PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Tommi Neponen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tero Taikina (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Taikina has chosen Cookie song as his entrance music. Tero Taikina told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Neponen
vs
Taikina

180 cm
23
177 lbs
3 - 8 - 0

166 cm
25
179 lbs
3 - 4 - 1

BJJ Purple Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Experienced

Decent wrestler
Good elbows
Granite chin

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 3 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tommi Neponen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 3 - 4 - 1, fighting out of Helsinki, Tero Taikina!
The judges for this bout are Johanna Lukiainen, Ben Zyskovitsi and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Taikina takes a head kick and shrugs it off.

Taikina gets to the clinch - let's see what his plan is here.
Taikina lands an elbow that stopped Neponen in his tracks for a moment.

It looks like Tommi Neponen has been cut.
Neponen is looking to score with knees to the body. Maybe he'll change it up and go body then head. Taikina is defending well for now.
Neponen wants to break free but Taikina has control.
Taikina working Neponen over with knees to the body.
Neponen takes an elbow to the forehead.
Taikina pushes off an throws an elbow but Neponen leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Taikina creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Taikina creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Taikina lands an elbow that stopped Neponen in his tracks for a moment.
Taikina throws a nice elbow but it doesn't land.
Neponen drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Taikina gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Neponen is trying to force a seperation but Taikina has the dominant position.
Taikina prevents Neponen from breaking the clinch.
Neponen fails to pull the fight into his guard.
Taikina looks to throw an elbow but misses.
Taikina comes over the top with an elbow. That landed flush.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Neponen blocks the elbow strike.
Taikina lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Neponen tries to pull guard but Taikina holds him up against the cage and eventually Neponen drops back down to his feet.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Tommi Neponen. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Neponen dodges an elbow strike from Taikina.
Taikina misses with an elbow strike.
Taikina gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Neponen drops down looking for an ankle pick but Taikina pulls his leg out and moves away.
Tommi Neponen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Neponen throws a series of punches but Taikina moves out of range.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Taikina decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Taikina looking to pass the half guard. Not this time.
Taikina passes to full mount!
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Neponen can't escape the position.
Neponen reaches up to try and control the position but Taikina seems to have an arm triangle now! Uh oh! Neponen rolls and tries to escape and now Taikina has his back!
Neponen is in bad spot here.

Taikina tightening his grip on Neponen, looking for the choke.
Taikina controls the action.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Taikina looking for the choke but no joy.
Neponen tries to roll but Taikina sticks to his back.
Taikina controlling from the back.
Neponen tries to escape but Taikina has the hooks in and won't let him break free.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taikina is looking cool and calm here, just waiting for a good opportunity to attack and finish the fight from this dominant position.
Taikina is hanging on to Neponen's back as he tries to escape.
Neponen turns into Taikina and is now in his guard.
Taikina managing to control the position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Tero Taikina hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.

Taikina looking to shoot here. He's gone for it and he's landed a takedown into mount! Oh, that's bad for Neponen!

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Taikina fails to move to back control.
Neponen flailing away with punches but nothing is landing.
Neponen is controlling an arm, preventing Taikina from taking his back. Although keeping him in mount is no better to be honest.
Neponen is in all sorts of trouble here.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Taikina with some aggressive grappling here, looking for the finish.
Neponen taking shots to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tero Taikina dominated that round.
The cut man is working on Tommi Neponen's cut.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Neponen uses good footwork to get in and out and land a nice right hand before Taikina has time to react.
Neponen moves into range and throws a lovely three punch combination.
Neponen misses with a head kick.
Neponen throws a left and a right that both miss

and Taikina decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Neponen's guard.
Taikina trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.

Neponen has an active guard here but Taikina has managed to pass into half guard.
Taikina is just sitting in half guard, waiting for something to happen.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Neponen is looking to sinch up a guillotine here but Taikina pulls his head out easily.
Taikina works his way into side control.
Taikina remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.

Taikina tries for a kimura. Not really close to a finish though.
Neponen is looking to reverse the position.

That's two 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.
Taikina controlling the position.
Neponen throws an elbow to the body but it doesn't land.
Taikina happy to just control the position for now.
Neponen is looking for a sweep.
Taikina content to control the pace. The referee will try and keep them active though.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taikina tries to advance to mount but can't.
Neponen tries to slip a leg under to move to half guard but Taikina presses down on the leg and jumps into full mount!
Taikina fails to move to back control.
Taikina controlling the position easily from mount.
Taikina wants to take Neponen's back but he can't do it this time.
Neponen is desperately trying to get back to half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.
Taikina takes a little breather and maintains the position. The referee will be looking for him to stay active from such a dominant position though.
Neponen tries to improve his position but instead Taikina has taken his back!

Taikina is persistently looking for the submission but Neponen is defending it well.
So, who will make the next big move? In this position it could be crucial.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Tero Taikina showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
The cut man is working on Tommi Neponen's cut.
The referee calls time. The cornermen exit stage left and we're back to business. This is the final round!

Taikina scores a takedown into full mount!
Neponen keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Neponen regains half guard.
Taikina not landing any meaningful shots this time.
The referee calls for the fighters to work.
Neponen is trying to get back to full guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Taikina performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
Let's hope that Taikina has the urge to step up the pace any second now because for the last 15 or 20 seconds he's just been holding on tight.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Tero Taikina.
Neponen fakes low and throws an overhand right that catches Taikina on the side of the head.
Neponen throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Neponen throws a head kick but Taikina moves out of range.
Taikina is looking to clinch.
Neponen throws a jab when Taikina was well out of range.
A left and a right from Neponen both land. Nice combination.
Taikina wants to clinch up but Neponen keeps it at a distance.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Neponen scores with a nice looking left hook and follows it up with an uppercut!
Neponen falls off balance throwing a combination

and Taikina counters with a nice double leg into guard.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Taikina controlling from the guard. I say controlling but really, he's stalling.
Taikina passes Neponen's right leg, so he's now in half guard.
Taikina frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Taikina works his way to his opponent's back.
Good control from Taikina.
Neponen rolls, trying to escape but Taikina keeps control of the position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Taikina 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.
Taikina's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.
Taikina doesn't have the hooks in and Neponen manages to turn into his guard.
Neponen working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Neponen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tero Taikina has forced the referee to step in and restart the fight on the feet.
Neponen misses with a combination

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

Neponen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.

Neponen looking for a guillotine here but Taikina defends easily.
Taikina slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tero Taikina is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.

And that's the end of the fight!
Tero Taikina comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Taikina winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Tero Taikina!