PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Juha Tappio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Steve Buscemi (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tappio's entrance music is Kari Tapio - Juna kulkee vaan. A fine choice. Buscemi is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Straight Outa Compton. Both fighter's entrance songs getting the crowd jumping here.

Tappio
vs
Buscemi

180 cm
26
165 lbs
8 - 8 - 0

165 cm
28
160 lbs
11 - 6 - 0

Good wrestling
Solid boxing
Cardio machine

Powerful takedowns
Dangerous knees
Powerful

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 8 - 8 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juha Tappio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Steve Buscemi!
The judges for this bout are Ben Zyskovitsi, Roosa Järviläinen and Johanna Lukiainen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tappio shoots for a takedown but Buscemi saw that one coming a mile off and avoided it easily.
A big right from Tappio misses.
Buscemi tries to clinch up.
Tappio misses with a takedown attempt

and Buscemi counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Buscemi misses with a knee strike.
Buscemi misses with a punch on the inside.
Still in the clinch, Buscemi scores with a nice short uppercut.

Buscemi breaks from the clinch.
Some wild striking there from Tappio.
Tappio throws out a powerful jab.
Tappio throws a combination but it was largely blocked by Buscemi.
Tappio throws a right hand that misses

and Buscemi holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Still in the clinch, Buscemi scores with a nice short uppercut.
A short right from Buscemi on the inside.
Buscemi scores a nice knee to the body.
Tappio is trying to drag Buscemi to the mat but Buscemi just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Juha Tappio. That's going to take a lot out of him.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Buscemi missing with knees to the body.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Buscemi manages to break the clinch.
Tappio shoots for a double leg takedown but Buscemi sprawls well. He's pushed Tappio's face into the mat and manages to get back to his feet relatively easily.
Tappio circles away from the clinch attempt.

Tappio decides to change it up a bit and drives through with a nice takedown into half guard.
Buscemi works his way to full guard. Good work.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tappio accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Buscemi wants to sweep but no luck.

Tappio avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Buscemi will have to put a bit more behind his punches if he's going to do any damage from this position.
Tappio content to stall in guard here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buscemi looking for a sweep. Not yet Buscemi, not yet.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Buscemi is trying to keep Tappio in close.
Buscemi looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tappio is one step ahead there.
Tappio throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Buscemi works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tappio distracts Buscemi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Tappio makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Hammerfist, elbow! yells Tappio's corner. There ya go! There ya go!
Tappio postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

Buscemi looking for submissions from the bottom here. Moving his hips around, possibly looking for an armbar.

Buscemi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
The fighters are going at a pretty good pace and they're both starting to sweat now.
Tappio is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Buscemi is looking for a triangle but Tappio pushes his legs off easily.
Tappio has been looking to land a fair amount of strikes on the ground. He might be looking to soften his opponent up in order to work for a submission.
Buscemi trying to strike from the bottom but really, it's not the best position to be doing that from!
Tappio trying to control but Buscemi is working from the bottom.
Buscemi looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Buscemi controls Tappio momentarily but Tappio frees himself.
Buscemi keeping full guard, as Tappio tries to pass.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Buscemi keeping moving, preventing Tappio from controlling successfully.
Buscemi trying to strike off his back.
Tappio's corner is telling him to maintain position.

The ref stands the fighters back up because Juha Tappio just wasn't active enough.
Tappio misses with a double jab.
Tappio just misses with a punch to the body.
Tappio changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Buscemi defending well as Tappio loads up on a big left hand.
No joy there for Tappio, who threw a few shots but didn't land.
Buscemi doesn't manage to clinch there - Tappio circles away.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tappio circles away from the clinch attempt
and Tappio counters with a nice uppercut.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Tappio misses with a takedown

and Buscemi counters with a driving takedown into guard. Nice work there by Buscemi.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Steve Buscemi will probably get the nod.
The corners get their ten second warning. Both fighters stand from their stools and stare eachother down, ready to get back to the action.

Buscemi fails with an attempt to clinch.
Tappio throws a wild combination but nothing lands.

Tappio closes the distance and scores a nice trip takedown into half guard. Buscemi did well to prevent Tappio getting side control.
Tappio prevents Buscemi from improving his position.
Buscemi flails away from the bottom but he's not doing any damage.
Tappio moves nicely into side control.
Tappio lands a decent elbow from side control.
Buscemi manages to work his way to half guard, despite Tappio's best efforts.
Buscemi makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Buscemi.
Tappio slows down the pace of the fight, as he sits in guard.
Tappio connects with a couple of short punches.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buscemi keeping moving, preventing Tappio from controlling successfully.
Tappio is working the ground and pound from guard. He might want to try advancing position though to get more of an impact.
Tappio won't allow Buscemi to get back to his feet.
Buscemi wants to sweep here but Tappio controlling him for the moment.
Both fighters really going for it on the ground here!

Buscemi is looking for a triangle but Tappio pushes his legs off easily.
Tappio with a couple of shots to the head there. Not particularly brutal.
Tappio trying to control but Buscemi is working from the bottom.

Buscemi working for a triangle but Tappio defends it easily.
Tappio landing with the ground and pound.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Buscemi trying to control the position.

Buscemi throwing his legs up looking for a triangle.

Buscemi is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tappio wants to control from the top but Buscemi keeps moving.
Buscemi wants to sweep here but Tappio controlling him for the moment.
Juha Tappio overall seems to be getting the better of the ground position in the fight so far.
Buscemi is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Tappio content to stall in guard here.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Tappio chips away with some ground and pound.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Buscemi tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Tappio trying to control but Buscemi is working from the bottom.

Tappio avoids a guillotine attempt easily.
Tappio wants to control from the top but Buscemi keeps moving.
Buscemi wants to sweep but no luck.
Tappio postures up and lands some nice ground and pound.
Tappio's corner is telling him to maintain position.
Tappio's ground tactics aren't going to win him many fans. Let's hope he's got fireworks for us if he gets back to his feet because he's not doing much on the ground.
Tappio works over Buscemi with some ground and pound from guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tappio trying to control but Buscemi is working from the bottom.
Tappio scores with a decent looking elbow strike.
Tappio keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Buscemi's head.
Buscemi tries to land a sweep but no joy.

Buscemi is working actively off his back, looking to secure an arm or perhaps work for a triangle.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Tappio distracts Buscemi with his right hand and drops a big elbow with his other arm.
Buscemi working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tappio.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tappio trying to control the position from guard on top but Buscemi is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Tappio throwing strikes but missing.
Buscemi is trying to keep Tappio in close.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

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

Tappio avoids the clinch attempt nicely.
Buscemi slaps away a takedown attempt from Tappio, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Tappio circles away from the clinch attempt.
Buscemi moves to clinch but Tappio breaks away
and Tappio counters with a quick right hand to the jaw.
Tappio keeps the fight on the outside.
Buscemi is looking to clinch.
Buscemi lands a straight punch to the body, keeping Tappio at a distance.
Tappio swats away the attempt to clinch by Buscemi.
Tappio has his takedown stuffed

and Buscemi counters with a nice single leg takedown and he's in Tappio's guard now.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Buscemi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tappio works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tappio pulls Buscemi in close to prevent any damage.
Buscemi pushes down on Tappio's leg and manages to get into half guard.
Tappio gets back to full guard.
Buscemi throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tappio works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Buscemi loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tappio looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Tappio trying to keep a closed guard but Buscemi is proving a slippery customer.
Buscemi is looking to work some ground and pound but Tappio has wrist control.
Tappio lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Buscemi!
Buscemi is wriggling around trying to escape.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tappio controlling from mount.
Buscemi tries to lock up and control but Tappio gives him a forearm to the face and pushes him away.
Tappio looking to control and managing it successfully.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Buscemi is wriggling around trying to escape.
Tappio has his opponent pinned against the cage, landing some nasty ground and pound that is really making a bit of a mess out of Buscemi's face.
Tappio landing punches.
Buscemi is squirming around, avoiding Tappio's attempts to control the action.
Tappio avoids the attempt from Buscemi to control.
Tappio lands a big elbow.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappio scoring with some good ground and pound from mount here. Will he manage to finish Buscemi?
Buscemi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tappio in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
Buscemi tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Buscemi is in a horrible position here. Tappio smacks him with another shot as he tries to escape the position.
Tappio content just to control the position here.
Buscemi is squirming around, avoiding Tappio's attempts to control the action.
Tappio in mount throwing good strikes here, bouncing his opponent's head off the canvas.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
The fans in attendance giving it up for the two fighters, who have really let it all hang out in the last minute or so!
Tappio working away from the top, dropping strikes.
Tappio will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Tappio lands a big elbow.
Buscemi manages to regain half guard. Good work.
Tappio with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tappio is looking to take a break and control but Buscemi is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
Tappio is keeping good posture, landing some ground and pound.
Buscemi wants to improve his position but Tappio is controlling well.
Tappio is controlling the pace.
Buscemi wants to get back to full guard.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tappio takes a deep breath and rests his weight momentarily on top of his opponent, to control the position.
Buscemi wants to improve his position but Tappio is controlling well.
Tappio is trying to control. Buscemi wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juha Tappio showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Tappio has won this one but let's see what the judges have to say. 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 Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 29:28
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight 29:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 29:28

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Juha Tappio!