PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a featherweight MMA rules bout between Rocky Marciano (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Teppo Tuhkasaari (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Marciano kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is lets dance. Tuhkasaari has chosen Proteus - Full Metal Jacket as his entrance music, which hasn't gone down very well with the crowd. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Marciano
vs
Tuhkasaari

180 cm
27
146 lbs
15 - 3 - 0

164 cm
25
147 lbs
17 - 3 - 0

Abu Dhabi Champ
Excellent boxer
Granite chin

ADCC Champion
Excellent MT
Powerful

GTI - 1337 Franchised
GTI - 1337 Franchised

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the featherweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 15 - 3 - 0, fighting out of London, Rocky Marciano!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 17 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Teppo Tuhkasaari!
The judges for this bout are William Gold, Andrew Berry and Paul Tew.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tuhkasaari throws a leg kick which misses Marciano's front leg but catches the back leg as Marciano tries to avoid it.
Tuhkasaari misses with a hook to the body
and Marciano counters with a three punch combo that has Tuhkasaari backing up. Tuhkasaari nods at Marciano to acknowledge the strikes.
Tuhkasaari gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
letting Marciano counter with a right hand.
Marciano gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Tuhkasaari counters with a leg kick.
Marciano takes a kick to the body and keeps moving.
An inside leg kick from Tuhkasaari misses.
Tuhkasaari fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Marciano looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
A lazy body kick from Tuhkasaari
and Marciano cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tuhkasaari shapes like he's going to throw a leg kick but settles back down.
Tuhkasaari looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Tuhkasaari swings for the body but Marciano moves out of range.

Marciano fakes an overhand right and shoots for a takedown. Tuhkasaari sprawls well initially but Marciano persists and gets the takedown into half guard.
Marciano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Marciano thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Tuhkasaari wants to improve his position but Marciano is controlling well.
Tuhkasaari is controlling Marciano's trapped leg to prevent Marciano from advancing to side control.
Tuhkasaari is trying to defend against the ground and pound but Marciano scores with a couple of nice shots.
Marciano will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Marciano is keen to just control but Tuhkasaari is a slippery customer.
Marciano missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Marciano is just content to waste time from the top position. Tuhkasaari takes advantage of the situation and regains full guard.
Marciano is looking to work some ground and pound but Tuhkasaari has wrist control.
Marciano trying to control the position from guard on top but Tuhkasaari is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tuhkasaari can't keep his opponent in guard - Marciano advances to half guard, no doubt looking to mount.
Tuhkasaari is not content to let Marciano control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tuhkasaari regains full guard, whilst avoiding punches from Marciano.
Tuhkasaari seems keen to control Marciano's posture.
Marciano makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Marciano pushing down on Tuhkasaari's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Tuhkasaari is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Marciano's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Marciano's back!
Marciano looking very determined here, making life difficult for Tuhkasaari.
Tuhkasaari biding his time, looking for the opening.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tuhkasaari looking to hold on to the position here but Marciano rolls and ends up regaining guard.
Tuhkasaari controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Tuhkasaari wants to pass the guard but Marciano is keeping the position.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Teppo Tuhkasaari.
Tuhkasaari throws a sloppy body shot
and Marciano counters with a stiff right hand.
Tuhkasaari misses with a left hand
and Marciano counters with a lovely straight right hand!
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Marciano dominated that round.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action!

Marciano stumbles momentarily as he takes a strong leg kick from Tuhkasaari.
Tuhkasaari tries to score with a low kick but Marciano moves his leg out of the way.
Marciano lands a two punch combo.
Tuhkasaari throws a front kick aimed at Marciano's knee but Marciano avoids it well.
Tuhkasaari moves away from the strike by Marciano.
Marciano checks a leg kick.
We've had a slow start to the round here - hopefully the action picks up.
Tuhkasaari misses with a left hand
and Marciano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
Tuhkasaari misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Marciano moves out of range of the body kick.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marciano fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Tuhkasaari manages to avoid it.
Tuhkasaari throws a leg kick
and Marciano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.
The fight stays on the outside here - Marciano looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Marciano swings widly with a right hand

and Tuhkasaari counters with a single leg into guard. Marciano didn't expect that.
Tuhkasaari trying to control but Marciano is working from the bottom.
Tuhkasaari slips effortlessly into side control - very nice.
Tuhkasaari trying to control the position but Marciano is working away.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuhkasaari working away.
Tuhkasaari creates a bit of distance and throws down some hard shots.
Tuhkasaari tries to move to mount but Marciano blocks the move with his legs.
Tuhkasaari takes a little break here. Marciano wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Marciano is sneaking out the side here. He's bucked Tuhkasaari off and has taken his back!
Marciano struggling to land strikes to the head as Tuhkasaari covers up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Marciano is looking to finish the fight by rear naked choke. Tuhkasaari knows exactly what he's got planned though, so he's defending well. Maybe a few strikes would soften Tuhkasaari for a finish.
Marciano throws a big right hand but he misses and hits the mat. Ouch.
Tuhkasaari tries to escape the position - he's now mounted. Is that better or worse? Hard to tell!
Marciano connects with a couple of good shots from mount.
Marciano landing strikes, looking to finish!
Tuhkasaari takes a big shot to the head but keeps on trying to improve his position.
Marciano landing punches.
Marciano thuds his fist into the canvas! Oooouch!
Tuhkasaari working to try and regain half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Marciano has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Tuhkasaari's face.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Marciano with the ground and pound from mount.
Marciano throwing strikes but Tuhkasaari recovers to half guard. A much better position.
Tuhkasaari on the receiving end of some nice ground and pound.
Marciano wants to free his trapped foot but Tuhkasaari is holding on for dear life with his legs.
The referee walks around the fighters to get a better view of the action. Marciano lands a nice short elbow.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Marciano throwing punches and elbows but they're not doing any damage.
Rocky Marciano overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Marciano wants to pass to mount but Tuhkasaari is defending the position.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Rocky Marciano dominated that second round.
That's the end of the round. The referee orders the cornermen out of the cage so we can get back down to business. This is the final round!

Marciano closes this distance looking for a takedown but Tuhkasaari circles away.
Nice body kick from Tuhkasaari.
Tuhkasaari fails with the takedown.
Tuhkasaari throws a lazy head kick
and Marciano counters with a three punch combo that has Tuhkasaari backing up. Tuhkasaari nods at Marciano to acknowledge the strikes.
Marciano is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Tuhkasaari tries for a takedown but Marciano circles away easily
and Marciano cracks him with a counter punch right on the button.
Tuhkasaari throws a right hand that misses
and Marciano connects with a straight left hand counter down the middle.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Marciano checks a leg kick.
Marciano lands with a slapping head kick.
Marciano looks for a takedown but Tuhkasaari sprawls well.
Tuhkasaari throws a body kick, spinning off balance
and Marciano counters with a three punch combination, finished off with a leg kick. Nice work.
Teppo Tuhkasaari seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Marciano takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
Marciano throws a series of punches but Tuhkasaari avoids them all with ease.
Tuhkasaari misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Marciano.
Marciano stuffs the takedown attempt from Tuhkasaari. Tuhkasaari gets slowly back to his feet.
Teppo Tuhkasaari has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Rocky Marciano has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Teppo Tuhkasaari.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tuhkasaari throws an off balance right hand
and Marciano counters with a good right hand that lands right on the jaw.
This fight brought to you by 5M nutrition - it's mmmmm tasty. Nice jab by Marciano.
Tuhkasaari misses with a leg kick

and Marciano counters with a single leg into guard. Tuhkasaari didn't expect that.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Marciano throwing strikes but missing.
Tuhkasaari looking for a sweep. Not yet Tuhkasaari, not yet.
Tuhkasaari is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.

Marciano drops back for a leg but he's not going to get it - he lets go and Tuhkasaari dives on top into guard.
Tuhkasaari wants to control from the top but Marciano keeps moving.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Marciano tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Marciano keeping full guard, as Tuhkasaari tries to pass.
Tuhkasaari pushing down on Marciano's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Tuhkasaari thumps the canvas. Not on purpose obviously - he just missed Marciano's head.

Marciano is defending against the submission attempts here by Tuhkasaari.
Tuhkasaari trying to control the action but Marciano is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Marciano gets full guard.
Marciano is trying to keep Tuhkasaari in close.
Tuhkasaari pushing down on Marciano's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Tuhkasaari is keen to just control but Marciano is a slippery customer.
Rocky Marciano is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
Marciano trying to control but Tuhkasaari postures up.

Tuhkasaari is looking for an arm triangle, whilst trying to pass to side control. Marciano doesn't seem that keen to cooperate though. No luck this time Tuhkasaari.

And that's the end of the fight!
Rocky Marciano showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Marciano 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 William Gold scores the fight 30:27
Judge Andrew Berry scores the fight 30:27
Judge Paul Tew scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Rocky Marciano!