PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Ismo Laitela (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Reino Tolonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). The atmosphere really building for this one as we go over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Laitela
vs
Tolonen

180 cm
28
145 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

175 cm
21
147 lbs
4 - 2 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Solid boxing
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class MT
Powerful

Crashforce Nutrition (Authentic 159Q Recovery $79)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the bantamweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Ismo Laitela!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 4 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reino Tolonen!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Laitela chopped to the floor by a nice leg kick but he springs right back up before Tolonen can pounce on him.

Laitela shoots in and gets a takedown into Tolonen's guard.
Laitela controls from within his opponent's guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Tolonen looking to sweep using the butterfly guard but Laitela puts pay to that idea as he passes nicely into half guard.
Laitela working to pass to mount. He's got his hand pressing down on Tolonen's thigh. Tolonen counters though and makes it back to full guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tolonen wants to sweep but no luck.
Tolonen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tolonen wants to hit a switch here but Laitela passes into full mount! Oh no, disaster for Tolonen there!
Laitela wants to take Tolonen's back but he can't do it this time.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Laitela looking for a guillotine from mount but Tolonen is having none of it.
Tolonen stops Laitela from taking his back. Still, being mounted isn't any better.
Tolonen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Laitela fails to advance to Tolonen's back.
Laitela trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tolonen is trying to escape the mount.
Tolonen tries to hold on but Laitela pushes him away.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are getting on the fighters' backs, as the pace has dropped off in the last minute or so.
Tolonen tries to improve his position but instead Laitela has taken his back!

Laitela is working really hard to secure the rear naked choke. Tolonen defends successfully for a significant amount of time. Both fighters are looking very determined.

The fighters are starting to get a bit slippery now, which will make submissions a bit more difficult.
Laitela working for the choke.
Laitela has the hooks in. Tolonen is trying to push off one leg but he has to do so cautiously to avoid being submitted.

Laitela tightening his grip on Tolonen, looking for the choke.

Tolonen fending off the submission attempt from Laitela.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen is trying to get back to his feet but Laitela has full control of the position and if anything, Tolonen has just worked his way into a worse spot.

Laitela working for the choke.
Tolonen wants to control his opponent's hands but Laitela gets his hands free.
Laitela slows the pace down here. Having a little breather whilst he's in a dominant position, looking to rest and regain some energy, ready to go for the finish.
Tolonen manages to reverse the position and now he's in Laitela's guard. Nice work there by Tolonen.
Laitela wants to sweep here but Tolonen controlling him for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter has done anything of merit for a good minute or two here and the crowd are not happy about it.
Tolonen wants to control from the top but Laitela keeps moving.
Laitela lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Tolonen!
Laitela controlling from mount.
Laitela tries to control but Tolonen wriggling away.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Ismo Laitela dominated that round.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Tolonen throws a body kick that sends a sickening thudding noise reverberating around the arena.
Laitela shoots for a double leg takedown but Tolonen sprawls well. He's pushed Laitela's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.

Tolonen drives through and clinches with Laitela against the cage.
Laitela blocks a knee to the body. He'll have a nicely bruised forearm in the morning.
Tolonen gets underhooks to prevent Laitela's takedown attempt.
Laitela is trying to force a seperation but Tolonen has the dominant position.
Tolonen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Laitela in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
Tolonen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Laitela is trying to break free.
Tolonen lands a nice knee to the body.

Tolonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Laitela has his head snapped back a nice jab. A little nod from Laitela there as he acknowledges the shot.
Tolonen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tolonen throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tolonen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Laitela paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tolonen moves in looking to clinch but Laitela pushes him off.
Tolonen tries to clinch up.
Tolonen listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolonen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Tolonen lands a body shot.
A jab from Tolonen misses.
Reino Tolonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tolonen throws a half hearted mid kick.
Tolonen throws a leg kick which misses Laitela's front leg but catches the back leg as Laitela tries to avoid it.

Laitela tries to keep at a distance but Tolonen has taken the fight into the clinch.

Tolonen breaks the clinch.
Tolonen pulls out of a head kick attempt.
Laitela has his takedown stuffed
and Tolonen counters with an inside leg kick.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Ismo Laitela. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Tolonen moves into range and clinches up with Laitela.
Laitela is looking for a takedown up against the cage. Tolonen gets underhooks though and prevents the takedown attempt.
Tolonen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Tolonen working Laitela over with knees to the body.
Tolonen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen lands a body punch in the clinch.
Tolonen unloads a knee to the mid-section.
Tolonen taking a breather.
Laitela has Tolonen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tolonen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Laitela takes a knee right on the jaw!
A body shot lands from Tolonen.
Laitela tries to break free but Tolonen pushes him back against the cage.
Laitela takes a knee to the side of the body.
Tolonen landing knees to the head.
Tolonen scores with a knee to the head.
Tolonen using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Laitela looking for a takedown.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tolonen obliges.
Tolonen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tolonen avoiding damage.
Tolonen unloads a knee to the mid-section.

Tolonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
Tolonen closes the distance but Laitela moves to the side

and Laitela decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tolonen's guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tolonen has his foot on Laitela's thigh. He's trying to push off and get in position for a triangle, I think. Laitela works his way back into a safe position though.
Laitela wants to control from the top but Tolonen keeps moving.
Tolonen wants to sweep but no luck.
Laitela stands and throws Tolonen's legs to the side, diving into side control.

Laitela is working for what looks like an arm triangle here. Tolonen is trying to escape and Laitela transitions quickly into an armbar! He's slapped it on tight and Tolonen is forced to tap! Nice work there by Laitela! Very nice indeed!

Ladies and gentlemen, after 3:48 of round 2, we have a winner by way of Submission (Armbar). Ismo Laitela!