strikes from Tikkari.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikkari throws a body kick but he was well out of range there.
Tikkari throws a head kick that misses
and Salama counters with a nice low kick that buckles Tikkari's knee momentarily.
Salama throws a leg kick
and Tikkari counters with a thumping low kick.
Salama misses with a leg kick
and Tikkari counters with a slapping leg kick.
A decent looking body kick lands there for Salama.
Salama tries to score with a leg kick but it misses it's target.
Tikkari misses with a shot to the body
and Salama counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Tikkari is lucky that one didn't land flush.
Salama thows a body kick. Tikkari tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Tikkari fakes a couple of low kicks, before throwing one on the third attempt. It connects and Salama has to reset his feet before getting ready to engage.
Tikkari throws a lazy head kick
and Salama makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Salama throws a low kick but Tikkari moves out of range easily.
Tikkari looking to throw a kick but he's pulled out of it.
Tikkari throws a head kick that misses
and Salama counters with a nice leg kick.
Tikkari throws a sloppy head kick
and Salama counters with a leg kick.
Tikkari throws a leg kick
and Salama counters with a kick to the head that grazes his opponent. Tikkari is lucky that one didn't land flush.
A leg kick checked by Salama.
Tikkari misses with an uppercut
and Salama counters with a nice kick to the body.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Salama fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tikkari misses with a head kick.
Tikkari thows a body shot but no joy.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Raimo Tikkari showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. Let's hear some noise people - this is the final round!

Salama connects with a jab.
Tikkari misses with a straight right.
That kick from Salama tenderised Tikkari's leg. Tikkari is trying to keep his angry face on.
Salama wants to slow Tikkari down by chopping away at his legs.
Salama fakes with the hands and throws a leg kick but Tikkari is out of range.
Raimo Tikkari seems to be getting the better of the standup.
A head kick misses from Tikkari.
Salama avoids a punch combination nicely.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
A low kick from Tikkari misses
and Salama counters with a nice leg kick.
Tikkari throws a leg kick
and Salama counters with a head kick.
Salama misses with a head kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkari throws a leg kick
and Salama makes him pay by landing a thudding low kick.
Tikkari thows a leg kick but Salama checks it
and Salama counters with a good, hard body kick but Tikkari shrugs it off.
Salama fails in his attempt to clinch.
A bone on bone clash there as Salama blocks the leg kick.
Nice body kick from Salama.
Tikkari thows a leg kick but Salama checks it
and Salama counters with an inside leg kick.
Salama is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tikkari connects with a solid leg kick.
Salama scores with a slapping inside leg kick.
Tikkari has developed a nice purple lump on his ribcage, as a result of some heavy body kicks from Salama.
Tikkari lands a leg kick that knocks Salama off balance momentarily.
Tikkari blocks a leg kick.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkari connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tikkari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
Salama walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Tikkari checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Salama tries to work over Tikkari's front leg with a kick but Tikkari checks it.
Tikkari swings wildly with a couple of big hooks
and Salama counters with a flying knee. Nice.
A nice combination there by Tikkari.
Tikkari walks forward and throws out a flicking leg kick. Salama checks it nicely though, as he moves to the side.
Good leg kick by Salama there. It's the ones that make that thud noise that hurt and that was an almighty thud.
Salama throws a wild body kick that Tikkari sees coming a mile off.
Tikkari misses with a body shot.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Salama pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Nice body kick there by Salama.
Tikkari moves out of range of the body kick from Salama.
Tikkari checks a low kick from Salama.
Salama feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tikkari's calf.
Salama wants to land a leg kick but Tikkari is out of range.
Salama cracks the inside of Tikkari's front leg.
Tikkari tries a head kick but it misses.
Sami Salama has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Salama throws a solid leg kick but Tikkari takes the impact on his shin and smiles at Salama.

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.
Salama misses with a body shot
and Tikkari counters with a leg kick that reverborates around the arena.
Salama ducks under an overhand right and circles away with a smile on his face.
Salama on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tikkari. Tikkari obviously looking to wear him down.
Tikkari lands with a right hand.
Tikkari stuns Salama with a nice body shot, before stepping back out of range.
Salama throws a leg kick that is checked
and Tikkari counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Salama thows a leg kick but Tikkari checks it
and Tikkari counters with a slapping leg kick.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tikkari tries a switch kick but it misses it's target.
A shot to the body from Salama misses
and Tikkari counters with a straight right hand.
Raimo Tikkari is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Salama feints and then cracks Tikkari's leading leg with a nice low kick. He's obviously looking to slow Tikkari down.

And that's the end of the fight!
Raimo Tikkari comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tikkari has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Raimo Tikkari!