PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a middleweight MMA rules bout between Markus Wilander (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Tauno Takoja (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tauno Takoja told me before the fight that he's been watching a lot of DVDs so let's see if that helps him in this one! I can't wait to find out!

Wilander
vs
Takoja

190 cm
18
187 lbs
1 - 2 - 0

184 cm
20
190 lbs
2 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Counter striker
Very strong

BJJ Blue Belt
Solid Muay Thai
Prefers standup

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the middleweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 1 - 2 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Markus Wilander!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 2 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Tauno Takoja!
The judges for this bout are Arvi Lind, Anni Minnemäki and Roosa Järviläinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Wilander keeps the fight on the outside.

Wilander changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Takoja looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Wilander controlling from side mount.
Takoja is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
Wilander takes a little break here. Takoja wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Wilander prevents Takoja from escaping the position.
Takoja is letting Wilander control him for a moment.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Wilander stands up and we're back to a striking position.
Takoja doesn't manage to clinch there - Wilander circles away.

Wilander clinches.

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

Wilander clinches up with Takoja and pushes him back against the cage.
Takoja with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Wilander blocks an elbow strike.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Takoja manages to break the clinch.
The fight stays on the outside here - Wilander looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
Wilander tries to clinch up.
Wilander tries to clinch but Takoja is having none of it.
Takoja clinches but Wilander breaks the clinch

and Wilander counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Wilander prevents Takoja from breaking the clinch.
Takoja wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Takoja wants to get back to striking at distance but Wilander won't allow it.
Wilander stalling here - the referee won't stand for too much of that.
A nice glancing elbow lands by Takoja.

Wilander has dropped down and is working for a takedown. Takoja is trying to keep an underhook but Wilander manages to get the takedown into half guard.
Wilander seems content to maintain position for now, rather than mounting any offense.
Wilander'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.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Wilander trying to pass the guard but Takoja defending well.
Wilander prevents Takoja from standing back up.
The fighters are starting to perspire pretty heavily.
Wilander perhaps working for something from half guard, or maybe not. It looks like he's just sitting there.
Wilander has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Wilander controlling the pace for now.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are hurling abuse towards the fighters... You can hardly blame them though because there isn't a lot going on in the fight.
Takoja is trying to stand.
Wilander controlling from mount.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Markus Wilander just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.
Takoja closes the distance looking to clinch

and Wilander counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
Takoja tries a knee to the head but Wilander blocks it.
Takoja pushes off an throws an elbow but Wilander leans to the side and avoids it. We're back to clinching against the cage.
Takoja misses with a knee to the head.
Takoja wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Takoja looks gassed!
Takoja creates a bit of distance and throws an elbow that only just misses.
Takoja scores with a knee to the head.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Wilander 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.

Wilander clinches up with Takoja and pushes him back against the cage.

Wilander has picked Takoja up - he's going for a ride! Wilander dumps his opponent to the mat with a thud and settles into half guard.
Wilander content to control rather than advance.
Takoja is trying to stand.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Wilander in particular looking to stall.
Wilander has freed up his trapped foot and advances to mount.
Wilander controlling the position easily from mount.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Wilander seems to have a rather negative gameplan on the ground. He seems keen to just score the takedown and hold down Takoja for as long as he can get away with.
Takoja has given up his back here. Will Wilander look for the submission or keep pounding away?
Wilander keeps control of the position easily here as Takoja tries to buck him off.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The crowd are starting to boo a lack of action.

The referee stands the fighters back up. Markus Wilander just wasn't active enough from the dominant position.

Wilander moves into the clinch successfully.
Wilander lands an elbow inside that Takoja shrugs off.

Takoja breaks the clinch.
Tauno Takoja is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.

The fight moves into the clinch position.
Takoja on the defensive, avoiding the knees to the body.
Wilander tries to land a knee to the head but Takoja blocks with his arms.
Takoja lands an elbow inside.
Wilander throws an elbow but it misses.
Takoja wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Wilander drops down for a takedown but doesn't get it.
Takoja managing to block the knees to the body from Wilander.
Takoja takes an elbow to the forehead.
Wilander connects with a nasty looking knee right to Takoja's face.

Wilander breaks from the clinch.
Takoja closes the distance looking to clinch

and Wilander moves into the clinch.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takoja gets double underhooks to prevent a takedown attempt from Wilander.
Wilander tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Takoja is trying to break free.
Wilander lands an elbow inside.
Takoja lands an elbow inside.
Wilander controlling the action here for a moment.
Wilander misses with a knee to the head.

Wilander pulls Takoja into guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Wilander looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Wilander manages to land a sweep and now he's in mount on top!
Wilander sitting in mount, just looking to control for the moment.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilander lands a shot to the body, followed up by a shot to the exposed head of his trapped opponent.
Takoja wants to use the cage to get back to his feet here.
Takoja is breathing heavily.
Wilander looking to control and managing it successfully.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Markus Wilander dominated that second round.
OK. That's time! The bell goes and we're back to the action. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

Takoja tries to clinch up

and Wilander counters by moving into the clinch.
Wilander tries to land knees in the clinch but Takoja avoids the damage to the body.
Wilander landing knees to the body.

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

Wilander clinches up with Takoja and pushes him back against the cage.
Takoja wants to strike at distance but he can't break free of the clinch.
Takoja can't break the clinch.
Wilander landing some nice looking knees to the body.

Wilander breaks from the clinch.

Wilander moves into the clinch.
Takoja blocks an elbow strike from Wilander.

Wilander escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Wilander tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takoja paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Wilander tries to clinch up but Takoja circles away and keeps his distance.
Wilander tries to close the distance and clinch up against the cage but Takoja paws at him with a jab and circles away.
Takoja takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.

Wilander shoots in from a long way out. He's driving through with the takedown attempt and he eventually gets it, landing in Takoja's guard.

That's one minute gone in the round.

Takoja has butterfly guard. He's looking to stand up here. He pushes Wilander off him and springs to his feet nicely. The crowd applauds.
Wilander avoids the head kick by Takoja.
Wilander tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.

Wilander gets a clinch.
The two fighters are working to gain dominance in the clinch.
Wilander missing with knees to the body.
Takoja misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Wilander.
Takoja stops a takedown attempt from Wilander.
Wilander leaning his opponent against the cage.
Nice elbow from Wilander.
Takoja lands a glancing elbow in the clinch.
Nice elbow from Wilander.
Takoja tries to break the clinch but Wilander is controlling the position.

Wilander escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Takoja tries to grapple but his opponent circles

and Wilander holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.

That's two minutes gone in the round.

Wilander breaks the clinch.
A head kick misses from Takoja.
Takoja throws out a loose jab but Wilander uses good head movement to avoid it.

Wilander closes the distance and presses his opponent up against the cage.
Wilander with an attempt at a knee that misses.

Wilander manages to break the clinch.

Wilander has closed the distance and engaged Takoja in a clinch.
Wilander landing knees to the body.
Takoja looking to throw knees to the head but Wilander is blocking nicely.
Takoja lands an elbow inside that Wilander shrugs off.
Wilander takes an elbow to the forehead.
Wilander takes an elbow to the forehead.
Wilander wants to break free. God knows he wants to breaaaak freeee.
Wilander wants to stall.
Wilander keeps control of Takoja as he tries to wriggle out of the double underhooks.

Takoja breaks from the clinch.

Takoja clinches.
Wilander gets an overhook and lands an elbow to the side of the head.
Wilander looking to throw knees to the head but Takoja is blocking nicely.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Takoja can't break the clinch.
Wilander looks to throw an elbow but misses.
With the fighters up against the cage, Takoja throws an elbow but misses.

Takoja breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wilander shoots in for a takedown. "I don't think so" says Takoja as he avoids it easily.
Takoja cracks Wilander with a right hand to the side of the head.

Wilander has taken the fight to the clinch.
Takoja can't break the clinch.

Wilander escapes the clinch and we're back to striking.
Takoja swats away the attempt to clinch by Wilander.
Takoja throws a combination but comes up with nothing but fresh air.
Tauno Takoja has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
A head kick by Takoja misses

and Wilander holds on and brings the fighters into a clinch.
Takoja managing to block the knees to the body from Wilander.
Takoja lands an elbow inside.
Wilander tries to stall but Takoja uses the opportunity to gain a better position.
Wilander tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Takoja using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Wilander has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Wilander blocks the elbow strike.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Wilander misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Takoja.
Takoja is trying to break the clinch but Wilander has him pressed against the cage.
Wilander misses the knee to the body. Nice hip positioning from Takoja.

Wilander breaks the clinch and we're back to striking at distance.
Takoja closes the distance but Wilander moves to the side

and Wilander counters by moving into the clinch.
Takoja misses with a knee strike.
Takoja tries a knee to the head but he's missed.
Takoja connects with a nasty looking knee right to Wilander's face.
Wilander with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Takoja takes an elbow to the forehead.
Takoja blocks an elbow strike from Wilander.

Wilander breaks the clinch and we return to the middle of the mat.
Wilander tries to clinch but is not successful on this occasion.
Takoja tries to clinch but Wilander moves away

and Wilander counters into the clinch. Nicely done.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Wilander drops down looking for an ankle pick but Takoja pulls his leg out and moves away.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Markus Wilander. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Takoja tries to clinch but Wilander moves away

and Wilander moves into the clinch.
Wilander takes a knee right on the jaw!
Wilander with an attempt at a knee that misses.
Wilander throws a knee to the head but misses.
Markus Wilander has scored more points in the clinch so far.
Wilander is trying to stall.

And that's the end of the fight!
Markus Wilander showed his dominance in that final round.
Well I reckon that's a shut out for Wilander, 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 Arvi Lind scores the fight for Markus Wilander!
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight for Markus Wilander!
Judge Roosa Järviläinen scores the fight for Markus Wilander!

Markus Wilander wins by unanimous decision!