PBP Commentary

Coming up we have a light heavyweight MMA rules bout between Enoch Thompson (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class) and Haastu Turak (ranked 0 p4p, 0 weight class). Haastu Turak has the better chin. Will he look to stand and bang today?

Thompson
vs
Turak

182 cm
22
200 lbs
0 - 1 - 0

187 cm
19
205 lbs
1 - 3 - 0

BJJ Blue Belt
Brawler
Cuts easily

BJJ White Belt
Counter striker
Enjoys gardening

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 0 - 1 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Enoch Thompson!
And introducing the fighter to my right, fighting out of the blue corner.
With a record of 1 - 3 - 0, fighting out of Helsinki, Haastu Turak!
The judges for this bout are Marco Blurström, Tarja Halkonen and Anni Minnemäki.

The bell rings for round one and we are underway!
Thompson changes levels and scores with a jab to the body.
Thompson misses with a takedown attempt

and Turak counters with a nice double leg into side control. Thompson won't be happy with that.
We've had a lack of effective grappling in the last minute or so, which could well see a referee standup.

Turak tries for a kimura but Thompson is defending well.
Turak is staying tight to Thompson's torso, preventing him from escaping.
The ground and pound from Turak seems to be hitting the mat more than his opponent.
Thompson manages to get one leg in to regain half guard.
Turak content to control rather than advance.
Thompson wants to get back to full guard.
Turak really doesn't want to stay on the ground with Thompson. If he can't get it back to his feet, it's only a matter of time before he'll be tapping out.
Turak wants to pass the guard but Thompson is defending well.
The crowd are loving this. Great action here.
Turak is figuring out what he wants to do next.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Haastu Turak wasn't active enough on the ground.
Thompson circles away from the clinch attempt.
Thompson looking to take his opponent's legs away with the low kicks.
Thompson gets his takedown attempt stuffed easily

and Turak counters with a single leg into guard. Thompson didn't expect that.
Turak is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
The fighters are tangled up in the ropes here. We might need a restart if the fighters can't break free themselves.
Thompson keeping moving, preventing Turak from controlling successfully.
Turak pushing down on Thompson's thigh, trying to pass to half guard. He's managed it... Nice work.
Thompson gets back to full guard.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
This has been an exciting period of action!
Thompson not looking particularly offensive just at the moment.
Turak is frustrating his opponent with some stalling tactics from top position.
Turak tries to free his leg and advance position but Thompson is retaining full guard.
Thompson keeping moving, preventing Turak from controlling successfully.
Turak's corner is telling him to maintain position.

Enoch Thompson has forced the referee to step in and bring the fight back to the feet.
Turak fails with the takedown.
Left hook, right uppercut from Thompson.

That's three minutes gone in the round.

Thompson looks for a takedown. He's got it. We're now in half guard.
Thompson wants to take a breather but Turak is having none of it.
Thompson content to control rather than advance.
The referee is pacing around the two fighters - he looks like he's thinking about a standup.
Thompson seems very keen to just sit and control from half guard but Turak does not like that idea so much and is remaining active off his back.

That's four minutes gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Enoch Thompson wasn't doing enough on the ground.
Thompson looks frustrated there after his takedown attempt is stuffed easily.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Enoch Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.
Thompson fails with a takedown attempt.
Thompson is breathing heavily.

Thompson gets caught flat footed, as Turak shoots in with a quick takedown into guard.
Turak is intent on slowing down the pace of the fight, simply looking to control.
As the round comes to an end the crowd are showing their appreciation for a great round of action.
Turak wants to control from the top but Thompson keeps moving.
Turak sitting in guard, not really doing much.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haastu Turak dominated that round.
The fighters' corners scream their final instructions, as the referee calls time. Here we go, back to the action!

Turak gets a takedown into half guard.
Neither fighter is being very active at the moment, with Turak in particular looking to stall.
Turak wants to control but Thompson is keeping him busy.
Turak wants to pass to mount but Thompson is defending the position.
Turak not doing much here.

That's one minute gone in the round.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Haastu Turak was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Thompson looks for a takedown here. Will he get it? Turak is fending him off so far but Thompson persists. Nope, Turak circles away and we're back to standing.
Enoch Thompson is looking to throw some combinations by the looks of things.
Thompson wants to clinch

and Turak counters by clinching up.
Thompson is trying to pull guard but Turak has him pressed against the ropes.
Thompson is trying to drag Turak to the mat but Turak just about manages to keep his footing. He used the ropes to his advantage there.
That's three failed takedown attempts in the round for Enoch Thompson. That's going to take a lot out of him.

Turak has double underhooks and is working for a body lock takedown. He's got it. The fighters land in half guard but Thompson regains guard immediately.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
Turak pressing down on his opponent's thigh, looking to pass guard. Thompson is keeping the position for now.
Thompson keeping moving, preventing Turak from controlling successfully.
Thompson thows some rabbit punches from the bottom but they don't do any damage.
Thompson wants to stand but Turak is controlling the position.
Turak lands a couple of digs.
Turak throwing shots from guard but he's hitting more mat than opponent.
Turak with a flurry of punches that miss.
Thompson keeping moving, preventing Turak from controlling successfully.
Thompson working a defensive guard here.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turak trying to control the position from guard on top but Thompson is wriggling around, looking for whatever he can.
We must be close to a standup if these guys don't pick up the pace.
Turak sitting in guard, not really doing much.

The ref stands the fighters back up. Haastu Turak was stalling too much, according to the referee.
Turak leaves Thompson with his face pressed against the mat as he sprawls beautifully, defending against a solid takedown attempt.
Both fighters are absolutely exhausted here.
Thompson misses with a takedown

and Turak moves into the clinch.

Turak tightens his grip and picks Thompson up, before dumping him to the ground. Thompson manages to land in guard.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Turak postures up to throw the ground and pound strikes but they don't connect.
Turak looking to pass the guard.
Turak is taking a break and basically stalling. The referee will not allow him to do that for long.
Turak must be cautious of submissions here, given that his opponent has the superior Jiu Jitsu.
Turak trying to control but Thompson is working from the bottom.
The referee looks like he's ready to step in and stand the fighters back up.

The ref calls for a clean break and stands the fighters back up. Haastu Turak wasn't active enough on the ground.
Nice sprawl there from Thompson as Turak shoots in.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompson is looking to clinch but Turak is avoiding it.

Turak has closed the distance and engaged Thompson in a clinch.
And that’s the end of the round – the fighters go back to their corners.

Haastu Turak showed his class in that round. I'd imagine he'll take it on all the scorecards.
That's the end of the interval. I'm sure that seemed a lot quicker than a minute for our two fighters! Back to the action. Let's get this one finished - here comes the final round!

Turak changes levels and drives through with a really nice takedown into side control. Thompson looks really pissed at himself for not defending that better.
Turak lands an elbow.
Turak trying to control the action but Thompson is working from the bottom.
Turak misses with an attempted head punch from side control.
Turak takes a little break here. Thompson wants to take advantage but he is being controlled well.
Turak tries to move to mount but Thompson blocks the move with his legs.
Haastu Turak has got the better of the ground game so far.
Thompson managing to avoid any damage from the strikes thrown by Turak.
Thompson taking punishment in the form of punches.
Turak is maintaining the dominant position - no doubt Thompson will start to get frustrated soon if he's not already.

That's one minute gone in the round.
Turak wants to control but Thompson is keeping him busy.
Thompson tries to get back to half guard but can't.

Turak thinks about going for a far side armbar but bails out and retains the dominant position instead.
Turak controls the position.
Turak working the body and head with strikes.
Turak controls the position.
Thompson prevents Turak from moving into mount.
Turak is looking to take a break and control but Thompson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.
You can see the frustration on Thompson's face as Turak controls the position.

That's two minutes gone in the round.
The referee is asking the fighters to pick up the pace.
Thompson is not content to let Turak control the position.
Turak landing a few strikes.
Thompson is not content to let Turak control the position.
Turak takes a big intake of breath there - he's definitely tired.
Thompson struggling a bit here.
Thompson is trying to get back to half guard.

That's three minutes gone in the round.
Turak tries to advance to mount but can't.
Thompson is trying to escape and get back to his feet.
A lull in the action here.
Thompson tries to get back to half guard but can't.
Turak wants to control but Thompson is keeping him busy.
Turak cracks Thompson with a big right hand but Thompson just smiles back at him and invites him to have another go.
The fighters are trapped in the ropes so we're going to have a reposition here. The ref calls for a break and repositions the fighters in the center of the ring.

That's four minutes gone in the round.
Thompson is trying to improve his position.
Thompson prevents Turak from moving into mount.
Turak remains in side control and seems content to stay there. It's a versatile position from which he can work both strikes and submissions, whilst maintaining that control, so maybe he'll sit here for a while.
Thompson wants to escape from the position here - easier said than done!
Turak controls the position.
The crowd applaud the fighters efforts here as the round comes to an end.
Thompson is not in a great position here, taking some shots.
Turak is looking to take a break and control but Thompson is keeping him honest, looking to work from the bottom.

And that's the end of the fight!
Haastu Turak comfortably won the final round on my scorecard.
I've got Turak winning every round here. Surely the decision will go his way and he'll pick up a well deserved decision victory. 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 Marco Blurström scores the fight 27:30
Judge Tarja Halkonen scores the fight 27:30
Judge Anni Minnemäki scores the fight 27:30

In favor of your winner, by unanimous decision... Haastu Turak!