PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Reino Tolonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Vasiliy Zaycev (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Tolonen
vs
Zaycev

175 cm
22
147 lbs
5 - 5 - 0

182 cm
21
141 lbs
6 - 3 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

BJJ Purple Belt
Counter striker
Powerful

Crashforce Nutrition (Authentic 160Q/159Q supps!)

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 5 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reino Tolonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 3 - 0, fighting out of St Petersburg, Vasiliy Zaycev!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Tarja Halkonen and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Zaycev has his takedown stuffed

and Tolonen counters by moving into the clinch.
Zaycev looks really tired already! That doesn't bode well for a good, competitive fight!
Zaycev tries for a takedown but Tolonen manages to get underhooks.
Zaycev tries to score a body lock takedown but Tolonen shows good agility there to stay on his feet.
Reino Tolonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Vasiliy Zaycev.
Tolonen taking a breather.
Tolonen gets a warning from the ref for wasting time.
Kneeeeees! The crowd are calling for knees to the body. Tolonen obliges.
Tolonen gets underhooks to prevent Zaycev's takedown attempt.
Knees to the body from Tolonen.
Tolonen is leaning against Zaycev and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Still in the clinch, Tolonen scores with a nice short uppercut.
Tolonen is struggling to control the position.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Knees to the body from Tolonen.
A body shot lands from Tolonen.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee is keeping an eye on Tolonen - much more stalling and he will separate the fighters.
Knees in the clinch landing for Tolonen.
Knees to the body from Tolonen.
Zaycev is a painfully thin specimen of a man. You do wonder whether a good body kick would snap him clean in two.
Tolonen landing knees to the body.
Zaycev takes a knee to the side of the body.
Tolonen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zaycev's face.

Tolonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.
A slapping leg kick lands for Tolonen.
Tolonen is moving around nicely and scores here with a single head shot.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Ooooh, nice body kick lands from Tolonen. Zaycev shrugs it off though.
Tolonen scores with a slapping inside leg kick.

Zaycev tries to keep at a distance but Tolonen has taken the fight into the clinch.
Tolonen unloads a knee to the mid-section.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Tolonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Reino Tolonen is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

Tolonen has closed the distance and engaged Zaycev in a clinch.
Tolonen slowing the pace effectively.
Zaycev takes a knee to the side of the body.
Tolonen scores a nice knee to the body.
Tolonen lands a knee to the body.
Zaycev is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Tolonen utilising his Muay Thai to score with a knee to the body.
Knees to the body from Tolonen.

Tolonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
A head kick misses from Tolonen.

Tolonen clinches up with Zaycev and pushes him back against the cage.
Zaycev wants a takedown.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen landing knees to the head.
Zaycev takes a knee right on the jaw!
Zaycev takes a knee to the side of the body.
Knees to the body from Tolonen.

Tolonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Tolonen connects with a high kick.
Tolonen thumps Zaycev with a low kick.
Tolonen throws a head kick but Zaycev moves out of range.
Tolonen throws a head kick but Zaycev moves out of range.

Tolonen clinches up with Zaycev and pushes him back against the cage.
Tolonen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.

Tolonen manages to break the clinch.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!

Tolonen clinches with his opponent.

Tolonen escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tolonen fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zaycev, pushing him back against the cage.
Tolonen is trying to wear down his opponent with knees to the body.
Tolonen lands a knee to the head.
A nice right hand lands inside from Tolonen.

Tolonen breaks from the clinch.

Tolonen has managed to clinch.
The fighters are pressed against the cage, as the pace of the fight slows.

Tolonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
No luck for Zaycev with that takedown attempt.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Zaycev on the wrong end of a decent looking cross there.
Tolonen throws a head kick that Zaycev semi-blocks.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reino Tolonen 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 fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Zaycev, pushing him back against the cage.
Tolonen has Zaycev pushed against the cage.

Tolonen breaks from the clinch.
A good leg kick by Tolonen.
Reino Tolonen seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.
Tolonen scores with a jab to the body.

Tolonen forces Zaycev back against the cage and clinches.

Tolonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

Tolonen closes the distance and clinches.
Zaycev tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tolonen creates a bit of space for himself and sneaks an elbow through Zaycev's defenses.
Zaycev is breathing heavily.
Knees to the body from Tolonen.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tolonen effectively controlling the action here.
Tolonen crunches a lovely knee into Zaycev's ribcage.

That's one minute gone in the round.
The referee calls for Tolonen to work.
Tolonen landing knees to the head.

Tolonen manages to break the clinch.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Tolonen lands a knee to the body.
Zaycev takes a knee right on the jaw!

Tolonen breaks the clinch.
Tolonen with a hook.
Reino Tolonen is winning the standup battle so far.
Tolonen smiles there as he lands a nice right hand right on the button.

Zaycev is rocked!
Tolonen with a body punch. A glancing blow.
Zaycev is still on wobbly legs! Can Tolonen finish him?
A slapping leg kick lands for Tolonen.
Tolonen connects with a single shot there.
Tolonen is really dominating this fight. Is there anything that Zaycev can do to turn this around?

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tolonen moves into the clinch.

Tolonen manages to break the clinch.

Tolonen moves into the clinch.
Tolonen's corner are urging him to control the action in the clinch for a moment, rather than mount any serious offense. I'm sure the crowd appreciate those instructions... not.
Tolonen stops a takedown attempt from Zaycev.
Tolonen landing knees to the body.
Tolonen connects with a nasty looking knee right to Zaycev's face.
Come on Tolonen - let's have some action - none of this stalling nonsense.
Tolonen putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Zaycev in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.

Tolonen manages to break the clinch.

Tolonen drives through and clinches with Zaycev against the cage.
A short left from Tolonen.

Tolonen pushes off and circles away, back to the middle of the mat.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tolonen closes the distance and clinches.
Tolonen lands a good knee to the midsection. Zaycev won't want to take too many of those.
Tolonen lands a good knee to the midsection. Zaycev won't want to take too many of those.
Zaycev seems to have recovered his senses.
Reino Tolonen has scored more points in the clinch so far.

Tolonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Tolonen scores with a jab. Zaycev acknowledges it with a nod of the head.

Tolonen closes the distance and pushes Zaycev back into the cage.
Tolonen content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Tolonen lands a good knee to the midsection. Zaycev won't want to take too many of those.

Tolonen breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Zaycev blocks a head kick by Tolonen.
Tolonen lands a leg kick that knocks Zaycev off balance momentarily.
Tolonen works the jab nicely.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
A knee to the head by Tolonen.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tolonen lands a shot to the body.

Tolonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Tolonen lands with a thumping leg kick.
Zaycev on the wrong end of a nice hook.
Tolonen feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Zaycev's calf.

Tolonen rushes Zaycev and pushes him back against the cage in a clinch.
Tolonen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.
Zaycev letting Tolonen take a breather here.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tolonen landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tolonen lands a nice knee to the body.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reino Tolonen dominated that second round.
That's time! Tolonen's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tolonen dips to his left and cracks Zaycev with an uppercut!
Tolonen lands a nice hook to Zaycev's body. Zaycev takes it in his stride and looks to land his own strikes.

Tolonen moves into the clinch.
Tolonen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Tolonen breaks from the clinch.

Tolonen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Tolonen holding his opponent close, against the cage.
Tolonen lands with a left to the head.
A bit of stalling here from Tolonen.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.

Tolonen breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zaycev tries to clinch there but Tolonen circles away.
Tolonen lands with a right hand.
Tolonen lands the left hand.

Tolonen closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Zaycev's leg has a nasty welt from taking a succession of leg kicks. That must be slowing him down.
Zaycev goes for a body shot but it's blocked.
Zaycev has Tolonen pressed up against the cage and is working for takedown. Tolonen manages to improve position though and keeps the fight standing.
Tolonen lands a shot to the body.
Tolonen with the Thai clinch, lands a knee to the head.

Tolonen's corner calls for him to break the clinch, which he does.
Zaycev drops his hands momentarily and Tolonen takes advantage with a crisp shot to the head.
Tolonen misses with a half-hearted attempt at a head kick.
Tolonen lands a beauty of a right hand that gets the crowd cheering.
Zaycev blocks a head kick by Tolonen.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen tries a head kick but it misses.
Zaycev on the wrong end of a nice jab.

Zaycev feints and as Tolonen raises his hands in defense, Zaycev changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.

Zaycev drops back looking for a heel hook - he quickly realises he's not going to get it but Tolonen manages to dive on top of him before he can escape and now Zaycev has Tolonen in his guard.
Tolonen scoring with punches to the head and body.
Tolonen controlling from the top position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Zaycev had isolated an arm as going for a kimura. Tolonen defends it easily.

Tolonen thinks about going for a leg but decides against it, in order to maintain the position.
Tolonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Zaycev is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tolonen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Reino Tolonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Vasiliy Zaycev has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.

The referee decides to stand the fighters back up, due to lack of activity on the part of Reino Tolonen.

Tolonen rushes Zaycev and presses him up against the cage.

Tolonen breaks from the clinch.

Tolonen has Zaycev up against the cage in a clinch.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reino Tolonen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well Tolonen 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight 30:25
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:25
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 30:25

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reino Tolonen!