PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Kari Tapio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Top Tea (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). 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.

Tapio
vs
Tea

188 cm
28
220 lbs
12 - 12 - 0

185 cm
30
215 lbs
8 - 2 - 0

Good wrestling
Lethal high kicks
KO power

ADCC Champion
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire
Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire

[CBK] Legal Highs ↑ 160Q RECOVERY ↑
[CBK] Legal Highs ↑ 160Q RECOVERY ↑

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the light heavyweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 12 - 12 - 0, fighting out of London, Kari Tapio!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 8 - 2 - 0, fighting out of London, Top Tea!
The judges for this bout are Colin Fotheringham, James Ackerman and Sam Margolis.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
A clash of legs there as Tea blocks the low kick.
Tea with a poor takedown
and Tapio counters with a stiff right hand.
Tapio lands with a thumping leg kick.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Tea is defended easily by Tapio.
Tapio throws out a loose jab but Tea uses good head movement to avoid it.
Tea swings for the body but Tapio moves out of range.

Tea looking for a takedown here - he's got it.
Tea with a flurry of punches that miss.
Tea keeps in close for a moment and lands a decent shot to the side of Tapio's head.
This has been an exciting period of action!
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tea accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tea throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tea loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Tapio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tea.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tea trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tea won't allow Tapio to get back to his feet.
Tapio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tea.
Tea has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
A big thud reverberates around the arena there as Tea accidentally thumps the mat. Hopefully he's not broken his hand.
Tea wants to control from the top but Tapio keeps moving.
Tea throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Tapio works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Tea trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Tea throws a big elbow that misses.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tea working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Tea makes a bit of distance and scores with some ground and pound, still in guard.
Tapio utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.

Tapio pushes Tea off and gets back to his feet.
Tea has a takedown stuffed.
Kari Tapio has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Top Tea.
Tea lands a really nice looking cross but Tapio seems unphased.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Tapio feints with a shoulder and throws a nice leg kick to Tea's calf.
Tea steps to the side to avoid the strikes from Tapio.
Tapio tries to clinch but Tea moves out of range.
Tapio throws an off balance right hand

and Tea counters with a nice shoot takedown that brings the fighters to the ground.
Tapio wants to stand up but Tea is controlling him.
Tapio is breathing heavily.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tapio working the defensive guard well to avoid strikes from Tea.
Tea throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Tea throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.

Tea postures up as if he's going to throw some strikes but drops back for an ankle! Tapio is in big trouble! He looks ready to tap! But no, he's escaped and dives on top of Tea, into his guard.

Tea looking for a guillotine here but Tapio defends easily.
Tea wants to get back to his feet but Tapio passes into half guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Tea manages to escape and get back to his feet!
Tea shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Tapio as he avoids it easily.
Tea checks a leg kick nicely.
Tapio connects with a solid leg kick.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Tapio avoids the head kick by Tea.
Tapio keeps Tea at a distance using the push kick.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Tapio stuffs the takedown attempt from Tea. Tea gets slowly back to his feet.
Tapio fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tea.
Tea takes a push kick to the midsection and stumbles backwards.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Top Tea will probably get the nod.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tapio connects with a leg kick. He turned his hip over nicely there.
Tapio tried to score with a low kick but Tea checks it.
Tapio keeping a good distance there, avoiding the body shot.
Tapio tries to score with an inside leg kick but telegraphs it and Tea is able to avoid easily.
Tea on the receiving end of a decent leg kick there by Tapio. Tapio obviously looking to wear him down.
Tapio throws a nice inside leg kick.
Tapio connects with a solid leg kick.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.

Tapio lands a big head kick that sends Tea tumbling to the mat! Tapio takes a step backwards and waves Tea back to his feet - he wants the finish!

Tea is rocked!

It looks like Top Tea has been cut.
Tapio lands a front kick.
Tea is still on wobbly legs! Can Tapio finish him?
Tea takes a nasty kick to the mid section... That should keep him thinking. Does he try and block and risk a head kick landing?
Tea seems to have recovered his senses.
Tapio connects with a hook to the side of his opponent's head.
Tapio fakes a jab and scores with a low kick.
Tapio throws a quick head kick that knocks Tea silly! This fight is all over! What a finish! Tapio is up on the cage, taking in the applause from the crowd.

Ladies and gentlemen, after 0:47 of round 2, we have a winner by way of KO (Head Kick). Kari Tapio!
A loyal slave to those sponsorship dollars, Kari Tapio made sure he mentioned Fossington & Blythe: Gentlemen's Fight Attire, along with how happy he was to win his fight.