PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a lightweight MMA rules bout between Muuli Potku (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Juha Tappio (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Tappio is bobbing his head along to his entrance song: Kari Tapio - Juna kulkee vaan. The key to victory for Muuli Potku has got to be keeping the fight on the feet.

Potku
vs
Tappio

174 cm
22
155 lbs
5 - 3 - 0

180 cm
28
165 lbs
11 - 10 - 0

Good wrestling
Dangerous knees
Cardio machine

Good wrestler
Decent boxing
Good gas tank

Ladies and gentlemen. This fight is 3 rounds, in the lightweight division.
Introducing the fighter to my left, fighting out of the red corner.
With a record of 5 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Muuli Potku!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 11 - 10 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Juha Tappio!
The judges for this bout are Anni Minnemäki, Tarja Halkonen and Matti Vanhoillinen.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Potku looks to land a right hand but Tappio moved out of range.
Tappio throws a one two combo.

It looks like Muuli Potku has been cut.
A nice leg kick lands there from Potku.

Tappio drives through with a takedown into Potku's guard. Let's see what he can do from the top position.
Potku tries to land a sweep but no joy.
The ref warns both fighters not to hold the cage as they work up against the meshing.
Potku looking to control.
Tappio postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Tappio trying to control but Potku is working from the bottom.
Tappio looking to pass the guard.
Potku keeping moving, preventing Tappio from controlling successfully.
Tappio looking to control the position here, rather than advance.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up, due to lack of action by Juha Tappio.
Tappio feints a jab promting Potku to slip. Tappio then demonstrates his capabilities by jabbing again. Potku slips again and ducks right into an uppercut.
Tappio throws a jab, cross combination which is slipped
and Potku counters with a nice uppercut.
The fight stays on the outside here - Potku looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
An inside leg kick lands from Potku.
Potku misses with a low kick as Tappio jumps back.
Tappio swinging wildly here.
Potku throws a nice outside leg kick.
Potku is looking to slow Tappio down with leg kicks.
Potku lands a head shot.

Tappio clinches up against the cage.
Tappio avoiding damage.
Fantastic stuff here - a very entertaining period of action, which has drawn cheers from the crowd.
Potku tries a body shot but Tappio blocks it.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tappio managing to block the knees to the body from Potku.
Tappio letting Potku take a breather here.
Potku gets through Tappio's defenses to land a nice punch to the side of the head.
Potku looking to throw knees to the head but Tappio is blocking nicely.
Potku using the Thai clinch to land knees to the body.
Potku content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Potku missing with knees to the body.
Potku missing with knees to the body.
Potku lands on the inside with an uppercut.
Tappio wants a takedown but no success here.
Tappio is looking to take this one to the mat.
Potku unloads a knee to the mid-section. Tappio lets out a prehistoric sounding urrrrgh.
Potku is leaning against Tappio and scores with a nice uppercut to the body.
Tappio is trying to drag Potku to the mat but Potku just about manages to keep his footing. He used the cage to his advantage there.
Muuli Potku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juha Tappio.
Potku tries to stall but Tappio uses the opportunity to gain a better position.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
A short right from Potku.
Potku trying to control the position but instead, Tappio has worked for underhooks and has pushed Potku into the cage.
Tappio wants to push off and get back to the center of the mat but Potku has him pressed against the cage.
A short right hand to the side of the head by Potku.
Potku is trying to slow down the pace in the clinch, to catch his breath.

Tappio lands a nice trip takedown into half guard.
The fighters are pressed up against the cage, both looking to find a bit of space to work.

Tappio is trying to work for a kimura. This could be trouble! No, Potku has managed to free his arm - good work.
Potku keeping hold of Tappio's head, controlling as best he can.
Tappio throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Tappio is looking to advance position but Potku won't allow it.
Potku is looking for a sweep. Tappio is wise to his cunning plan and keeps the top position.
Tappio with a momentary lay and pray from half guard.
Potku is looking to improve his position.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Tappio looks to land a strike but Potku avoids it nicely and regains full guard.
Tappio wants to control from the top but Potku keeps moving.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

A close round but Juha Tappio will probably get the nod.
The cut man is working on Muuli Potku's cut.
The minute break is over - no more time for sponges and pep talks - back to the action!

Tappio tries to shoot in for a takedown. He's got hold of a leg but Potku swivels and escapes.
Potku ducks down and throws a hook to the body.
Potku wants to clinch up but Tappio keeps it at a distance.
Tappio misses with a few strikes there.
Tappio fails to land the takedown.
Potku lands with a hook. Tappio tried to avoid it but it clipped the top of his head.
Potku thows a body kick. Tappio tries to catch it but that hurt him.
Potku lands with a nice body kick.

Potku gets caught napping as Tappio dives in and scores a takedown. Potku manages to retain guard.
Tappio trying to control but Potku is working from the bottom.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potku looking to sweep here. No luck so far.
Potku being controlled here, momentarily.

OK we're going to have a standup here. Juha Tappio hasn't been effective enough on the ground and the referee wants a restart.
Potku connects with an inside leg kick.
Muuli Potku is winning the standup battle so far.
Some wild striking there from Tappio.

Potku closes the distance and clinches.
Potku stays in close to his opponent and throws a right hand to the body.
Tappio is trying to pull guard but Potku turns him against the cage and we stay in the clinch.
Muuli Potku has stuffed three takedown attempts in the round now. That's going to take a lot out of Juha Tappio.
Potku content to slow the pace in the clinch.
Potku using the Thai plumb to throw knees but Tappio has his back arched nicely, preventing the strike.
Potku lands a knee to the head.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Potku missing with knees to the body.

Tappio wants the takedown. Potku is fighting it off but Tappio persists and manages to bring the fight to the ground, ending up in Potku's guard against the cage.
This is a great period of action - very entertaining stuff!
Tappio is looking to work some ground and pound but Potku has wrist control.
Potku is avoiding any damage by keeping wrist control.
Tappio trying to control the position from guard on top but Potku is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
Potku is working from a closed guard but he's struggling to control his opponent.
Juha Tappio has got the better of the ground game so far.
Potku looking to hit a scissor sweep but Tappio is one step ahead there.
Potku keeping moving, preventing Tappio from controlling successfully.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

The referee has ruled that neither fighter is active enough on the ground and has stood them back up.
Potku stuffs the takedown attempt from Tappio. Tappio gets slowly back to his feet.

Potku moves into the clinch successfully.
Potku scores with a nice hook to the head.
Potku landing knees to the body. They look like they could hurt.
Tappio has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Potku avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tappio tries to jump guard but he falls flat on his backside. Potku smiles and moves away.
Potku thumps Tappio with a low kick.
Tappio is breathing heavily.
A good leg kick by Potku.

Tappio tries to keep at a distance but Potku has taken the fight into the clinch.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potku lands a shoulder strike that jolts his opponent's head backwards.
The crowd cheering loudly, showing their appreciation for the quality fight we're seeing here.
Potku scores with a hook to the body.
Tappio has hold of a leg and is looking for a trip takedown. Potku avoids it nicely though and we remain in the clinch.
Tappio wants a takedown.
Potku lands a body punch - he's looking to wear down Tappio.
Potku prevents a takedown attempt there.
Potku works for underhooks and lands a body shot in the process.
Potku scores a nice knee to the body.
Potku tries to land a knee to the head but misses.
Potku landing knees to the head.

It looks like Juha Tappio has been cut.
Potku working Tappio over with knees to the body.
Potku putting his Muay Thai to good use. He has Tappio in a tight clinch and is doing some damage with knees to the body.
The crowd are going absolutely nuts as the round comes to an end - what a fantastic round of action!
Potku scores with a knee to the head.
Potku taking a breather.
Potku tries to land a shot to the body but it's blocked.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Muuli Potku dominated that second round.
Both fighters have cut men working on them during the interval.
That's time! Potku's corner gives him a slap on the ass as he gets ready to fight. Ladies and gentlemen, this is the final round!

The fight stays on the outside here - Potku looks like he's thinking about clinching though.
An inside leg kick from Potku misses.
Potku lands with a nice low kick. That'll leave a bruise.
Juha Tappio is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Potku fakes with a right hand and throws a good leg kick, right into the thigh. That had to hurt Tappio.

Tappio fakes a strike and closes the distance, dragging Potku to the ground. Tappio is now in Potku's guard.
Potku is looking to stand back up... there's a bit of a scramble and Tappio dives into side control.
Potku can't do much from the bottom here.
Tappio taking a breather here.
Potku tries to buck Tappio off but Tappio is having none of it.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Potku struggling a bit here.
Potku parries the strikes from Tappio easily there. Tappio is wary of posturing up too much because it might enable Potku to escape.
Potku regains half guard, as Tappio was trying to land strikes.
Tappio is trying to control. Potku wants to improve his position but can't escape this time.
Tappio prevents Potku from improving his position.
Potku works his way to full guard. Good work.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Tappio trying to control but Potku is working from the bottom.
Tappio is pushing down on Potku's leg trying to pass to half guard. Potku is fighting to maintain full guard but Tappio has managed to sneak the leg through.
Potku is doing well to control the position and prevent Tappio from advancing to side control.
Tappio throwing shots but they're hitting the canvas more than the man.
Potku taking some punishment here, with Tappio in his half guard.
Potku is trying to get back to full guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Tappio wants to advance to full mount but Potku doesn't think that's going to happen and regains full guard instead.
Tappio trying to pass the guard but can't manage it just yet.
Tappio stopping the sweep attempt from Potku.
Tappio passes easily into side control. Nice work.
Tappio scores with a couple of nice shots to the head there. The referee takes a look at Potku to see if he's OK.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Potku is working to avoid the ground and pound but Tappio connects with a decent elbow.
Potku is trying to improve his position.
Tappio wants to lay and pray for a moment but Potku keeps working.
Tappio in side control, throwing shots but Potku defends.
Tappio has the superior BJJ but he's also working some ground strikes into his gameplan.
Tappio slows the pace down.
Tappio misses with the ground and pound.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Potku tries to improve position but can't.

And that's the end of the fight!
Juha Tappio comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I think Tappio has won this one but let's see whether the judges agree with me. 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 Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 29:29
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 28:29
Judge Matti Vanhoillinen scores the fight 29:29

The fight is ruled a majority draw!