PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a bantamweight MMA rules bout between Reino Tolonen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Omg Zulud (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Zulud has chosen Fedor Emelianenko Entrance song as his entrance music. These two fighters really are very evenly matched on the feet - it will be fascinating to see who can assert themselves in that aspect of the fight.

Tolonen
vs
Zulud

175 cm
23
147 lbs
7 - 6 - 0

155 cm
30
142 lbs
21 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
World class MT
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Lethal high kicks
Heavy handed

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 7 - 6 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Reino Tolonen!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 21 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Omg Zulud!
The judges for this bout are Tarja Halkonen, Johanna Lukiainen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!

Zulud fakes with an overhand right and moves in to clinch with Tolonen, pushing him back against the cage.
Tolonen tries to land knees in the clinch but Zulud avoids the damage to the body.
Zulud throws a knee to the head but misses.
The referee calls for Zulud to work.
Tolonen slowing the pace effectively.
Tolonen tries to land a knee to the body but he is off balance and Zulud avoids it.
Tolonen pushes off an throws an elbow but Zulud leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.

Zulud ties up his opponent against the cage and manages to drag the fight down to the ground. Zulud no doubt will be looking to work submissions from his guard.
Zulud wants to stand but Tolonen is controlling the position.
Tolonen will need to keep those long limbs tucked in whilst he's on the ground, to prevent any submissions.
Zulud is trying to keep Tolonen in close.
Zulud is looking to get back to his feet but can't, whilst Tolonen is controlling him.
Tolonen postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tolonen not doing a lot at the moment. He'll have to show some more aggression or the fight will get stood up.
Tolonen trying to control the position from guard on top but Zulud is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Neither fighter is doing enough for the referee's liking and he's decided to stand them back up.
Tolonen throws a front kick that sends Zulud stumbling back into the cage.
Tolonen connects with an inside leg kick.
Tolonen tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Zulud paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Tolonen staying out of range there.

Zulud feints and as Tolonen raises his hands in defense, Zulud changes levels and drives through with a takedown into guard.

Tolonen working for submissions but it's allowed Zulud to get to half guard.

Tolonen actively working from the bottom here.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen won't allow Zulud to pass to mount.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

Tolonen looking to work for a kimura from the bottom.
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!

Zulud is looking for a kimura. It's going to be difficult to finish that from half guard though and Tolonen defends it well.
Tolonen is pressing down on Zulud's left leg trying to get back to full guard. He's managed it.

Zulud decides to stand up and beckons his opponent to follow.
Tolonen lands a jab. Then a cross. Then finally a nice hook to the body. Good work there by Tolonen.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Tolonen clinches.
Zulud blocks a body shot from Tolonen.
Zulud stalling in the clinch.
Zulud is trying to maintain a safe position but Tolonen gets an underhook and turns Zulud into the cage.
Zulud avoiding damage as Tolonen throws knees to the body.
Tolonen throws a vicious knee straight up the middle but Zulud blocks it with crossed arms.

Zulud jumps guard and drags Tolonen to the mat. He's obviously going to be looking for submissions off his back.
Zulud trying to control the position here.
Zulud preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Tolonen trying to control but Zulud is working from the bottom.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Zulud avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Zulud is trying to control the position from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Tolonen throws a looping overhand right but Zulud ducks down to avoid it.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tolonen slips a jab and a cross from Zulud.

Tolonen moves into the clinch successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

That was a close round but I would say that Reino Tolonen will probably get the nod.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Tolonen fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Zulud fails with a takedown attempt.
Tolonen defending well as Zulud loads up on a big left hand.

Tolonen instigates a clinch.
Tolonen lands with a light punch inside.
Tolonen tries to land knees in the clinch but Zulud avoids the damage to the body.
Tolonen missing with knees to the body.
Tolonen tries a knee to the head but Zulud blocks it.
Tolonen scores a nice knee to the body.
With the two fighters working up against the cage, Zulud just misses with a elbow thrown towards Tolonen's brow.

Zulud gets the body lock takedown. After a quick scramble, Tolonen regains guard.
Zulud tries to free his leg and advance position but Tolonen is retaining full guard.

Tolonen is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Zulud defends well.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulud works a leg free and moves into half guard.
Tolonen tries to roll over but Zulud keeps him under control.
Zulud works his way into full mount!
Tolonen is wriggling around trying to escape.
Tolonen tries to hold on but Zulud pushes him away.
Zulud looking to control but Tolonen is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Zulud tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.
Tolonen regains half guard.
Zulud frees up his trapped foot and advances to mount.

Zulud with some aggressive grappling here. He's looking for submissions here, rather than waiting for the opportunity to counter.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen tries to reverse the position but Zulud maintains control.
Omg Zulud has got the better of the ground game so far.
Tolonen manages to regain half guard. Good work.

Zulud is trying a forearm choke… I don't think that's going to do much at this level of the game.
Tolonen punching from the bottom.
Tolonen is trying to control but can't.
Tolonen is trying to get back to full guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen makes his way to full guard. A much better position for Tolonen.

Tolonen is active off his back here, looking for submissions.
Tolonen manages to sweep nicely, so he's now on top. Zulud manages to get himself to full guard.
Tolonen controlling from the top position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Zulud controls Tolonen momentarily but Tolonen frees himself.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Reino Tolonen dominated that second round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action! This is the final round!

Tolonen throws a looping left and ducks down for a takedown. He's got his arms around Zulud's waist but Zulud gets an underhook and avoids the takedown by throwing Tolonen off to one side.
A nice inside leg kick there by Tolonen. That's going to slow Zulud down.
Tolonen is looking to slow Zulud down with leg kicks.
Tolonen tries to clinch up but Zulud circles away and keeps his distance.
Tolonen misses with a body shot. Nice footwork from Zulud.
Zulud keeps the fight on the outside.

Zulud shoots in for a takedown! He's got it and he's managed to land in full mount! That's better than Zulud was expecting from the takedown attempt, I'm sure!
Zulud controlling the position easily from mount.
Tolonen tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Zulud trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tolonen tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Zulud trying to control but he's not successful this time.
Tolonen tries to reverse the position but Zulud maintains control.
Omg Zulud has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen bucks up and manages to get a nice reversal! He's in guard on the top - nicely done!
The referee claps his hands together and tells the fighters to work.
Zulud keeping moving, preventing Tolonen from controlling successfully.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Omg Zulud wasn't active enough on the ground.
Zulud wants to clinch up but Tolonen keeps it at a distance.
Zulud fails with a takedown attempt.

Tolonen moves into the clinch.
Tolonen missing with knees to the body.
Tolonen stalling in the clinch but Zulud improves position.
Tolonen seems a little flustered. He's come in with the intention of controlling the clinch but Zulud is preventing him from doing so, at least for the moment.
Tolonen tries to land a knee to the head but Zulud blocks with his arms.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Zulud avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Both fighters are breathing heavily.
Tolonen looking to throw knees to the head but Zulud is blocking nicely.
Tolonen is looking to control Zulud's arms but Zulud gets an underhook and turns him. Now Tolonen has his back to the cage.
Tolonen trying to land knees to the body.
Zulud is struggling to control the position.
Zulud drops to a knee looking for a takedown but Tolonen gets the underhooks and prevents it.
Tolonen lands with a good tight uppercut to the head.
Tolonen misses with a body punch.
Zulud is working for a takedown up against the cage. He can't get it on this occasion though.
Reino Tolonen has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Omg Zulud.
Zulud is working hard here but doesn't seem to be able to control effectively, up against the cage.
Tolonen misses with a punch to the body.
Reino Tolonen is fighting for a decision here - he's started to take the cautious approach.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tolonen missing with knees to the body.
Zulud tries to take the fight to the ground by pulling guard but can't manage it.
Tolonen using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Zulud has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Zulud manages to get underhooks and slows down the pace for a moment.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Tolonen tries to land a knee to the head but misses.

And that's the end of the fight!
Reino Tolonen showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Tolonen, winning every round. Will the judges agree? They are the ones who matter, even if they are often depressingly incompetent. 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 Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 30:28
Judge Johanna Lukiainen scores the fight 30:27
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 30:27

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Reino Tolonen!
During a confident post fight interview, Reino Tolonen thanked all his fans. He seemed very genuine when describing how motivated his fans keep him.