PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Harjan Varsi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tomi Koski (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Varsi comes to the cage accompanied by Hiski Salomaa - Tiskarin polkka. Koski comes into a darkened arena with his song building. Dj Neon - In Hardtrance I Trust kicks in, the lights come on and the crowd goes wild! What a showman! On his way into the cage it seems that Harjan Varsi has been attacked by a crazed fan! It looks like it might have been the just bleed guy! Luckily Harjan Varsi seems to be OK! I thought that lunatic was in prison!?

Varsi
vs
Koski

202 cm
27
194 lbs
22 - 8 - 0

190 cm
29
197 lbs
18 - 6 - 1

Good wrestling
Excellent boxer
Very quick

Good wrestler
World class boxer
Powerful

Crashforce Nutrition (Authentic 159Q Recovery $79)

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 22 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Harjan Varsi!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 18 - 6 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Tomi Koski!
The judges for this bout are Illya Tyunina, Valeri Chadov and Viktor Lagutenko.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Koski avoids the body shot from Varsi.
Varsi swings widly with a right hand
and Koski counters with a right hand to the body.
Varsi throws a wild combination but nothing lands.
Varsi works the jab nicely.
Koski moves his head to the side to avoid a jab but walks straight into a cross.
Koski misses with a body shot
and Varsi counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Koski uses good head movement to avoid the hook from Varsi.
Varsi takes a swing at Koski's ribcage but misses.
Koski moves away from the strike by Varsi.
Koski looks to land a combination but Varsi avoids it well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
A left and a right from Koski both land. Nice combination.
Varsi really does look like a pencil wearing a pair of gloves. Let's hope he has a gameplan to suit that ridiculous body shape.
Varsi scores with a nice strike.
Varsi lands with a good body shot.
Varsi fakes and then throws a beautiful body shot. Koski looks a bit winded and takes a step backwards to take a breath.
Harjan Varsi is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
Varsi misses with a body shot.
Nice takedown defense from Varsi. No joy for Koski on that attempt.
Varsi swings widly with a right hand

and Koski decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Varsi's guard.
Koski trying to control but Varsi is working from the bottom.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Varsi looking for a sweep. Not yet Varsi, not yet.
Koski wants to pass the guard but Varsi is keeping the position.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Varsi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Varsi keeping full guard, as Koski tries to pass.
Varsi trying to control the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
We may be looking at a referee standup if the pace doesn't pick up soon.
Varsi wants to sweep but no luck.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Varsi avoids the body shot from Koski.
Koski shoots in for a double leg but Varsi sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Varsi moves out of range of the body kick.
Varsi is using his reach advantage well here, landing the more effective single shots from range.
Koski throws an overhand right that lands on Varsi's shoulder, as Varsi tries to avoid the shot.
Varsi misses with a right hand
and Koski counters with a head kick. That will keep Varsi thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Varsi listening to his corner there, landing a nice uppercut.
Varsi misses with a hook to the body

and Koski counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Koski pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Varsi is keeping the position for now.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Koski wants to control from the top but Varsi keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomi Koski 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.

Varsi misses with a left hand

and Koski counters with a nice double leg into side control. Varsi won't be happy with that.
Varsi can't do much from the bottom here.
Koski tries to advance to mount but can't.
Koski controlling the position.

Koski tries for a kimura but Varsi is defending well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Varsi tries to bench press Koski off him but Koski keeps the position.
Koski is staying tight to Varsi's torso, preventing him from escaping.
Varsi is looking to regain half guard here but Koski keeps moving and retains side control.
Koski works to advance to full mount. Varsi defends for a few seconds but eventually he succumbs.

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.
Koski is stalling here but it's allowed Varsi to get half guard.

Koski wants to work for an arm triangle but Varsi is really keeping half guard well and defending the submission attempt.
Koski thows a huge punch but Varsi dodges it nicely.
Koski content to sit in half guard and control for a moment.
Koski trying to control the action but Varsi is working from the bottom.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Koski in particular looking to stall.
Varsi is not content to let Koski control the position.
Koski prevents Varsi from improving his position.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A few boos can be heard. I'm sure they will multiply if the fighters don't pick up the pace.
Varsi controlling the position for now.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Tomi Koski wasn't active enough on the ground.
Koski misses with a body kick.
Koski fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Varsi manages to avoid it.
Varsi lands a two punch combo.
The crowd thankful this round is nearly over.
Koski takes a solid shot to the body. That one hurt him but he's trying not to show it.
Varsi scores with a body shot.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tomi Koski showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Varsi's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Varsi blocks the body kick.
Varsi misses with a lunging right hand
and Koski counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
Varsi scores with a reasonable looking shot to the body. Koski doesn't seem bothered though.
Varsi throws a series of punches but Koski moves out of range.
Varsi scores with a jab.
Koski swings and misses with a shot to the body
enabling Varsi to counter with a crisp jab.
Varsi getting the better of the striking in that exchange.
Koski looks to score with a jab to the body but Varsi is just out of range.
Harjan Varsi seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Jab, jab by Varsi - just one landing.
Varsi lands with a shot to the body.
Varsi just misses with a punch to the body.
Some wild striking there from Varsi.
Varsi scores with a nice strike.
Koski misses with an uppercut
and Varsi counters with a nice uppercut.
Koski fails with a rather predictable takedown attempt.
Harjan Varsi has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tomi Koski is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's two 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.
Varsi misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Koski.
Varsi throws out a token jab with nothing on it.
Varsi takes one to the chin there.
Varsi moves out of range as Koski throws a body kick.
Koski takes one on the chin but seems OK.
Koski misses with a lunging right hand
and Varsi counters with a nice jab to the body that keeps Koski thinking.
Varsi misses with a hook.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Varsi misses with a right hand
and Koski counters with a stiff right hand.
Koski drops his hands momentarily and Varsi takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Varsi lands with a shot to the body.
Varsi bobs and weaves and throws out a fast jab that snaps Koski's head backwards.
Koski shoots in looking for a takedown but Varsi manages to keep the fight standing, pushing Koski's face into the canvas for good measure before circling away.
Varsi misses with a hook
and Koski counters with a slapping leg kick.
Koski shoots in for a takedown. "Ole!" shouts Varsi as he jumps to the side.
Harjan Varsi has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Tomi Koski.
The fighters circling - Koski throws out the jab but it was never going to land.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A looping hook to the body misses from Varsi. Koski does a little dance to reset his feet.
Varsi throws a combination. Koski tries to block but a couple of punches get through.
A shot to the body from Varsi misses
and Koski counters with a head kick. That will keep Varsi thinking before he tries any more sloppy attacks!
Varsi is using his height advantage well here, landing a good percentage of his punches.
Varsi takes a swing at Koski's ribcage but misses.
Varsi throws a lazy uppercut
and Koski counters with a two punch combo.
Varsi rushes in with a sloppy looking punch

so Koski counters with a double leg into guard. Good agility.

And that's the end of the fight!
That was a close round. You could make an argument for either fighter but I would give it to Harjan Varsi.
I think Koski has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Illya Tyunina scores the fight 28:29
Judge Valeri Chadov scores the fight 28:29
Judge Viktor Lagutenko scores the fight 28:29

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tomi Koski!