PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Michael Krohn (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Esa Tikkanen (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Krohn kept the crowd waiting but all that was forgotten when his ring entrance music started. The incomparable musical genius that is Superman Socks. Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Krohn
vs
Tikkanen

190 cm
28
220 lbs
7 - 5 - 0

186 cm
20
209 lbs
6 - 0 - 0

Powerful takedowns
Basic striking
Very quick

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Solid chin

Gilop®

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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 7 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Michael Krohn!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 6 - 0 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Esa Tikkanen!
The judges for this bout are Matti Vanhoillinen, Anni Minnemäki and Ben Zyskovitsi.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Tikkanen slaps away a takedown attempt from Krohn, before circling back to the center of the mat.
Krohn misses with a jab to the body

and Tikkanen counters by clinching up.
Krohn is trying to work for a single leg takedown but Tikkanen pulls him back up using the underhooks.

Krohn breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Krohn looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Tikkanen is fending him off so far but Krohn persists. Nope, Tikkanen circles away and we're back to standing.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Michael Krohn. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Krohn drives through with a really nice takedown into side control.
Tikkanen is positioning himself to get back to half guard.
Krohn wants to lay and pray for a moment but Tikkanen keeps working.
Tikkanen struggling a bit here.
Krohn lands a few punches from side control.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen is not content to let Krohn control the position.
Tikkanen wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Tikkanen sneaks back into half guard.
Krohn is looking to advance position but Tikkanen won't allow it.
Krohn is figuring out what he wants to do next.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen is positioning himself well to prevent Krohn advancing to mount.
Krohn wants to take a breather but Tikkanen is having none of it.
Tikkanen keeping control of the position.
Krohn trying to control from half guard but Tikkanen is working away.

We're going to have a standup here because Michael Krohn wasn't active enough for the referee's liking.
Krohn tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Tikkanen was well out of range. Poor timing from Krohn.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Krohn gets caught on his heels momentarily as he allows Tikkanen to score an easy takedown into full guard.
Krohn tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Tikkanen is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.

Krohn is looking for a guillotine. You can't force these things though and Tikkanen defends well.
Tikkanen content to stall in guard here.
Tikkanen's corner are shouting for him to control the position and he seems happy to oblige.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Krohn is working an open guard here, looking to improve his position. No doubt that will leave him open to counters but at least he's being more offensive.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Esa Tikkanen.
Tikkanen tries to clinch but Krohn is having none of it.

Krohn tries to sprawl but Tikkanen drives through with a takedown into half guard.
Wooooo! Give it up for these two warriors! They are putting on a show!
Krohn is looking for a sweep. Tikkanen is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tikkanen controlling the pace.
Tikkanen is thwarting Krohn's attempts to control the position.
Tikkanen performing his best blanket impression for a moment.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Krohn has no desire to be mounted, so is trying to control. Tikkanen is working away from the top position though.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Esa Tikkanen will probably get the nod.
That's time! Back to the action!

Tikkanen fails to land with a series of punches.
Tikkanen displays good takedown defense there as he swats away a double leg from Krohn.
Krohn throws a hard body shot but it just misses.
Krohn keeps the fight on the outside.
Tikkanen is looking to clinch.

Tikkanen shoots in and gets a takedown into half guard. Tikkanen showed some decent athleticism there.
Krohn trying to control but Tikkanen postures up.
Tikkanen moves into full mount! Krohn won't be happy about that!
Krohn working to try and regain half guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Tikkanen controlling his opponent.
Krohn keeping his composure momentarily, calmly looking to get back to half guard.
Krohn tries to hold on but Tikkanen postures up.
Krohn tries to get back to half guard but can't.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen tries to control but Krohn wriggling away.
Tikkanen controlling from mount.
Krohn is working to get back to half guard.
Tikkanen content just to control the position here.
Tikkanen tries to control but Krohn wriggling away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen tucks in and makes sure he doesn't lose the dominant position.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Esa Tikkanen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Krohn shoots in looking for a double leg takedown. Tikkanen defends it nicely.
Tikkanen tries to clinch up

and Krohn decides to take the opportunity to score a takedown. He's landed in Tikkanen's guard.
Tikkanen avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Tikkanen wants to control here, rather than go for any submissions from the bottom. At least for now.

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

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen wants to sweep but no luck.
Krohn trying to control the position from guard on top but Tikkanen is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Krohn looking to sit in guard and control but Tikkanen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Krohn controls Tikkanen momentarily but Tikkanen frees himself.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Krohn being controlled here, momentarily.
Tikkanen sneaks a leg through and gets to half guard. That was like a knife through butter how easily he passed Krohn's guard.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Esa Tikkanen showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's time! Krohn's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. This is the final round!

Tikkanen wants to clinch.
Krohn throws a head kick that misses and slips in the process. He scrambles back to his feet and the fighters circle.
Tikkanen lands a nice shot to the body.
Krohn throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped

and Tikkanen counters with a takedown into side control.
Tikkanen controlling the position from side mount.
Tikkanen trying to control the position but Krohn is working away.
Krohn tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Tikkanen slows the pace down.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Krohn tries to buck Tikkanen off but Tikkanen is having none of it.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.
Krohn stops Tikkanen from passing to mount.
Tikkanen is persisting with the attempt to improve his position.
Tikkanen trying to control the action but Krohn is working from the bottom.
Krohn stops Tikkanen from passing to mount.
Krohn sneaks back into half guard.
Esa Tikkanen is fighting for a decision - hopefully he's judged it right and he's actually winning the fight.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen wants to control but Krohn is keeping him busy.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Esa Tikkanen hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Well, he's not going to score with shots like that. A lazy body kick attempt from Krohn.
Tikkanen tries to clinch but fails miserably

and Krohn counters with a shoot takedown. Tikkanen fights it but they end up in guard.
Krohn looking to sit in guard and control but Tikkanen gets the butterfly guard and sweeps. He's now in the guard on the top.
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!
Tikkanen is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Tikkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Krohn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tikkanen postures up.
Tikkanen wants to pass the guard but Krohn is keeping the position.
Tikkanen is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
Krohn keeping moving, preventing Tikkanen from controlling successfully.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Esa Tikkanen.

Tikkanen shoots in and gets a takedown into Krohn's guard.
Tikkanen content to stall in guard here.

Krohn working from the bottom, still in full guard. He's managed to get a loose triangle. Tikkanen doesn't seem to be doing much to defend here, obviously he feels comfortable in the position. Tikkanen manages to throw the legs off his shoulder and he's back into guard - no problem.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

Krohn has a loose triangle. He'll be looking to tighten that up but Tikkanen can see exactly what he's planning and manages to posture up and free himself.
Michael Krohn has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Tikkanen trying to control the position from guard on top but Krohn is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Krohn tries to strike from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Esa Tikkanen comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
Well Tikkanen has outworked and out performed his opponent in all aspects of the game today. He was simply too good and the decision should be no more than a formality. 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 Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30
Judge Ben Zyskovitsi scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Esa Tikkanen!
Jumping up and down and very excited, Esa Tikkanen waved his t-shirt featuring Kobra Clothing Inc.'s logo in front of the cameras.