PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a welterweight MMA rules bout between Mark Dai (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Timo Kotipelto (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Kotipelto is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Peter Cetera & Amy Grant- Next Time I Fall . Over to our ring announcer for the fighter introductions!

Dai
vs
Kotipelto

175 cm
24
185 lbs
11 - 5 - 0

187 cm
25
182 lbs
9 - 5 - 0

Good wrestling
Basic striking
Insanely flexible

ADCC Champion
Excellent boxer
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the welterweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 11 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Mark Dai!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 9 - 5 - 0, fighting out of Rio de Janeiro, Timo Kotipelto!
The judges for this bout are Felipe Paraventi, Alexandre Firmino and Matheus Silva.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Dai misses with a takedown attempt. He shot from a bit too far out.
Dai slips in close and lands a nice hook before moving back out of range.

Dai feints and then dives in with a takedown. That was a long way out but the feint bought him enough time to close the distance and complete the takedown. Now we'll play guard for a bit and see who can get the better of that position.
Dai trying to land body shots but he keeps hitting the mat.
Dai throws a big elbow that misses.
Dai might be looking to lock onto one of his opponent's long limbs for a submission, whilst we're on the ground.
Kotipelto utilising some decent striking defenses from the guard, preventing the ground and pound.
Kotipelto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dai in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dai cracks Kotipelto with a solid left hand.
Dai postures up in Kotipelto's guard and throws a big left but Kotipelto blocks it.
Dai missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kotipelto controlling Dai's posture.
Kotipelto keeping moving, preventing Dai from controlling successfully.
Kotipelto 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.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kotipelto is trying to control the position but Dai postures up.
Kotipelto tries to land a sweep but no joy.
Dai stands up and looks to throw the legs aside to pass to side control. Kotipelto swivels though and keeps the full guard.
Dai throwing elbows and punches but not connecting, as Kotipelto works some decent striking defense from the bottom.
Kotipelto 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.
Dai trying to control but Kotipelto is working from the bottom.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Dai shoots in but no luck this time.
Dai shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kotipelto but Kotipelto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Dai. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Dai shoots in for a takedown but Kotipelto shows good takedown defense there and keeps this one on the feet.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dai closes this distance looking for a takedown but Kotipelto circles away.
Timo Kotipelto is looking to keep the fight on the feet at all costs.
A telegraphed takedown attempt from Dai is defended easily by Kotipelto.
Kotipelto fakes high and swings low for a body shot but Dai manages to avoid it.
Dai shoots in for a double leg but Kotipelto sprawls well. That's going to sap some energy.
Dai misses with a hook.
Kotipelto tries to land with a swinging hook to the body but Dai was well out of range. Poor timing from Kotipelto.
Dai tries to score a power double leg takedown but Kotipelto sees that one coming and sprawls well. That will dishearten Dai somewhat.
Kotipelto swings and misses with a shot to the body

and Dai counters with a nice double leg into side control. Kotipelto won't be happy with that.
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!
Kotipelto is trying to control Dai's posture but Dai avoids it.
Dai trying to control the position but Kotipelto is working away.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dai in side control lands a decent elbow.
Dai cracks Kotipelto with an elbow. That is naaassty.
Kotipelto gets one leg under and gets the fight to half guard.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Dai thows a wild elbow that connects with the canvas.
Dai throws a strike but Kotipelto avoids it easily and moves to full guard.
Dai postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Dai in full guard, throwing the ground and pound. No damage this time.
Dai wants to control from the top but Kotipelto keeps moving.
Dai pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Kotipelto is keeping the position for now.
Dai working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.
Dai working some ground and pound from guard but it's not doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dai is in close to Kotipelto's body, working some short punches and elbows.
Kotipelto is trying to keep Dai in close.
Kotipelto controlling Dai's posture.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Dai missing there with some ground and pound from the guard.
Kotipelto is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Kotipelto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dai working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dai working from the guard for now, landing some ground and pound.
Dai is looking to work some ground and pound but Kotipelto has wrist control.
Dai is fighting to break Kotipelto's control of his arms but Kotipelto is doing a good job of controlling the position at the moment.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Mark Dai 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.

Kotipelto just misses with a punch to the body.
Dai ducks under a wild hook from Kotipelto.
A swing and a miss from Kotipelto.
Kotipelto lands a leg kick. The shin dug right into the meat of the thigh.
Dai shoots in for a takedown - he's clinched up with Kotipelto but Kotipelto pushes him off and we're back to square one.
Kotipelto scores with a jab to the body.
Kotipelto stalks Dai and leaps in with a furious combination of punches. Uppercuts and crosses smash into Dai's face. Dai staggers backwards, shaken.
Kotipelto lands a nice leg kick that just misses Dai's sensitive parts.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dai looks for a takedown but Kotipelto sprawls well.

Dai shoots in for a takedown from distance. He catches Kotipelto napping and manages to drive through into side control!
Kotipelto manages to get back to half guard.
Kotipelto is working for an escape here. He's hooked one of Dai's legs and he's managed to sneak out and take Dai's back!

That's one minute gone in the round.
Kotipelto keeps control of the position as Dai tries to break free.
A lull in the action here.

Kotipelto is persistently looking for the submission but Dai is defending it well.
Kotipelto tries to keep control of the position but Dai is staying busy.
Dai tries to escape the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Dai staying busy and making it hard for Kotipelto to control.
Dai rolls and manages to get back to half guard. Nicely done.
Kotipelto not doing much here.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Timo Kotipelto.
Dai gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily
and Kotipelto counters with a straight punch to the midsection.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Mark Dai. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Dai shoots in for a takedown and gets it. Oh and he's advanced to full mount straight away.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dai raining down hammerfists from mount.
Dai looking to finish with strikes here!

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Poor strikes thrown by Dai there. More accuracy and less frantic strikes would help!
Dai is landing with some decent strikes but Kotipelto is trying to advance his position so the referee is letting the fight continue.
Dai can't quite control the action as he would like just now, as Kotipelto is looking to escape.
Kotipelto wants to hold on but Dai pushes him away.
Dai looking to ground and pound but Kotipelto is blocking nicely.
Kotipelto is in all sorts of trouble here.
Dai thowing shots but they're missing.
Dai throwing sloppy strikes, which aren't doing any damage.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Dai scores with a couple of good head shots there.
We've seen a great period of action over the last minute or so - credit to both fighters for going all out!
Dai misses with a series of strikes from mount. He'll no doubt be working on his ground and pound when he gets back to the gym.
Dai looking to control but Kotipelto is working nicely, looking to advance position himself.
Kotipelto sneaks a leg under to get to half guard.
Kotipelto works his way to full guard. Good work.
Kotipelto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
Dai loading up with the ground and pound but he's missing more than he's landing in this flurry.
Kotipelto avoiding any damage from the ground and pound.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Kotipelto is working the butterfly guard. He manages to land a nice scissor sweep and is now in half guard on the top. Nice move.
Dai tries to roll over but Kotipelto keeps him under control.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close second round but Timo Kotipelto will probably get the nod - 10:9.
The fighters get back to their feet, the hooter sounds and we're back to the action! This is the final round!

Kotipelto throws a head kick but Dai moves out of range.
Dai closes the distance and clinches up with Kotipelto, looking for a takedown. Dai pushes Kotipelto against the cage but Kotipelto circles to the side and manages to break the clinch.
Kotipelto stuffs the takedown.
Timo Kotipelto seems to be getting the better of the standup.
Dai takes a nice looking leg kick right on the meat of his thigh there.
Mark Dai seems to be the more aggressive standup fighter in this bout.

Dai closes the distance and gets a double leg, slamming Kotipelto to the mat! Kotipelto manages to get full guard.
Kotipelto pulls Dai in to control the position.
Dai trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Kotipelto preventing the ground and pound from doing any damage.
Dai throws a strike but Kotipelto rolls with it and manages to sweep. Now he's in guard on top.
Dai trying to control the position.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Dai 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.
Dai lands a beautiful switch and he's in full mount! That could spell trouble for Kotipelto!
Dai lands an elbow that was bordering on illegal but the referee lets it go with a warning.
Dai throwing shots from mount but they're not landing.
Kotipelto is in a horrible position here, under a barrage of strikes, he's managing to avoid any damage.
Dai avoids the attempt from Kotipelto to control.
Dai is in the full mount, landing strikes.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Kotipelto wriggling around on the bottom manages to avoid the strikes thrown by Dai.
Kotipelto can't escape the position.
Dai thowing shots but they're missing.
Dai throwing sloppy strikes here. Perhaps if he tightened up his striking from such a dominant position, he'd be able to finish easier.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Kotipelto is desperately trying to get back to half guard.
Dai throws some wild stikes that Kotipelto manages to avoid easily.
Kotipelto tries to hold on but Dai postures up.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Dai thowing strikes but they're hitting the gloves, not doing any damage.
Kotipelto really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Kotipelto tries to hold on but Dai postures up.
Dai throws some wild stikes that Kotipelto manages to avoid easily.
Dai lands a big elbow.
Timo Kotipelto has stepped it up - he knows he needs a finish here!
Dai punching from mount but Kotipelto doing a good job of avoiding damage.
Kotipelto really trying hard to get back to half guard here.
Dai postures up and cracks his opponent a couple of times before moving back into close ground control. Kotipelto looks a forlorn figure.
Kotipelto sneaks a leg back under and regains half guard and is working straight away to try and get back to guard. He hasn't managed just yet though.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Kotipelto trying to control but Dai postures up.
Kotipelto tries to roll over but Dai keeps him under control.
Kotipelto wants to control but Dai is keeping busy and won't allow it.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Dai missing with the ground and pound from half guard.
Kotipelto avoiding damage under a succession of punches from Dai.
Kotipelto trying to control but Dai postures up.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Dai throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Dai takes advantage of the dominant position to land a couple of big hammer fists.
Dai thows a huge punch but Kotipelto dodges it nicely.

And that's the end of the fight!
Mark Dai showed his dominance in that final round.
I think Dai 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 Felipe Paraventi scores the fight for Mark Dai!
Judge Alexandre Firmino scores the fight for Mark Dai!
Judge Matheus Silva scores the fight for Mark Dai!

Mark Dai wins by unanimous decision!